GEOGRAPHY
Location: Southern Africa, bordering the Mozambique
Channel, between South Africa and Tanzania
Map references: Africa
Area:
total area: 801,590 sq km
land area: 784,090 sq km
comparative area: slightly less than twice the size
of California
Land boundaries: total 4,571 km, 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
International disputes: none
Climate: tropical to subtropical
Terrain: mostly coastal lowlands, uplands in center,
high plateaus in northwest, mountains in west
Natural resources: coal, titanium
Land use:
arable land: 4%
permanent crops: 0%
meadows and pastures: 56%
forest and woodland: 20%
other: 20%
Irrigated land: 1,150 sq km (1989 est.)
Environment:
current issues: civil strife and recurrent drought
in the hinterlands have resulted in increased migration to
urban and coastal areas with adverse environmental consequences;
desertification; pollution of surface and coastal waters
natural hazards: severe droughts and floods occur
in central and southern provinces; devastating cyclones
international agreements: party to - Endangered Species,
Ozone Layer Protection; signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity,
Climate Change, Law of the Sea
