Location:
Southern Africa, at the southern tip of the continent of Africa
Geographic coordinates:
29 00 S, 24 00 E
Map references:
Africa
Area:
Area - comparative: Land boundaries:
Coastline: Maritime claims:
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:
1,219,090 sq km
country comparison to the world: 25
land:
1,214,470 sq km
water:
4,620 sq km
note:
includes Prince Edward Islands (Marion Island and Prince Edward Island)
slightly less than twice the size of Texas
total:
4,862 km
border countries:
Botswana 1,840 km, Lesotho 909 km, Mozambique 491 km, Namibia 967 km, Swaziland 430 km, Zimbabwe 225 km
[see also: Land boundaries country ranks ]
2,798 km
[see also: Coastline country ranks ]
territorial sea:
12 nm
contiguous zone:
24 nm
exclusive economic zone:
200 nm
continental shelf:
200 nm or to edge of the continental margin
mostly semiarid; subtropical along east coast; sunny days, cool nights
More Climate Details
vast interior plateau rimmed by rugged hills and narrow coastal plain
lowest point:
Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point:
Njesuthi 3,408 m
gold, chromium, antimony, coal, iron ore, manganese, nickel, phosphates, tin, rare earth elements, uranium, gem diamonds, platinum, copper, vanadium, salt, natural gas
arable land:
9.87%
permanent crops:
0.34%
other:
89.79% (2011)
16,700 sq km (2012)
[see also: Irrigated land country ranks ]
51.4 cu km (2011)
[see also: Total renewable water resources country ranks ]
total:
12.5 cu km/yr (36%/7%/57%)
per capita:
271.7 cu m/yr (2005)
prolonged droughts
volcanism:
the volcano forming Marion Island in the Prince Edward Islands, which last erupted in 2004, is South Africa's only active volcano
lack of important arterial rivers or lakes requires extensive water conservation and control measures; growth in water usage outpacing supply; pollution of rivers from agricultural runoff and urban discharge; air pollution resulting in acid rain; soil erosion; desertification
party to:
Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified:
none of the selected agreements
South Africa completely surrounds Lesotho and almost completely surrounds Swaziland