Short facts about the geography of Malawi

Location:

Southern Africa, east of Zambia

Geographic coordinates:

13 30 S, 34 00 E

Map references:

Africa

Area:

total:  118,480 sq km land:  94,080 sq km water:  24,400 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly smaller than Pennsylvania

Land boundaries:

total:  2,881 km border countries:  Mozambique 1,569 km, Tanzania 475 km, Zambia 837 km

Coastline:

0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims:

none (landlocked)

Climate:

sub-tropical; rainy season (November to May); dry season (May to November)

Terrain:

narrow elongated plateau with rolling plains, rounded hills, some mountains

Elevation extremes:

lowest point:  junction of the Shire River and international boundary with Mozambique 37 m highest point:  Sapitwa 3,002 m

Natural resources:

limestone, arable land, hydropower, unexploited deposits of uranium, coal, and bauxite

Land use:

arable land:  34% permanent crops:  0% permanent pastures:  20% forests and woodland:  39% other:  7% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land:

280 sq km (1993 est.)

Natural hazards:

NA

Environment - current issues:

deforestation; land degradation; water pollution from agricultural runoff, sewage, industrial wastes; siltation of spawning grounds endangers fish populations

Environment - international agreements:

party to:  Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified:  Law of the Sea

Geography - note:

landlocked

Source: World Factbook