Short facts about the geography of Mozambique

Location:

Southern Africa, bordering the Mozambique Channel, between South Africa and Tanzania

Geographic coordinates:

18 15 S, 35 00 E

Map references:

Africa

Area:

total:  801,590 sq km land:  784,090 sq km water:  17,500 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly less than twice the size of California

Land boundaries:

total:  4,571 km border countries:  Malawi 1,569 km, South Africa 491 km, Swaziland 105 km, Tanzania 756 km, Zambia 419 km, Zimbabwe 1,231 km

Coastline:

2,470 km

Maritime claims:

exclusive economic zone:  200 NM territorial sea:  12 NM

Climate:

tropical to subtropical

Terrain:

mostly coastal lowlands, uplands in center, high plateaus in northwest, mountains in west

Elevation extremes:

lowest point:  Indian Ocean 0 m highest point:  Monte Binga 2,436 m

Natural resources:

coal, titanium, natural gas, hydropower, tantalum, graphite

Land use:

arable land:  4% permanent crops:  0% permanent pastures:  56% forests and woodland:  18% other:  22% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land:

1,200 sq km (2000 est.)

Natural hazards:

severe droughts and floods occur in central and southern provinces; devastating cyclones

Environment - current issues:

a long civil war and recurrent drought in the hinterlands have resulted in increased migration of the population to urban and coastal areas with adverse environmental consequences; desertification; pollution of surface and coastal waters

Environment - international agreements:

party to:  Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified:  none of the selected agreements

Source: World Factbook