South Africa: Geography#
| Location | Southern Africa, at the southern tip of the continent of Africa |
|---|---|
| Geographic Coordinates | 29 00 S, 24 00 E -29.0,24.0 |
| Area | total: 1,219,090 sq km land: 1,214,470 sq km water: 4,620 sq km note: includes Prince Edward Islands (Marion Island and Prince Edward Island) [Verified in 8 databases] |
| Land boundaries | 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 |
| Coastline | 2,798 km |
| Elevation Extremes | lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Njesuthi 3,408 m |
| Highest Mountains | Due to difference in mountain rankings taken from two data sources we are listing here both lists : According to Wolfram: Mafadi 3450 m; Njesuthi 3408 m; Champagne Castle 3377 m; Mont-aux-Sources 3282 m; Giant's Castle 3280 m According to Geonames: Mafadi 3450 m; Njesuthi 3408 m; Popple Peak 3331 m; Giant’s Castle 3315 m; Ben Macdhui 3001 m Attempted Explanation: Please help us to try to explain the discrepancies by sending us helpful information to office nospam@TUGraz.at @global-geography.org Important Mountains |
| Terrain | vast interior plateau rimmed by rugged hills and narrow coastal plain |
| 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 |
| Natural Resource | 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: 9.87% permanent crops: 0.34% other: 89.79% (2011) |
| Climate | mostly semiarid; subtropical along east coast; sunny days, cool nights |
| Irrigated Land | 16,700 sq km (2012) |
| Renewable Water Resources | 51.4 cu km (2011) |
| Environment_CurrentIssues | 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 |
| Large Cities | Due to difference in city rankings taken from two data sources we are listing here both lists : According to Wolfram: Johannesburg; Cape Town; Durban; Pretoria; Soweto According to Geonames: Cape Town; Durban; Johannesburg; Soweto; Pretoria Attempted Explanation: Please help us to try to explain the discrepancies by sending us helpful information to office nospam@TUGraz.at @global-geography.org Important Cities |
| Geography-note | South Africa completely surrounds Lesotho and almost completely surrounds Swaziland Important Lakes |