| |
Location: Southern Africa, bordering the Mozambique Channel, between South Africa and Tanzania Geographic coordinates: 18 15 S, 35 00 E Map references: Africa Area: total: 801,590 sq km land : 784,090 sq km water: 17,500 sq km Area - comparative: slightly less than twice the size of California Land boundaries: total: 4,571 km border countries: Malawi 1,569 km, South Africa 491 km, Swaziland 105 km, Tanzania 756 km, Zambia 419 km, Zimbabwe 1,231 km Coastline: 2,470 km Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone : 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm Climate: tropical to subtropical Terrain: mostly coastal lowlands, uplands in center, high plateaus in northwest, mountains in west Elevation extremes: lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: Monte Binga 2,436 m Natural resources: coal, titanium, natural gas Land use: arable land: 4% permanent crops : 0% permanent pastures: 56% forests and woodland: 18% other: 22% (1998 est.) Irrigated land: 1,070 sq km (1998 est.) Natural hazards: severe droughts and floods occur in central and southern provinces; devastating cyclones Environment - current issues: a long civil war and recurrent drought in the hinterlands have resulted in increased migration of the population to urban and coastal areas with adverse environmental consequences; desertification; pollution of surface and coastal waters Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: Desertification, Law of the Sea
|
|