|
|
|
|
Location:
|
Southern Africa, at the southern tip of the continent of Africa
|
|
Geographic coordinates:
|
29 00 S, 24 00 E
|
|
Map references:
|
africa
|
|
Area:
|
total: 1,219,912 sq km
land: 1,219,912 sq km
note: includes Prince Edward Islands (Marion Island and Prince Edward Island)
water: 0 sq km
|
|
Area - comparative:
|
slightly less than twice the size of Texas
|
|
Land boundaries:
|
total: 4,862 km
border countries: Botswana 1,840 km, Lesotho 909 km, Mozambique 491 km, Namibia 967 km, Swaziland 430 km, Zimbabwe 225 km
|
|
Coastline:
|
2,798 km
|
|
Maritime claims:
|
territorial sea: 12 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to edge of the continental margin
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
|
|
Climate:
|
mostly semiarid; subtropical along east coast; sunny days, cool nights
|
|
Terrain:
|
vast interior plateau rimmed by rugged hills and narrow coastal plain
|
|
Elevation extremes:
|
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Njesuthi 3,408 m
|
|
Natural resources:
|
gold, chromium, antimony, coal, iron ore, manganese, nickel, phosphates, tin, uranium, gem diamonds, platinum, copper, vanadium, salt, natural gas
|
|
Land use:
|
arable land: 12.08%
permanent crops: 0.79%
other: 87.13% (2001)
|
|
Irrigated land:
|
13,500 sq km (1998 est.)
|
|
Natural hazards:
|
prolonged droughts
|
|
Environment - current issues:
|
lack of important arterial rivers or lakes requires extensive water conservation and control measures; growth in water usage outpacing supply; pollution of rivers from agricultural runoff and urban discharge; air pollution resulting in acid rain; soil erosion; desertification
|
|
Environment - international agreements:
|
party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
|
|
|
|
|
