Zimbabwe Geography Profile 2008

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)

Total renewable water resources

20 cu km (1987)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

total: 4.21 cu km/yr (14%/7%/79%)
per capita: 324 cu m/yr (2002)

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