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South Africa: Geography
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Location:
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Southern Africa, at the southern tip of the continent of Africa
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Geographic coordinates:
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29 00 S, 24 00 E
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Map references:
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Africa
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Area:
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total: 1,219,912 sq km
land: 1,219,912 sq km
note: includes Prince Edward Islands (Marion Island and Prince Edward Island)
water: 0 sq km
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Area - comparative:
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slightly less than twice the size of Texas
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Land boundaries:
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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
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Coastline:
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2,798 km
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Maritime claims:
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contiguous zone: 24 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM
continental shelf: 200 NM or to edge of the continental margin
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
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Climate:
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mostly semiarid; subtropical along east coast; sunny days, cool nights
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Terrain:
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vast interior plateau rimmed by rugged hills and narrow coastal plain
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Njesuthi 3,408 m
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Natural resources:
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gold, chromium, antimony, coal, iron ore, manganese, nickel, phosphates, tin, uranium, gem diamonds, platinum, copper, vanadium, salt, natural gas
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Land use:
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arable land: 12.13%
permanent crops: 0.77%
other: 87.1% (1998 est.)
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Irrigated land:
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13,500 sq km (1998 est.)
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Natural hazards:
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prolonged droughts
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Environment - current issues:
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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
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Environment - international agreements:
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party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
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Geography - note:
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South Africa completely surrounds Lesotho and almost completely surrounds Swaziland
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