Source: ANI
Subject: Mapping
Context: India has dispatched 1,000 metric tonnes of rice as humanitarian assistance to Malawi after a severe drought triggered by the El Niño caused a major food crisis.
About Malawi:
What it is?
- Malawi is a landlocked country in southeastern Africa known for its agriculture-based economy and large freshwater lake system.
- The country is heavily dependent on subsistence farming, making it vulnerable to climate shocks such as droughts and floods.
Location: Malawi is located in southeastern Africa along the East African Rift Valley.
Capital City: Lilongwe
Neighbouring Nations: Tanzania, Mozambique, and Zambia.
Key Geographical Features
- East African Rift Valley – The country lies along the Great Rift Valley, shaping much of its topography.
- Lake Malawi (Lake Nyasa) – One of Africa’s largest lakes, covering over one-fifth of Malawi’s total area and forming part of its eastern boundary.
- Shire River Valley – The Shire River, the only outlet of Lake Malawi, flows southward into the Zambezi River.
- Highlands and Plateaus – Includes regions such as the Nyika Highlands and Shire Highlands, with elevations above 2,000 metres.
- Mulanje Mountain Massif – The highest point in Malawi (3,002 m) located in southeastern Malawi.
- Lake Chilwa Basin – A shallow inland lake system important for local fisheries and wetlands.
Significance:
- A large share of the population depends on subsistence agriculture and cash crops such as tea and tobacco.
- Lake Malawi is one of the largest and most biodiverse freshwater lakes in the world, supporting fisheries and livelihoods.
