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South Africa
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Last Updated: Jan 21st, 2009 - 22:25:00 |
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Location:
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Southern Africa, at the southern tip of the continent of Africa
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Geographic coordinates:
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29 00 S, 24 00 E
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Map references:
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Africa
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Area:
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total: 1,219,912 sq km
land: 1,219,912 sq km
note: includes Prince Edward Islands (Marion Island and Prince Edward Island)
water: 0 sq km
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Area - comparative:
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slightly less than twice the size of Texas
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Land boundaries:
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total: 4,862 km
border countries: Botswana 1,840 km, Lesotho 909 km, Mozambique 491 km, Namibia 967 km, Swaziland 430 km, Zimbabwe 225 km
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Coastline:
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2,798 km
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Maritime claims:
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territorial sea: 12 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to edge of the continental margin
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
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Climate:
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mostly semiarid; subtropical along east coast; sunny days, cool nights
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Terrain:
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vast interior plateau rimmed by rugged hills and narrow coastal plain
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Njesuthi 3,408 m
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Natural resources:
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gold, chromium, antimony, coal, iron ore, manganese, nickel, phosphates, tin, uranium, gem diamonds, platinum, copper, vanadium, salt, natural gas
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Land use:
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arable land: 12.08%
permanent crops: 0.79%
other: 87.13% (2001)
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Irrigated land:
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13,500 sq km (1998 est.)
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Natural hazards:
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prolonged droughts
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Environment - current issues:
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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
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Environment - international agreements:
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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
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Geography - note:
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South Africa completely surrounds Lesotho and almost completely surrounds Swaziland
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Keywords: South Africa Geography, South Africa, Geography, country of South Africa, general information, country reports, classbrain, country geography, Geography of South Africa, ClassBrain,
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