Malawi Overview
Country Profile
The Republic of Malawi is located in south-eastern Africa, getting its name from Yinmalawei Lake. An area of 118,500 square kilometers is home to a population of 11.55 million, most of whom are Bantu. Residents are Protestant or Catholic, with English and Chichewa as the official languages. The currency is the MK and Lilongwe is the capital.
Malawi National Flag
The national flag of Malawi is comprised of black, red, and green horizontal strips and half an orange sun. Black symbolizes the black, red symbolizes the fight for freedom and independence, as well as the blood of martyrs, and green symbolizes the beauty of Malawian scenery. The rising sun symbolizes the dawn of the African people, with hope of freedom.
History Summary
In the 16th century, large numbers of Bantu people began to enter the area northwest of Lake Malawi and settled in what is now Malawi and its adjacent areas. In 1891, Britain formally declared the region a “British Central Africa protectorate,” and in October 1953, the British forced the land to form a Central African Federation with Southern Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) and Northern Rhodesia (now Zambia)On February 1st, 1963, internal self-government was achieved, and on July 6, 1964, independence was declared and the country renamed Malawi. On July 6, 1966, the establishment of the Republic of Malawi was announced.
Economy and Culture Overview
The Great Rift Valley runs from the north of the country to the south, containing Lake Malawi and the Shire River. Lake Malawi alone accounts for 25% of the total area, giving the area the reputation of the “Water Town of Africa.”. The Shire River valley and Chilwa Lake Valley lowlands located along Lake Malawi are important agricultural areas. Major agricultural products are corn, cassava, and rice, with tobacco, tea, and sugar the three pillars of the economy. The industry is mainly dominated by tea, cigarettes, and fish processing.
Malawian society has a strict dress code, with women forbidden from wearing trousers or skirts that are above the knee. The women wear plastic bracelets and earrings.
Lake Malawi
Lake Malawi is the third largest of the Great Lakes of Africa. More than 570 kilometers long and 80 kilometers at its widest, it covers an area of more than 30,000 square kilometers. The average water depth is 273 meters. The daily fluctuation of the lake is a strange phenomenon, since at about 9:00, the water begins to subside, losing about 6 meters . After 4 hours the lake begins to rise again, but at 19:00 it overflows, two hours after the calm. This unusual water level fluctuation is not regular, happening sometimes once a day, sometimes only ever few days, but always at around 9:, lasted for about 12 hours before and after. The reason behind the fluctuations is still a mystery. This picturesque lake with its pleasant climate, is a favorite tourist destination in Africa.
Malawi Map
