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Location:
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Southern Africa, between South Africa and Zambia
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Geographic coordinates:
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20 00 S, 30 00 E
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Map references:
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Africa
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Area:
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total: 390,580 sq km
water: 3,910 sq km
land: 386,670 sq km
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Area - comparative:
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slightly larger than Montana
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Land boundaries:
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total: 3,066 km
border countries: Botswana 813 km, Mozambique 1,231 km, South Africa 225 km, Zambia 797 km
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Coastline:
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0 km (landlocked)
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Maritime claims:
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none (landlocked)
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Climate:
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tropical; moderated by altitude; rainy season (November to March)
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Terrain:
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mostly high plateau with higher central plateau (high veld); mountains in east
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point: junction of the Runde and Save rivers 162 m
highest point: Inyangani 2,592 m
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Natural resources:
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coal, chromium ore, asbestos, gold, nickel, copper, iron ore, vanadium, lithium, tin, platinum group metals
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Land use:
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arable land: 8.4%
permanent crops: 0.34%
other: 91.26% (1998 est.)
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Irrigated land:
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1,170 sq km (1998 est.)
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Natural hazards:
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recurring droughts; floods and severe storms are rare
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Environment - current issues:
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deforestation; soil erosion; land degradation; air and water pollution; the black rhinoceros herd - once the largest concentration of the species in the world - has been significantly reduced by poaching; poor mining practices have led to toxic waste and heavy metal pollution
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Environment - international agreements:
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party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
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Geography - note:
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landlocked; the Zambezi forms a natural riverine boundary with Zambia; in full flood (February-April) the massive Victoria Falls on the river forms the world's largest curtain of falling water
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