| Location: |
Southern Africa, between Mozambique and South Africa
|
| Geographic coordinates: |
26 30 S, 31 30 E
|
| Area: |
total:
17,363 sq km
land:
17,203 sq km
water:
160 sq km
|
| Area - comparative: |
slightly smaller than New Jersey
|
| Land boundaries: |
total:
535 km
border countries:
Mozambique 105 km, South Africa 430 km
|
| Coastline: |
0 km (landlocked)
|
| Maritime claims: |
none (landlocked)
|
| Climate: |
varies from tropical to near temperate
|
| Terrain: |
mostly mountains and hills; some moderately sloping plains
|
| Elevation extremes: |
lowest point:
Great Usutu River 21 m
highest point:
Emlembe 1,862 m
|
| Natural resources: |
asbestos, coal, clay, cassiterite, hydropower, forests, small gold and diamond deposits, quarry stone, and talc
|
| Land use: |
arable land:
11%
permanent crops:
0%
permanent pastures:
62%
forests and woodland:
7%
other:
20% (1993 est.)
|
| Irrigated land: |
670 sq km (1993 est.)
|
| Environment - current issues: |
limited supplies of potable water; wildlife populations being depleted because of excessive hunting; overgrazing; soil degradation; soil erosion
|
| Environment - international agreements: |
party to:
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified:
Desertification, Law of the Sea
|
| Geography - note: |
landlocked; almost completely surrounded by South Africa
|
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