| Location: |
Southern Africa, east of Angola
|
| Geographic coordinates: |
15 00 S, 30 00 E
|
| Area: |
total:
752,614 sq km
land:
740,724 sq km
water:
11,890 sq km
|
| Area - comparative: |
slightly larger than Texas
|
| Land boundaries: |
total:
5,664 km
border countries:
Angola 1,110 km, Democratic Republic of the Congo 1,930 km, Malawi 837 km, Mozambique 419 km, Namibia 233 km, Tanzania 338 km, Zimbabwe 797 km
|
| Coastline: |
0 km (landlocked)
|
| Maritime claims: |
none (landlocked)
|
| Climate: |
tropical; modified by altitude; rainy season (October to April)
|
| Terrain: |
mostly high plateau with some hills and mountains
|
| Elevation extremes: |
lowest point:
Zambezi river 329 m
highest point:
unnamed location in Mafinga Hills 2,301 m
|
| Natural resources: |
copper, cobalt, zinc, lead, coal, emeralds, gold, silver, uranium, hydropower
|
| Land use: |
arable land:
7%
permanent crops:
0%
permanent pastures:
40%
forests and woodland:
39%
other:
14% (1993 est.)
|
| Irrigated land: |
460 sq km (1993 est.)
|
| Natural hazards: |
tropical storms (November to April)
|
| Environment - current issues: |
air pollution and resulting acid rain in the mineral extraction and refining region; chemical runoff into watersheds; poaching seriously threatens rhinoceros, elephant, antelope, and large cat populations; deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; lack of adequate water treatment presents human health risks
|
| Environment - international agreements: |
party to:
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified:
Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
|
| Geography - note: |
landlocked
|
|
