| Karonga | |
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| Rice fields in Karonga | |
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Karonga
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| Coordinates: | |
| Country | Malawi |
| Region | Northern Region |
| District | Karonga District |
| Elevation | 1,568 ft (478 m) |
| Population (2008)[1] | |
| • Total | 42,555 |
| Time zone | +2 |
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 2008 estimates, Karonga has a population of 42,555.
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Some time before 1877 Karonga existed as the stronghold of Mlozi, a famous Arab slaver.[2] In 1883 a British trading post, which formed the basis of the modern town, was opened there.[2] British explorer Sir Harry Johnston bought the post in 1895 and ended the slave trade on Lake Nyasa's western shore.[2] At this point Karonga became an important commercial and agricultural center.[2] According to Lonely Planet, the town "still bears a strong Swahili-Arab influence today."[3]
A recent discovery of pre-historic tools and remains of hominids 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 (6.2 mi) from Karonga. (from a Reuters news report on October 23, 2009)
On 11 July 2008 the Kayelekera mine in Karonga celebrated 1.5 million hours of accident-free uranium mining.[4] "Analysts" claim this is a rare achievement.[4] The mine was previously met with controversy due exposing people to radiation.[5]
In December 2009 the area suffered a series of earthquakes.
Karonga is at an elevation of 1,568 feet (478 m) on the western shore of Lake Nyasa. It is situated 17.3 miles (27.8 km) away from Kenan Ngomba, 11 miles (18 km) away from Kaporo, 26.6 miles (42.8 km) away from Kilondo and 7.6 miles (12.2 km) away from Lupembe.[6]
| Year | Population[1] |
|---|---|
| 1987 | 19,667 |
| 1998 | 27,816 |
| 2008 | 42,555 |
Tumbuka is commonly used in Karonga for both home and school.[7] Karonga is known as "an island of Tumbuka language and culture in a sea of Ngonde people."[8]
The economy of the area is based on cotton and rice production along the lake and on coffee and livestock in the west.[2] Karongans are dependent on subsistence fishing.[2]
Karonga is home to the Karonga International Airport[6] which handles only daytime domestic flights for Air Malawi.[9] Buses travel from Mzuzu and Nkhata Bay to Karonga.[10]
The Culture and Museum Center Karonga is Karonga's most popular attraction.[11] It is home to the Malawisaurus, a 150 million year old fossil discovered 45 kilometres (28 mi) south of Karonga.[11] It displays an exhibit entitled "From Dinosaurs to Democracy", which chronicles the area's history.[11]