Swaziland:
Geography

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


Background	Definition Autonomy for the Swazis of southern Africa was guaranteed by the British in the late 19th century; independence was granted in 1968. Student and labor unrest during the 1990s pressured King MSWATI III, the world's last absolute monarch, to grudgingly allow political reform and greater democracy, although he has backslid on these promises in recent years. A constitution came into effect in 2006, but political parties remain banned. The African United Democratic Party tried unsuccessfully to register as an official political party in mid 2006. Talks over the constitution broke down between the government and progressive groups in 2007. Swaziland recently surpassed Botswana as the country with the world's highest known HIV/AIDS prevalence rate.

Location	Definition Southern Africa, between Mozambique and South Africa
Geographic coordinates	Definition 26 30 S, 31 30 E
Map references	Definition Africa
Area	Definition - World rank and map total: 17,363 sq km land: 17,203 sq km water: 160 sq km
Area - comparative	Definition slightly smaller than New Jersey
Land boundaries	Definition total: 535 km border countries: Mozambique 105 km, South Africa 430 km
Coastline	Definition 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims	Definition none (landlocked)
Climate	Definition varies from tropical to near temperate
Terrain	Definition mostly mountains and hills; some moderately sloping plains
Elevation extremes	Definition lowest point: Great Usutu River 21 m highest point: Emlembe 1,862 m
Natural resources	Definition asbestos, coal, clay, cassiterite, hydropower, forests, small gold and diamond deposits, quarry stone, and talc
Land use	Definition - World rank and map arable land: 10.25% permanent crops: 0.81% other: 88.94% (2005)
Irrigated land	Definition 500 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources	Definition 4.5 cu km (1987)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)	Definition total: 1.04 cu km/yr (2%/1%/97%) per capita: 1,010 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards	Definition drought
Environment - current issues	Definition limited supplies of potable water; wildlife populations being depleted because of excessive hunting; overgrazing; soil degradation; soil erosion
Environment - international agreements	Definition party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
Geography - note	Definition landlocked; almost completely surrounded by South Africa

Swaziland: Geography

Swaziland:
Geography