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The country is mountainous, with steplike plateaus descending from the high veld (3,500–5,000 ft/1,067–1,524 m) in the W through the middle veld (1,500–3,000 ft/457–914 m) and the low veld (500–1,500 ft/152–457 m), then rising to the rolling plateau of the Lebombo Mts. Swaziland is cut by four major river systems, which have vast hydroelectric potential and are increasingly used for irrigation.
The population is about 97% African and 3% European. English and Siswati (a branch of Nguni) are the official languages. More than half of the people are Christian; most of the rest practice traditional religions.
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