The Resources of Morvalonga
Morvalonga, for many thousands of years was home to nomadic cattle herding tribes in the west, settled subsistence farmers in most of the country and farmers, traders and fishermen along the coast. From the sixteenth century onwards the Arab and European influence grew along the coast and up the rivers. The slave and spice trades flourished under the Arabs and Portuguese mainly with some American trade until, from the early nineteenth century, the Royal Navy suppressed the slave trade though remnants remained until recently. Some say that the slave trade still exists. Piracy was another staple of the coast and this profession still exists.
The European explorers and traders did not find much of interest until the Race for Africa began and the lands of the Morvalis gained a new value. Political importance only at first led to trade and inevitably to military involvement while the establishment of the British trade and coaling stations brought more settlers, missionaries and explorers. These latter were now interested in commercial exploitation.
Modern commercial exploitation is built on the early successes of plantations and cattle herding while large areas were destroyed by failures like the ground nut scandal and some timber plantations.
The land is rich in minerals. The two main mining industries are gold and gem stones, principally rubies.
Gold mine | Morvalongan bullion | Gem quarry | Morvalongan rubies |
Much of the interior is still in its natural state. Along the main routes and rivers lie many large farms of flowers, maize and other crops while most cattle herding remains free range. Up in the foothills are extensive coffee and tea plantations. The majority of farms remain small.
Maize plantation | Village farm | Flower plantation | Free range cattle herding |
Oil production site in the uplands | Oil production along a lake shore | Coffee Plantation | Coffee Plantation |
Many of the people of Morvalonga continue to live in the traditional way making their living on little farms, herding cattle, goats and sheep. Others have moved to the towns and the few cities as labourers, miners, factory workers and the myriad of employments there. Some are employed in the growing geothermal industry in the Rift Valley.
Hot spring | Geothermal power plant | Traditional coastal hut | Modern hut built in traditional style |
Traditional northern village | Traditional central village | Decorated hut | Nomadic cattle herders and hut |
As in all of Africa the agriculture is subjected to the climate. Normally the seasonal variations cause no great hardship. Unfortunately at various times there are extremes of floods, droughts and plagues of locusts.
Drought | Flood | Dry season | Locust swarm (and elephant) |
On to the Geography of Morvalonga
On to the People of Morvalonga
On to the Resources of Morvalonga
On to the Buildings of Morvalonga
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