Location:
Southern Africa, an enclave of South Africa
Geographic coordinates:
29 30 S, 28 30 E
Map references:
Africa
Area:
Area - comparative: Land boundaries:
Coastline: Maritime claims:
none (landlocked)
Climate: Terrain: Elevation extremes:
Natural resources: Land use:
Irrigated land: Total renewable water resources: Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
Natural hazards: Environment - current issues: Environment - international agreements:
Geography - note:
total:
30,355 sq km
country comparison to the world: 142
land:
30,355 sq km
water:
0 sq km
slightly smaller than Maryland
total:
909 km
border countries:
South Africa 909 km
[see also: Land boundaries country ranks ]
0 km (landlocked)
[see also: Coastline country ranks ]
temperate; cool to cold, dry winters; hot, wet summers
mostly highland with plateaus, hills, and mountains
lowest point:
junction of the Orange and Makhaleng Rivers 1,400 m
highest point:
Thabana Ntlenyana 3,482 m
water, agricultural and grazing land, diamonds, sand, clay, building stone
arable land:
10.14%
permanent crops:
0.13%
other:
89.72% (2011)
26.37 sq km (2003)
[see also: Irrigated land country ranks ]
3.02 cu km (2011)
[see also: Total renewable water resources country ranks ]
total:
0.04 cu km/yr (46%/46%/9%)
per capita:
21.79 cu m/yr (2000)
periodic droughts
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
party to:
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified:
none of the selected agreements
landlocked, completely surrounded by South Africa; mountainous, more than 80% of the country is 1,800 m above sea level