Malawi is a narrow strip of land, about the size of Pennsylvania, located in East Africa. The country's profile is marked by Lake Malawi, one of the world's largest lakes and home to one of the world's most diverse fish populations. The land is a combination of rolling hills and plateaus, forests and valleys. The climate is tropical, with distinct dry and wet seasons (May to September and October to April, respectably). The Shire Valley, in the southern portion of Malawi, has a hotter, drier climate than the other parts of the country, with the northern district having cooler temperatures.
Malawi's main exports are tobacco, tea, and sugar. The country relies heavily on its agricultural sector, causing much of the land to be overworked. Other products include: corn, potatoes, sorghum, sawmill products, nuts, and cattle. Since most families are subsistence farmers or have their own garden, the country is covered in small plots of crops and local markets are full of families trying to sell their handfuls of tomatoes, onions, and other homegrown foods.
Malawi is a free republic, a multiparty democracy. With executive, legislative and judicial branches, the Malawian legal system is based on English common law and hold elections for president and the National Assembly every five years. The government receives aid from the IMF and many other international donors.