Location Southern Africa, an enclave of South Africa

Geographic coordinates 29 30 S, 28 30 E

Map references Africa

Area
total: 30,350 sq km
land: 30,350 sq km
water: 0 sq km

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
highest point: Mount Thabana Ntlenyana 3,482 m

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

Land use
arable land: 11%
permanent crops: NA%
permanent pastures: 66%
forests and woodland: NA%
other: 23% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land 30 sq km (1993 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: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping

Geography - note landlocked; surrounded by South Africa

NOTE: The information regarding Lesotho on this page is re-published from the 1998 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of Lesotho Geography 1998 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Lesotho Geography 1998 should be addressed to the CIA.