Karonga

Last updated

Karonga
Karonga rice fields.jpg
Rice fields in Karonga
Malawi adm location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Karonga
Location in Malawi
Coordinates: 09°56′00″S33°56′00″E / 9.93333°S 33.93333°E / -9.93333; 33.93333
CountryFlag of Malawi.svg  Malawi
Region Northern Region
District Karonga District
Elevation
478 m (1,568 ft)
Population
 (2018 Census [1] )
 • Total61,609
Time zone +2
Climate Aw

Karonga is a township in the Karonga District in Northern Region of Malawi. Located on the western shore of Lake Nyasa, it was established as a slaving centre sometime before 1877. As of 2018 estimates, Karonga has a population of 61,609. The common and major language spoken in this district is the Tumbuka language, which is also a regional language of Northern Malawi.

Contents

History

Pre-historic tools and remains of hominids discovered in Malawi's remote northern district of Karonga provides further proof that the area could be the cradle of humankind. Professor Friedemann Schrenk of the Goethe University in Frankfurt told Reuters News that two students working on the excavation site in September 2009 had discovered prehistoric tools and a tooth of a hominid. "This latest discovery of prehistoric tools and remains of hominids provides additional proof to the theory that the Great Rift Valley of Africa and perhaps the excavation site near Karonga can be considered the cradle of humankind." Schrenk said. The site also contains some of the earliest dinosaurs which lived between 100 million and 140 million years ago and early hominids believed to have lived between a million and 6 million years ago. The discovery was at Malema excavation site 10 km (6 mi) from Karonga. [2]

In terms of more recent prehistory, Karonga has an abundance of Pleistocene and Holocene archaeological materials dating especially to the Middle and Later Stone Ages, as well as the Iron Age. [3]

Some time before 1877 Karonga existed as the stronghold of Mlozi, a famous Arab slaver. [4] In 1883 a British trading post, which formed the basis of the modern town, was opened there. [4] British explorer Sir Harry Johnston bought the post in 1895 and ended the slave trade on Lake Nyasa's western shore. [4] At this point Karonga became an important commercial and agricultural centre. [4] According to Lonely Planet , the town "still bears a strong Swahili-Arab influence today." [5]

On 11 July 2008 the Kayelekera mine in Karonga celebrated 1.5 million hours of accident-free uranium mining. [6] "Analysts" claim this is a rare achievement. [6] The mine previously met with controversy due to exposing people to radiation. [7]

In December 2009 the area suffered a series of earthquakes.

Geography

Karonga is at an elevation of 478 metres (1,568 ft) on the western shore of Lake Nyasa. It is situated 28 kilometres (17+1⁄4 mi) from Kenan Ngomba, 18 km (11 mi) from Kaporo, 42.5 km (26+1⁄2 mi) from Kilondo and 12 km (7+1⁄2 mi) from Lupembe. [8]

Demographics

Edicas Nachinga and her grandchildren in Karonga, 2010 Edicas Nachinga with her orphaned grandchildren (4993106936).jpg
Edicas Nachinga and her grandchildren in Karonga, 2010
YearPopulation [9] [1]
197711,873
198719,667
199827,811
200840,334
201861,609
Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
197711,873—    
198719,667+5.18%
199827,811+3.20%
200840,334+3.79%
201861,609+4.33%
source: [10]

Languages

Tumbuka is commonly used in Karonga for both home and school. [11] Karonga is known as "an island of Tumbuka language and culture in a sea of Ngonde people." [12]

Economy

The economy of the area is based on cotton, rice and maize production along the lake and on coffee and livestock in the west. [4] Karongans are dependent on subsistence fishing. [4]

Climate

Karonga's climate is classified as tropical. The summers are much rainier than the winters in Karonga. The climate here is classified as Aw by the Köppen-Geiger system. In Karonga, the average annual temperature is 25.6 °C (78.8 °F). [13]

