Geography of Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe is situated in the Southern African region of Africa.
Location:
Southern Africa, between South Africa and Zambia
Geographic coordinates:
20 00 S, 30 00 E
Map references:
Africa
Area:
Total: 390,757 sq km
Land: 386,847 sq km
Water: 3,910 sq km
Country comparison to the world: 61
Area – Comparative:
Slightly larger than Montana in the US
Land boundaries:
Total: 3,229 km
Border countries: Botswana 834 km, Mozambique 1,402 km, South Africa 230 km, Zambia 763 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:
Agricultural land: 42.5%
Arable land 10.9%; permanent crops 0.3%; permanent pasture 31.3%
Forest: 39.5%
Other: 18% (2011 est.)
Irrigated land:
1,735 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
20 cu km (2011)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
Total: 4.21 cu km/yr (14%/7%/79%)
Per capita: 333.5 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; Lake Kariba on the Zambia-Zimbabwe border forms the world’s largest reservoir by volume (180 cu km; 43 cu mi)
