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Location: Southern Africa, an enclave of South Africa
Geographic coordinates: 29 30 S, 28 30 E
Map references: Africa
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, Desertification,
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
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