|RNature and climate:|N In the north a highland savannah at 1500 m.a.s.l. In the south mountains with a highest peak, Mlanja, reaching 3000 m.a.s.l. and in between a lower plateauland.
Lake Malawi is a big portion of the area and also forms the eastern border to Tanzania and Mocambique.
Tempered climate with an average temperature of 21°C in January and between 15 and 20°C in July.
Percipitation about 1500 mm.
|RPeople:|N Different Bantu-tribes. Chewa 50%.
90% of the population live in rural areas. Population growth 3,2% each year.
|REconomy:|N Limestone, uranium, coal and bauxite has been found in Malawi, but only limestone is extracted.
Agriculture occupies 85% of the labour force and manages to feed the population. Most important crops are maize, millet, maniok, peas and beans. For export peanuts, tobacco, sugarcanes, tea and cotton is grown.
Manufacturing is poorly developed and aimed at refining the agricultural products.
|RHistory:|N In the 14th century the Maravi-people immigrated from the Kongo-area. Descendants of these is the Chewa-tribe, now dominating Malawi.
These immigrants founded a realm based on trade with gold, ivory and slaves with a time of great prosperity in the 17th century.
About 1830 the Ngoni-people immigrated from South Africa and settled south of Lake Malawi.
By the mid 19th century the area was explored by the British missionary David Livingstone and became a British protectorate 1891 with the name Nyasaland.
At the end of the 19th century Sir Cecil Rhodes received concession for mineral extraction from several local chiefs, which was later confirmed by Queen Victoria. 1895 Zimbabwe, Zambia and Nyasaland was named Rhodesia after Cecil Rhodes and united in one colony which de facto was governed by the British South African Company. In 1923 Rhodesia was divided in the two colonies Rhodesia, Zambia, and Nyasaland, Malawi and South Rhodesia became a selfgoverning part of the British Empire.
In 1953 the three parts were united once again, now in Central African federation. But there was severe antagonism between the black majority who demanded political influence and the white minority trying to maintain their privileges. In 1963 the federation was dissolved and Nyasaland became the independent country Malawi.
Since independence Malawi has been ruled absolute with help from the military. During resent years there has been widespread internal unrest and demonstrations pushing for political reforms. Many western nations have withdrawn aid in an effort to support the political reforms.
In Malawi there are about 650 000 political refugees from neighbouring Mocambique, putting an extra strain on the economy.
