Location: | Southern Africa, at the southern tip of the continent of Africa | | Geographic coordinates: | 29 00 S, 24 00 E | | Map references: | Africa | | Area: | total: 1,219,912 sq km
land: 1,219,912 sq km
note: includes Prince Edward Islands (Marion Island and Prince Edward Island)
water: 0 sq km | | Area - comparative: | slightly less than twice the size of Texas | | Land boundaries: | total: 4,862 km
border countries: Botswana 1,840 km, Lesotho 909 km, Mozambique 491 km, Namibia 967 km, Swaziland 430 km, Zimbabwe 225 km | | Coastline: | 2,798 km | | Maritime claims: | territorial sea: 12 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to edge of the continental margin
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm | | Climate: | mostly semiarid; subtropical along east coast; sunny days, cool nights | | Terrain: | vast interior plateau rimmed by rugged hills and narrow coastal plain | | Elevation extremes: | lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Njesuthi 3,408 m | | Natural resources: | gold, chromium, antimony, coal, iron ore, manganese, nickel, phosphates, tin, uranium, gem diamonds, platinum, copper, vanadium, salt, natural gas | | Land use: | arable land: 12.08%
permanent crops: 0.79%
other: 87.13% (2001) | | Irrigated land: | 13,500 sq km (1998 est.) | | Natural hazards: | prolonged droughts | | Environment - current issues: | lack of important arterial rivers or lakes requires extensive water conservation and control measures; growth in water usage outpacing supply; pollution of rivers from agricultural runoff and urban discharge; air pollution resulting in acid rain; soil erosion; desertification | | Environment - international agreements: | party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements | | Geography - note: | South Africa completely surrounds Lesotho and almost completely surrounds Swaziland
Source: CIA World Factbook
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