Climate data for Karonga
MonthJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecYear
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)29.6
(85.3)		29.6
(85.3)		29.3
(84.7)		29.0
(84.2)		28.7
(83.7)		27.6
(81.7)		27.3
(81.1)		28.3
(82.9)		30.6
(87.1)		32.5
(90.5)		32.4
(90.3)		30.5
(86.9)		29.6
(85.3)
Daily mean °C (°F)24.9
(76.8)		25.0
(77.0)		24.7
(76.5)		24.6
(76.3)		23.6
(74.5)		22.2
(72.0)		21.7
(71.1)		22.4
(72.3)		24.3
(75.7)		26.4
(79.5)		27.0
(80.6)		25.7
(78.3)		24.4
(75.9)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)21.8
(71.2)		21.7
(71.1)		21.5
(70.7)		21.3
(70.3)		19.9
(67.8)		17.9
(64.2)		17.0
(62.6)		17.6
(63.7)		19.4
(66.9)		21.9
(71.4)		23.0
(73.4)		22.4
(72.3)		20.4
(68.7)
Average precipitation mm (inches)132.3
(5.21)		120.0
(4.72)		206.0
(8.11)		130.0
(5.12)		19.4
(0.76)		0.8
(0.03)		0.8
(0.03)		0.3
(0.01)		0.0
(0.0)		1.3
(0.05)		39.4
(1.55)		149.0
(5.87)		799.3
(31.47)
Average relative humidity (%)79808280746665646056627570
Mean monthly sunshine hours 176.7170.8207.7222.0254.2264.0285.2306.9306.0319.3273.0213.92,999.7
Mean daily sunshine hours 5.76.16.77.48.28.89.29.910.210.39.16.98.2
Source: NOAA [14]

Arts and culture

The Cultural & Museum Centre Karonga is Karonga's most popular attraction to tourists. [15] It is home to the Malawisaurus, a 150-million-year-old fossil discovered 45 kilometres (28 mi) south of Karonga. [15] It displays an exhibit entitled "From Dinosaurs to Democracy", which chronicles the area's history. [15]

Infrastructure

Karonga is home to the Karonga Airport [8] which handles only daytime domestic flights for Air Malawi. [16] Buses travel from Mzuzu and Nkhata Bay to Karonga. [17]

Notes

  1. 1 2 "2018 Population and Housing Census Main Report" (PDF). Malawi National Statistical Office. Retrieved 25 December 2019.
  2. ↑ Banda, Mabvuto (23 October 2009). "Malawi could be the cradle of humankind". Science. Reuters. Retrieved 31 August 2014.
  3. ↑ Wright, David K. (2014). "Renewed Geoarchaeological Investigations of Mwanganda's Village (Elephant Butchery Site), Karonga, Malawi". Geoarchaeology. 29 (2): 98–120. doi:10.1002/gea.21469.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Karonga". Encyclopædia Britannica. 2008. Retrieved 8 August 2008.
  5. ↑ Murphy et al. 2007 , p. 159
  6. 1 2 Tayanjah, Francis; Namwaza, Gerald (11 June 2008). "Government applauds Kayelekera on safety". The Daily Times.
  7. ↑ "Torn Between the Lure And Danger of Uranium". UN Integrated Regional Information Networks. AllAfrica. 6 September 2007. Retrieved 8 August 2008.
  8. 1 2 "Maps, Weather, and Airports for Karonga, Malawi". FallingRain Genomics. Retrieved 21 June 2008.
  9. ↑ "World Gazetteer: Malawi: largest cities and towns and statistics of their population". World Gazetteer. Archived from the original on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 8 July 2008.
  10. ↑ "Malawi: Regions, Major Cities, Towns & Urban Localities - Population Statistics, Maps, Charts, Weather and Web Information". www.citypopulation.de. Retrieved 25 December 2021.
  11. ↑ Baldauf & Kaplan 2004 , p. 134
  12. ↑ Baldauf & Kaplan 2004 , p. 88
  13. ↑ "Karonga climate: Average Temperature, weather by month, Karonga weather averages - Climate-Data.org". en.climate-data.org. Retrieved 25 December 2021.
  14. ↑ "Karonga Climate Normals 1961–1990". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration . Retrieved 8 March 2015.
  15. 1 2 3 Murphy et al. 2007 , p. 177
  16. ↑ a-z World Airports, accessed 9 August 2008
  17. ↑ Murphy et al. 2007 , pp. 188–233

