Geography
Location:
Southern Africa, northeast of Botswana
Geographic coordinates:
20 00 S, 30 00 E
Map references:
Africa
Area:
total area:
390,580 sq km
land area:
386,670 sq km
comparative area:
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)
International disputes:
quadripoint with Botswana, Namibia, and Zambia is in disagreement
Climate:
tropical; moderated by altitude; rainy season (November to March)
Terrain:
mostly high plateau with higher central plateau (high veld); mountains in east
lowest point:
junction of the Lundi and Savi 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:
NEGL (coffee)
meadows and pastures:
13%
forest and woodland:
49%
other:
31%
Irrigated land:
2,250 sq km (1993 est.)
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
natural hazards:
recurring droughts; floods and severe storms are rare
international agreements:
party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection; signed, but not ratified - Desertification
Geographic note:
landlocked
