Geography of Zimbabwe
Location: | Southern Africa, between South Africa and Zambia |
Geographic coordinates: | 20 00 S, 30 00 E |
Map references: | Africa |
Area: | total: 390,580 sq km land: 386,670 sq km water: 3,910 sq km |
Area - comparative: | slightly larger than Montana |
Land boundaries: | total: 3,066 km border countries: Botswana 813 km, Mozambique 1,231 km, South Africa 225 km, Zambia 797 km |
Coastline: | 0 km (landlocked) |
Maritime claims: | none (landlocked) |
Climate: | tropical; moderated by altitude; rainy season (November to March) |
Terrain: | mostly high plateau with higher central plateau (high veld); mountains in east |
Elevation extremes: | lowest point: junction of the Runde and Save rivers 162 m highest point: Inyangani 2,592 m |
Natural resources: | coal, chromium ore, asbestos, gold, nickel, copper, iron ore, vanadium, lithium, tin, platinum group metals |
Land use: | arable land: 8.24% permanent crops: 0.33% other: 91.43% (2005) |
Irrigated land: | 1,740 sq km (2003) |
Natural hazards: | recurring droughts; floods and severe storms are rare |
Environment - current issues: | 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 |
Environment - international agreements: | party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements |
Geography - note: | 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 |