Location:
Southern Africa, between South Africa and Zambia
Geographic coordinates:
20 00 S, 30 00 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:
390,757 sq km
country comparison to the world: 61
land:
386,847 sq km
water:
3,910 sq km
slightly larger than Montana
total:
3,066 km
border countries:
Botswana 813 km, Mozambique 1,231 km, South Africa 225 km, Zambia 797 km
[see also: Land boundaries country ranks ]
0 km (landlocked)
[see also: Coastline country ranks ]
tropical; moderated by altitude; rainy season (November to March)
mostly high plateau with higher central plateau (high veld); mountains in east
lowest point:
junction of the Runde and Save Rivers 162 m
highest point:
Inyangani 2,592 m
coal, chromium ore, asbestos, gold, nickel, copper, iron ore, vanadium, lithium, tin, platinum group metals
arable land:
10.49%
permanent crops:
0.31%
other:
89.2% (2011)
1,735 sq km (2003)
[see also: Irrigated land country ranks ]
20 cu km (2011)
[see also: Total renewable water resources country ranks ]
total:
4.21 cu km/yr (14%/7%/79%)
per capita:
333.5 cu m/yr (2002)
recurring droughts; floods and severe storms are rare
deforestation; soil erosion; land degradation; air and water pollution; the black rhinoceros herd - once the largest concentration of the species in the world - has been significantly reduced by poaching; poor mining practices have led to toxic waste and heavy metal pollution
party to:
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified:
none of the selected agreements
landlocked; the Zambezi forms a natural riverine boundary with Zambia; in full flood (February-April) the massive Victoria Falls on the river forms the world's largest curtain of falling water; Lake Kariba on the Zambia-Zimbabwe border forms the world's largest reservoir by volume (180 cu km; 43 cu mi)