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Malawi, republic in south-eastern Africa, formerly the British protectorate of Nyasaland, bordered on the north by Tanzania, on the east by Lake Malawi, on the south-east and south by Mozambique, and on the west by Zambia. Malawi extends about 835 km (520 mi) from north to south and varies in width from about 80 to 160 km (50 to 100 mi). The total area of the country is 118,484 sq km (45,747 sq mi), nearly a quarter of which is water, mainly Lake Malawi and three smaller lakes. The capital of Malawi is Lilongwe.
The East African Rift Valley runs through Malawi from north to south. In this deep trough lies Lake Malawi (also known as Lake Nyasa), the third-largest lake in Africa. From the southern end of the lake the Shire River flows to join the Zambezi River in Mozambique. To the east and west of the Rift Valley the land rises to form high plateaux, generally about 915 to 1,220 m (3,000 to 4,000 ft) in elevation but reaching about 2,440 m (8,000 ft) in the Nyika uplands in the north. South of Lake Malawi lie the Shire Highlands, which rise to more than 2,740 m (9,000 ft).
Malawi’s climate varies with elevation. In the low-lying Shire Valley it is hot and humid, with temperatures averaging 23.3° to 25.6° C (74° to 78° F). In the highlands the climate is more temperate. The rainy season lasts from November to April. Annual rainfall averages about 1,780 mm (70 in) in the highlands and about 890 mm (35 in) in the lowlands.
Malawi’s resources are almost entirely agricultural. Mineral wealth is slight, although there is some marble, limestone, bauxite, and uranium. A thin forest of small trees covers large parts of the country, and some timber trees grow in the damp ravines of the mountains and along the riverbanks. Baobab, acacia, and conifers grow in the highlands. There are environmental problems of deforestation and erosion.
