Karonga

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Karonga
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pushpin_map_caption = Location in Malawi
subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = flag|Malawi
subdivision_type1 = Region
subdivision_name1 = Northern Region
subdivision_type2 = District
subdivision_name2 = Karonga District
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population_total = 42,555
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latd= 9|latm= 56|lats= |latNS=S
longd= 33|longm= 56|longs= |longEW=E
elevation_footnotes = cite web| url=http://www.fallingrain.com/world/MI/0/Karonga.html |title=Maps, Weather, and Airports for Karonga, Malawi |work=FallingRain Genomics |accessdate=2008-06-21]
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elevation_ft = 1568
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Karonga is a township in the Northern Region of Malawi. Located on the western shore of Lake Nyasa, it was established as a slave trading post in 1883. As of 2008 estimates, Karonga has a population of 42,555.

History

Karonga was founded with the opening of a British slave trading post there in 1883.cite web|url=http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/312634/Karonga|title=Karonga|date=2008|work=Encyclopædia Britannica|accessdate=2008-08-08] By 1877 it was the stronghold of Mlozi, a famous Arab trader. British explorer Sir Harry Johnston bought the post in 1895 and ended the slave trade on Lake Nyasa's western shore. At this point Karonga became an important commercial and agricultural center. According to "Lonely Planet", the town "still bears a strong Swahili-Arab influence today."Harvnb|Murphy|Armstrong|Firestone|Fitzpatrick|2007|p=159]

On July 11, 2008, the Kayelekera mine in Karonga celebrated 1.5 million hours of accident-free uranium mining.cite news|title=Government applauds Kayelekera on safety |last=Tayanjah|first=Francis|coauthors=Namwaza, Gerald|date=2008-06-11|work=The Daily Times|accessdate=2008-08-08] "Analysts" claim this is a rare achievement. The mine was previously met with controversy due exposing people to radiation. [cite web|url=http://allafrica.com/stories/200709070883.html|title=Torn Between the Lure And Danger of Uranium|date=2007-09-06|work=UN Integrated Regional Information Networks|publisher=AllAfricaaccessdate=2008-08-08]

Geography

Karonga is at an elevation of Unit foot|1568|0 on the western shore of Lake Nyasa. It is situated Unit mile|17.3|0 away from Kenan Ngomba, Unit mile|11|0 away from Kaporo, Unit mile|26.6|0 away from Kilondo and Unit mile|7.6|0 away from Lupembe.

Demographics

Demographic evolution

Languages

Tumbuka is commonly used in Karonga for both home and school. [Harvnb|Baldauf|Kaplan|2004|p=134] Karonga is known as "an island of Tumbuka language and culture in a sea of Ngonde people." [Harvnb|Baldauf|Kaplan|2004|p=88]

Economy

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

Transport

Karonga is home to the Karonga International Airport which handles only daytime domestic flights for Air Malawi. [ [http://www.azworldairports.com/airports/a2020kgj.cfm a-z World Airports] , accessed 9 August 2008] Buses travel from Mzuzu and Nkhata Bay to Karonga. [Harvnb|Murphy|Armstrong|Firestone|Fitzpatrick|2007|pp=188–233]

Facilities

Museums

The Culture and Museum Center Karonga is Karonga's most popular attraction.Harvnb|Murphy|Armstrong|Firestone|Fitzpatrick|2007|p=177] It is home to the Malawisaurus, a 150 million year old fossil discovered 45 km south of Karonga. It displays an exhibit entitled "From Dinosaurs to Democracy", which chronicles the area's history.

Notes

References

*citation|last1=Baldauf|first1=Richard B.|last2=Kaplan|first2=Robert B.|title=Language Planning and Policy in Africa: Botswana, Malawi, Mozambique and South Africa|publisher=Multilingual Matters|volume=1|date=2004|isbn=1853597252|oclc=56751169
*citation|last1=Murphy|first1=Alan|last2=Armstrong|first2=Kate|last3=Firestone|first3=Mathew D.|last4=Fitzpatrick|first4=Mary|title=Southern Africa: Join the Safari|publisher=Lonely Planet|date=2007|isbn=1740597451|oclc=76936284