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South Africa Geography 2011
https://theodora.com/wfb2011/south_africa/south_africa_geography.html
SOURCE: 2011 CIA WORLD FACTBOOK AND OTHER SOURCES


















South Africa Geography 2011
SOURCE: 2011 CIA WORLD FACTBOOK AND OTHER SOURCES

Page last updated on January 12, 2011

Location:
Southern Africa, at the southern tip of the continent of Africa

Geographic coordinates:
29 00 S, 24 00 E

Map references:
Africa

Area:
total: 1,219,090 sq km
country comparison to the world: 25
[see also: Area - total country ranks ]
land: 1,214,470 sq km
[see also: Area - land country ranks ]
water: 4,620 sq km
[see also: Area - water country ranks ]
note: includes Prince Edward Islands (Marion Island and Prince Edward Island)

Area - comparative:
slightly less than twice the size of Texas

Land boundaries:
total: 4,862 km
[see also: Land boundaries - total country ranks ]
border countries: Botswana 1,840 km, Lesotho 909 km, Mozambique 491 km, Namibia 967 km, Swaziland 430 km, Zimbabwe 225 km

Coastline:
2,798 km
[see also: Coastline country ranks ]

Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to edge of the continental margin

Climate:
mostly semiarid; subtropical along east coast; sunny days, cool nights
More Climate Details

Terrain:
vast interior plateau rimmed by rugged hills and narrow coastal plain

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
[see also: Elevation extremes - lowest point country ranks ]
highest point: Njesuthi 3,408 m
[see also: Elevation extremes - highest point country ranks ]

Natural resources:
gold, chromium, antimony, coal, iron ore, manganese, nickel, phosphates, tin, rare earth elements, uranium, gem diamonds, platinum, copper, vanadium, salt, natural gas

Land use:
arable land: 12.1%
[see also: Land use - arable land country ranks ]
permanent crops: 0.79%
[see also: Land use - permanent crops country ranks ]
other: 87.11% (2005)
[see also: Land use - other country ranks ]

Irrigated land:
14,980 sq km (2003)
[see also: Irrigated land country ranks ]

Total renewable water resources:
50 cu km (1990)
[see also: Total renewable water resources country ranks ]

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 12.5 cu km/yr (31%/6%/63%)
[see also: Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural) - total country ranks ]
per capita: 264 cu m/yr (2000)
[see also: Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural) - per capita country ranks ]

Natural hazards:
prolonged droughts
volcanism: the volcano forming Marion Island in the Prince Edward Islands, which last erupted in 2004, is South Africa's only active volcano

Environment - current issues:
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

Environment - international agreements:
party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:
South Africa completely surrounds Lesotho and almost completely surrounds Swaziland


NOTE: The information regarding South Africa on this page is re-published from the 2011 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of South Africa Geography 2011 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about South Africa Geography 2011 should be addressed to the CIA.






This page was last modified 09-Feb-11
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