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Geography of Malawi</span>

Malawi is a landlocked country in southeast Africa. It is wholly within the tropics; from about 9°30S at its northernmost point to about 17°S at the southernmost tip. The country occupies a thin strip of land between Zambia and Mozambique, extending southwards into Mozambique along the valley of the Shire River. In the north and north east it also shares a border with Tanzania. Malawi is connected by rail to the Mozambican ports of Nacala and Beira. It lies between latitudes 9° and 18°S, and longitudes 32° and 36°E.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lake Malawi</span> Lake in Africa

Lake Malawi, also known as Lake Nyasa in Tanzania and Lago Niassa in Mozambique, is an African Great Lake and the southernmost lake in the East African Rift system, located between Malawi, Mozambique and Tanzania.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tumbuka people</span> Ethnic group in Central South-East Africa

The Tumbuka is a Bantu ethnic group found in Malawi, Zambia and Tanzania. Tumbuka is classified as a part of the Bantu language family, and with origins in a geographic region between the Dwangwa River to the south, the North Rukuru River to the north, Lake Malawi to the east, and the Luangwa River. They are found in the valleys near the rivers, lake as well as the highlands of Nyika Plateau, where they are frequently referred to as Henga although this is strictly speaking the name of a subdivision.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cradle of Humankind</span> Paleoanthropological site near Johannesburg, South Africa

The Cradle of Humankind is a paleoanthropological site that is located about 50 km (31 mi) northwest of Johannesburg, South Africa, in the Gauteng province. Declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1999, the site is home to the largest known concentration of human ancestral remains anywhere in the world. The site currently occupies 47,000 hectares (180 sq mi) and contains a complex system of limestone caves. The registered name of the site in the list of World Heritage Sites is Fossil Hominid Sites of South Africa.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sterkfontein</span> Archaeological site in Gauteng, South Africa

Sterkfontein is a set of limestone caves of special interest in paleoanthropology located in Gauteng province, about 40 kilometres (25 mi) northwest of Johannesburg, South Africa in the Muldersdrift area close to the town of Krugersdorp. The archaeological sites of Swartkrans and Kromdraai are in the same area. Sterkfontein is a South African National Heritage Site and was also declared a World Heritage Site in 2000. The area in which it is situated is known as the Cradle of Humankind. The Sterkfontein Caves are also home to numerous wild African species including Belonogaster petiolata, a wasp species of which there is a large nesting presence.

Kasungu is a town in the Kasungu District of the Central Region of Malawi. The population of Kasungu was 58,653 according to the 2018 census. Kasungu is approximately 130 kilometres (81 mi) north-west of the capital of Malawi, Lilongwe, and is 35 kilometres (22 mi) east of Kasungu National Park. The main industry in Kasungu is tobacco-growing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nkhotakota</span> Place in Central Region, Malawi

Nkhotakota (Un-kho-tah-kho-tuh) is a town and one of the districts in the Central Region of Malawi. It is on the shore of Lake Malawi and is one of the main ports on Lake Malawi. As of 2018, Nkhotakota had a population estimated at 28,350. The district had a population of 301,000.

