Short facts about the geography of Botswana

Location:

Southern Africa, north of South Africa

Geographic coordinates:

22 00 S, 24 00 E

Map references:

Africa

Area:

total:  600,370 sq km land:  585,370 sq km water:  15,000 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly smaller than Texas

Land boundaries:

total:  4,013 km border countries:  Namibia 1,360 km, South Africa 1,840 km, Zimbabwe 813 km

Coastline:

0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims:

none (landlocked)

Climate:

semiarid; warm winters and hot summers

Terrain:

predominantly flat to gently rolling tableland; Kalahari Desert in southwest

Elevation extremes:

lowest point:  junction of the Limpopo and Shashe Rivers 513 m highest point:  Tsodilo Hills 1,489 m

Natural resources:

diamonds, copper, nickel, salt, soda ash, potash, coal, iron ore, silver

Land use:

arable land:  1% permanent crops:  0% permanent pastures:  46% forests and woodland:  47% other:  6% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land:

20 sq km (1993 est.)

Natural hazards:

periodic droughts; seasonal August winds blow from the west, carrying sand and dust across the country, which can obscure visibility

Environment - current issues:

overgrazing; desertification; limited fresh water resources

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:  none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

landlocked; population concentrated in eastern part of the country

Source: World Factbook