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Location:
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Southern Africa, east of Zambia
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Geographic coordinates:
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13 30 S, 34 00 E
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Map references:
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Africa
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Area:
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total: 118,480 sq km
water: 24,400 sq km
land: 94,080 sq km
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Area - comparative:
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slightly smaller than Pennsylvania
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Land boundaries:
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total: 2,881 km
border countries: Mozambique 1,569 km, Tanzania 475 km, Zambia 837 km
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Coastline:
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0 km (landlocked)
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Maritime claims:
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none (landlocked)
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Climate:
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sub-tropical; rainy season (November to May); dry season (May to November)
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Terrain:
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narrow elongated plateau with rolling plains, rounded hills, some mountains
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point: junction of the Shire River and international boundary with Mozambique 37 m
highest point: Sapitwa (Mount Mlanje) 3,002 m
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Natural resources:
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limestone, arable land, hydropower, unexploited deposits of uranium, coal, and bauxite
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Land use:
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arable land: 19.93%
permanent crops: 1.33%
other: 78.74% (1998 est.)
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Irrigated land:
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280 sq km (1998 est.)
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Natural hazards:
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NA
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Environment - current issues:
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deforestation; land degradation; water pollution from agricultural runoff, sewage, industrial wastes; siltation of spawning grounds endangers fish populations
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Environment - international agreements:
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party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
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Geography - note:
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landlocked; Lake Nyasa, some 580 km long, is the country's most prominent physical feature
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