Short facts about the geography of Zambia
| Location: |
Southern Africa, east of
Angola |
| Geographic
coordinates: |
15 00 S, 30 00
E |
| Area: |
total: 752,614 sq km
land: 740,724 sq km
water:
11,890 sq km |
| Area -
comparative: |
slightly larger than
Texas |
| Land
boundaries: |
total: 5,664 km
border countries: Angola 1,110 km, Democratic
Republic of the Congo 1,930 km, Malawi 837 km, Mozambique 419 km, Namibia 233
km, Tanzania 338 km, Zimbabwe 797 km |
| Coastline: |
0 km
(landlocked) |
| Maritime
claims: |
none
(landlocked) |
| Climate: |
tropical; modified by altitude; rainy
season (October to April) |
| Terrain: |
mostly high plateau with some hills and
mountains |
| Elevation
extremes: |
lowest point:
Zambezi river 329 m
highest point: unnamed location
in Mafinga Hills 2,301 m |
| Natural
resources: |
copper, cobalt, zinc, lead, coal,
emeralds, gold, silver, uranium, hydropower |
| Land
use: |
arable land: 7%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures:
40%
forests and woodland: 39%
other: 14% (1993
est.) |
| Irrigated
land: |
460 sq km (1993
est.) |
| Natural
hazards: |
tropical storms (November to
April) |
| Environment
- current issues: |
air pollution and resulting acid rain
in the mineral extraction and refining region; chemical runoff into watersheds;
poaching seriously threatens rhinoceros, elephant, antelope, and large cat
populations; deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; lack of adequate
water treatment presents human health risks |
| 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: Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol |
| Geography -
note: |
landlocked | Source: World Factbook |
