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South Africa Geography 2016
https://allcountries.org/world_fact_book_2016/south_africa/south_africa_geography.html
SOURCE: 2016 CIA WORLD FACTBOOK AND OTHER SOURCES











South Africa Geography 2016
SOURCE: 2016 CIA WORLD FACTBOOK AND OTHER SOURCES


Page last updated on February 11, 2016

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
[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)
country comparison to the world: 25

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

Land boundaries:
total: 5,244 km
border countries (6): Botswana 1,969 km, Lesotho 1,106 km, Mozambique 496 km, Namibia 1,005 km, Swaziland 438 km, Zimbabwe 230 km
[see also: Land boundaries country ranks ]

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

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

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

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:
agricultural land: 79.4% arable land 9.9%; permanent crops 0.3%; permanent pasture 69.2%
[see also: Land use - agricultural land country ranks ]
forest: 7.6%
[see also: Land use - forest country ranks ]
other: 13% (2011 est.)
[see also: Land use - other country ranks ]

Irrigated land:
16,700 sq km (2012)
[see also: Irrigated land country ranks ]

Total renewable water resources:
51.4 cu km (2011)
[see also: Total renewable water resources country ranks ]

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 12.5 cu km/yr (36%/7%/57%)
per capita: 271.7 cu m/yr (2005)

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 2016 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of South Africa Geography 2016 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about South Africa Geography 2016 should be addressed to the CIA.




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