Editing Geography of Malawi (section)

==Area==
The total area of the country is {{convert|118,484|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}, but this includes {{convert|24,404|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}} of water surface, mainly composed of Lake Malawi, but there are other sizeable lakes, such as [[Lake Malombe]], [[Lake Chilwa]] and [[Lake Chiuta]]. The land area is 94,080&nbsp;km².

The country is dominated by Lake Malawi, which drains into the [[Zambezi River]] through the Shire River. As a result, the whole of the country, except for one eastern district, is part of the Zambezi drainage system. Lake Chiuta and the surrounding plain is drained by the Lugenda river, which is part of the [[Ruvuma River]] drainage system. Lake Chilwa, about {{convert|35|km|mi|abbr=on}} south of Lake Chiuta, is unusual as it has no outlet although when it overflows it flows into Lake Chiuta through a [[Zambezian flooded grasslands|swampy plain]]. High rates of evaporation ensure that the lake seldom fills up – much of the lake is only 1 metre deep or less.

'''Environment &ndash; current issues:'''
[[Deforestation]]; [[land degradation]]; [[water pollution]] from [[agricultural runoff]], [[sewage]], industrial wastes; [[siltation]] of spawning grounds endangers fish populations

'''Environment &ndash; international agreements:'''
<br>''party to:''
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, [[Desertification]], Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
<br>''signed, but not ratified:''
Law of the Sea<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/malawi/|title=Africa :: Malawi — The World Factbook - Central Intelligence Agency|website=www.cia.gov|access-date=2019-04-08}}</ref>