Tumbuka is a Bantu language which is spoken in Malawi, Zambia, and Tanzania. It is also known as Chitumbuka or Citumbuka — the chi- prefix in front of Tumbuka means "in the manner of", and is understood in this case to mean "the language of the Tumbuka people". Tumbuka belongs to the same language group as Chewa and Sena.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Swartkrans</span> Fossil-bearing cave in South Africa

Swartkrans is a fossil-bearing cave designated as a South African National Heritage Site, located about 32 km (20 mi) from Johannesburg. It is located in the Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site and is notable for being extremely rich in archaeological material, particularly hominin remains. Fossils discovered in the limestone of Swartkrans include Homo ergaster, Paranthropus and Homo habilis. The oldest deposits present at the site are believed to be between 1.9 and 2.1 million years old.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nkhata Bay</span> Place in Northern Region, Malawi

Nkhata Bay or just Nkhata is the capital of the Nkhata Bay District in Malawi. It is on the shore of Lake Malawi, east of Mzuzu, and is one of the main ports on Lake Malawi. The population of Nkhata Bay was 14,274 according to the 2018 census. Nkhata Bay is 413 kilometres (257 mi) from Lilongwe, Malawi's capital city, and 576 kilometres (358 mi) from Blantyre, Malawi's second-largest city. Nkhata Bay is the second "busiest resort" on Lake Malawi.

Cooper's Cave is a series of fossil-bearing breccia filled cavities. The cave is located almost exactly between the well known South African hominid-bearing sites of Sterkfontein and Kromdraai and about 40 kilometres (25 mi) northwest of Johannesburg, South Africa and has been declared a South African National Heritage Site.

Gladysvale Cave is a fossil-bearing breccia filled cave located about 13 kilometres (8.1 mi) northeast of the well-known South African hominid-bearing sites of Sterkfontein and Swartkrans and about 45 kilometres (28 mi) north-northwest of Johannesburg, South Africa. It is situated within the Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site and is itself a South African National Heritage Site.

Motsetsi Cave is a fossil-bearing breccia filled cavity located about 14 kilometres (8.7 mi) east of the well known South African hominid-bearing sites of Sterkfontein and Kromdraai and about 45 kilometres (28 mi) north-northwest of Johannesburg, South Africa. Motsetsi has been declared a South African National Heritage Site.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Plovers Lake</span> Paleontological site

Plovers Lake Cave is a fossil-bearing breccia filled cavity in South Africa. The cave is located about 4 km Southeast of the well known South African hominid-bearing sites of Sterkfontein and Kromdraai and about 36 km Northwest of the City of Johannesburg, South Africa. Plovers Lake has been declared a South African National Heritage Site.

Kromdraai is a fossil-bearing breccia-filled cave located about 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) east of the well-known South African hominid-bearing site of Sterkfontein and about 45 kilometres (28 mi) northwest of Johannesburg, South Africa. It is situated within the Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site and is itself a South African National Heritage Site.

The Florisbad archaeological and paleontological site is a provincial heritage site in Soutpan in the Free State province of South Africa. The most notable find at this site is the Florisbad Skull, the partial skull of an early human species that was discovered in 1932.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Andre Keyser</span>

André Werner Keyser, was a South African palaeontologist and geologist noted for his discovery of the Drimolen hominid site and of numerous hominid remains.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cultural & Museum Centre Karonga</span> Local museum in Malawi

The Cultural & Museum Centre Karonga (CMCK), commonly called Karonga Museum, is a cultural centre and museum in Karonga District, northern Malawi.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Archaeology of Malawi</span>

People first began to be interested in Malawi's prehistoric past in the 1920s. Excavations of sites in nearby countries, Tanzania and Zambia, made archaeologists believe that they may find the same type of material culture in Malawi. In the 1920s, a series of lacustrine deposits was found at the northwest end of Lake Malawi. These beds contained fragmentary fossils and were mapped by Dr. F. Dixey. These findings sparked an interest to excavate more locations in Malawi.

Bolt's Farm is a palaeontological site in the Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site, Gauteng province, South Africa. With more than 30 fossil deposits dating back 4.5 Ma, it is one of the oldest sites currently discovered in the Cradle of Humankind. It consists of multiple cavities, pits, and quarries, where caves have eroded away, exposing their fossiliferous interiors. Although this site has not yet yielded the hominid fossils for which the Cradle of Humankind is known, Bolt's Farm is still an important source of fossils from various species of Early Pliocene and Plio-Pleistocene fauna, including primates and big cats.

References

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.