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Lesotho:
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Other pages in this profile of Lesotho:
People, Government, Economy, Communications & Transportation, Military & Transnational Issues.
People, Government, Economy, Communications & Transportation, Military & Transnational Issues.
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Background |
Basutoland was renamed the Kingdom of Lesotho upon independence from the UK in 1966. The Basuto National Party ruled for the first two decades. King MOSHOESHOE was exiled in 1990, but returned to Lesotho in 1992 and reinstated in 1995. Constitutional government was restored in 1993 after 7 years of military rule. In 1998, violent protests and a military mutiny following a contentious election prompted a brief but bloody intervention by South African and Botswanan military forces under the aegis of the Southern African Development Community. Constitutional reforms have since restored political stability; peaceful parliamentary elections were held in 2002. |
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Location |
Southern Africa, an enclave of South Africa |
Geographic coordinates |
29 30 S, 28 30 E |
Map references |
Africa |
Area |
total: 30,355 sq km land: 30,355 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: Thabana Ntlenyana 3,482 m |
Natural resources |
water, agricultural and grazing land, diamonds, sand, clay, building stone |
Land use |
arable land: 10.87% permanent crops: 0.13% other: 89% (2005) |
Irrigated land |
30 sq km (2003) |
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, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea |
Geography - note |
landlocked, completely surrounded by South Africa; mountainous, more than 80% of the country is 1,800 meters above sea level |
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Copyright 2008 World Sites Atlas (sitesatlas.com) |