Short facts about the geography of Lesotho

Location:

Southern Africa, an enclave of South Africa

Geographic coordinates:

29 30 S, 28 30 E

Map references:

Africa

Area:

total:  30,355 sq km land:  30,355 sq km water:  0 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly smaller than Maryland

Land boundaries:

total:  909 km border countries:  South Africa 909 km

Coastline:

0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims:

none (landlocked)

Climate:

temperate; cool to cold, dry winters; hot, wet summers

Terrain:

mostly highland with plateaus, hills, and mountains

Elevation extremes:

lowest point:  junction of the Orange and Makhaleng Rivers 1,400 m highest point:  Thabana Ntlenyana 3,482 m

Natural resources:

water, agricultural and grazing land, some diamonds and other minerals

Land use:

arable land:  11% permanent crops:  0% permanent pastures:  66% forests and woodland:  0% other:  23% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land:

30 sq km (1993 est.)

Natural hazards:

periodic droughts

Environment - current issues:

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

Environment - international agreements:

party to:  Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified:  Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping

Geography - note:

landlocked; surrounded by South Africa

Source: World Factbook