Lesotho's Geography | Lesotho Geography

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, diamonds, sand, clay, building stone

Land use: Arable land: 10.87% permanent crops: 0.13% other: 89% (2001)

Irrigated land: 10 sq km (1998 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, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea

Geography - note: Landlocked, completely surrounded by South Africa; mountainous, more than 80% of the country is 1,800 meters above sea level

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