Short facts about the geography of Zimbabwe

Location:

Southern Africa, between South Africa and Zambia

Geographic coordinates:

20 00 S, 30 00 E

Map references:

Africa

Area:

total:  390,580 sq km land:  386,670 sq km water:  3,910 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly larger than Montana

Land boundaries:

total:  3,066 km border countries:  Botswana 813 km, Mozambique 1,231 km, South Africa 225 km, Zambia 797 km

Coastline:

0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims:

none (landlocked)

Climate:

tropical; moderated by altitude; rainy season (November to March)

Terrain:

mostly high plateau with higher central plateau (high veld); mountains in east

Elevation extremes:

lowest point:  junction of the Runde and Save rivers 162 m highest point:  Inyangani 2,592 m

Natural resources:

coal, chromium ore, asbestos, gold, nickel, copper, iron ore, vanadium, lithium, tin, platinum group metals

Land use:

arable land:  7% permanent crops:  0% permanent pastures:  13% forests and woodland:  23% other:  57% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land:

1,930 sq km (1993 est.)

Natural hazards:

recurring droughts; floods and severe storms are rare

Environment - current issues:

deforestation; soil erosion; land degradation; air and water pollution; the black rhinoceros herd - once the largest concentration of the species in the world - has been significantly reduced by poaching

Environment - international agreements:

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

Geography - note:

landlocked

Source: World Factbook