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South Africa:
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Other pages in this profile of South Africa:
People, Government, Economy, Communications & Transportation, Military & Transnational Issues.
People, Government, Economy, Communications & Transportation, Military & Transnational Issues.
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Background |
After the British seized the Cape of Good Hope area in 1806, many of the Dutch settlers (the Boers) trekked north to found their own republics. The discovery of diamonds (1867) and gold (1886) spurred wealth and immigration and intensified the subjugation of the native inhabitants. The Boers resisted British encroachments but were defeated in the Boer War (1899-1902). The resulting Union of South Africa operated under a policy of apartheid - the separate development of the races. The 1990s brought an end to apartheid politically and ushered in black majority rule. |
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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 water: 0 sq km note: includes Prince Edward Islands (Marion Island and Prince Edward Island) |
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 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 |
Land use |
arable land: 12.1% permanent crops: 0.79% other: 87.11% (2005) |
Irrigated land |
14,980 sq km (2003) |
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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Copyright 2008 World Sites Atlas (sitesatlas.com) |