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| Location | Southern Africa, at the southern tip of the continent of Africa | | | Geographic coordinates | 29 00 S, 24 00 E | | | Zone | Africa | | | Area | total: 1,219,912 sq km
land: 1,219,912 sq km
water: 0 sq km
note: includes Prince Edward Islands (Marion Island and Prince Edward Island) | | | 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
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to edge of the continental margin | | | 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 | | | Irrigated land | 2,798 km | | | 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 | |
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