Home > Geography of Lesotho

Geographic coordinates: 29° 30′ S, 28° 30′ E

Map references: Africa

Area:
total: 30,355 km²
land: 30,355 km²
water: 0 km²

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 (the highest lowest-point of any country in the world)
highest point: Thabana Ntlenyana 3,482 m

Natural resources: water, agricultural and grazing land, some diamonds and other minerals

Land use:
arable land: 10.71%
permanent crops: 0%
Other: 89.29% (1998 est.)

Irrigated land: 10 km² (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:

signed, but not ratified:

Geography - note: landlocked; surrounded by South Africa; mountainous, more than 80% of the country is 1,800 meters above sea level; only country in the world that lies entirely above 1,000 meters

See also : LesothoMmuso wa Lesotho Kingdom of Lesotho (In Detail) (Full size) National motto: Khotso, Pula, Nala(Peace, Rain, Prosperity Official language Sesotho, English Capital Maseru Capital's coordinates 29° 18' S, 27° 28' E Largest City Maseru Monarch HM The King of