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Location:
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Southern Africa, an enclave of South Africa
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Geographic coordinates:
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29 30 S, 28 30 E
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Map references:
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africa
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Area:
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total: 30,355 sq km
water: 0 sq km
land: 30,355 sq km
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Area - comparative:
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slightly smaller than Maryland
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Land boundaries:
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total: 909 km
border countries: South Africa 909 km
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Coastline:
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0 km (landlocked)
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Maritime claims:
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none (landlocked)
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Climate:
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temperate; cool to cold, dry winters; hot, wet summers
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Terrain:
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mostly highland with plateaus, hills, and mountains
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point: junction of the Orange and Makhaleng Rivers 1,400 m
highest point: Thabana Ntlenyana 3,482 m
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Natural resources:
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water, agricultural and grazing land, some diamonds and other minerals
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Land use:
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arable land: 10.87%
permanent crops: 0.13%
other: 89% (2001)
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Irrigated land:
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10 sq km (1998 est.)
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Natural hazards:
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periodic droughts
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Environment - current issues:
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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
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Environment - international agreements:
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party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
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Geography - note:
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landlocked, completely surrounded by South Africa; mountainous, more than 80% of the country is 1,800 meters above sea level
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