Lesotho:
Geography

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Other pages in this profile of Lesotho:
People, Government, Economy, Communications & Transportation, Military & Transnational Issues.


Background	Definition 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 was reinstated in 1995. Constitutional government was restored in 1993 after seven 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. Subsequent constitutional reforms restored relative political stability. Peaceful parliamentary elections were held in 2002, but the National Assembly elections of February 2007 were hotly contested and aggrieved parties continue to periodically demonstrate their distrust of the results.

Location	Definition Southern Africa, an enclave of South Africa
Geographic coordinates	Definition 29 30 S, 28 30 E
Map references	Definition Africa
Area	Definition - World rank and map total: 30,355 sq km land: 30,355 sq km water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative	Definition slightly smaller than Maryland
Land boundaries	Definition total: 909 km border countries: South Africa 909 km
Coastline	Definition 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims	Definition none (landlocked)
Climate	Definition temperate; cool to cold, dry winters; hot, wet summers
Terrain	Definition mostly highland with plateaus, hills, and mountains
Elevation extremes	Definition lowest point: junction of the Orange and Makhaleng Rivers 1,400 m highest point: Thabana Ntlenyana 3,482 m
Natural resources	Definition water, agricultural and grazing land, diamonds, sand, clay, building stone
Land use	Definition - World rank and map arable land: 10.87% permanent crops: 0.13% other: 89% (2005)
Irrigated land	Definition 30 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources	Definition 5.2 cu km (1987)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)	Definition total: 0.05 cu km/yr (40%/40%/20%) per capita: 28 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards	Definition periodic droughts
Environment - current issues	Definition 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	Definition party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note	Definition landlocked, completely surrounded by South Africa; mountainous, more than 80% of the country is 1,800 m above sea level

Lesotho: Geography

Lesotho:
Geography