Location: | Southern Africa, east of Angola |
| Geographic coordinates: | 15 00 S, 30 00 E |
| Map references: | Africa |
| Area: | total: 752,614 sq km
water: 11,890 sq km
land: 740,724 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: 7.08%
permanent crops: 0.03%
other: 92.9% (2001) |
| Irrigated land: | 460 sq km (1998 est.) |
| Natural hazards: | periodic drought, 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, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol |
| Geography - note: | landlocked; the Zambezi forms a natural riverine boundary with Zimbabwe
Source: CIA World Factbook
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