|
| Location: |
Southern Africa, an enclave of South Africa
|
| Geographic coordinates: |
29 30 S, 28 30 E
|
| Area: |
total:
30,355 sq km
land:
30,355 sq km
water:
0 sq km
|
| Area - comparative: |
slightly smaller than Maryland
|
| Land boundaries: |
total:
909 km
border countries:
South Africa 909 km
|
| Coastline: |
0 km (landlocked)
|
| Maritime claims: |
none (landlocked)
|
| Climate: |
temperate; cool to cold, dry winters; hot, wet summers
|
| Terrain: |
mostly highland with plateaus, hills, and mountains
|
| Elevation extremes: |
lowest point:
junction of the Orange and Makhaleng Rivers 1,400 m
highest point:
Thabana Ntlenyana 3,482 m
|
| Natural resources: |
water, agricultural and grazing land, some diamonds and other minerals
|
| Land use: |
arable land:
11%
permanent crops:
0%
permanent pastures:
66%
forests and woodland:
0%
other:
23% (1993 est.)
|
| Irrigated land: |
30 sq km (1993 est.)
|
| Natural hazards: |
periodic droughts
|
| Environment - current issues: |
population pressure forcing settlement in marginal areas results in overgrazing, severe soil erosion, and soil exhaustion; desertification; Highlands Water Project controls, stores, and redirects water to South Africa
|
| Environment - international agreements: |
party to:
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified:
Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping
|
| Geography - note: |
landlocked; surrounded by South Africa
|
|
|
|
