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Botswana | |
| Introduction Geography People Government Economy Communications Transportation Military Transnational Issues | ||
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| Botswana | Introduction | Top of Page |
| Background: | Formerly the British protectorate of Bechuanaland, Botswana adopted its new name upon independence in 1966. The economy, one of the most robust on the continent, is dominated by diamond mining. |
| Botswana | Geography | Top of Page |
| Location: | Southern Africa, north of South Africa |
| Geographic coordinates: | 22 00 S, 24 00 E |
| Map references: | Africa |
| Area: |
total:
600,370 sq km
land: 585,370 sq km water: 15,000 sq km |
| Area - comparative: | slightly smaller than Texas |
| Land boundaries: |
total:
4,013 km
border countries: Namibia 1,360 km, South Africa 1,840 km, Zimbabwe 813 km |
| Coastline: | 0 km (landlocked) |
| Maritime claims: | none (landlocked) |
| Climate: | semiarid; warm winters and hot summers |
| Terrain: | predominantly flat to gently rolling tableland; Kalahari Desert in southwest |
| Elevation extremes: |
lowest point:
junction of the Limpopo and Shashe Rivers 513 m
highest point: Tsodilo Hills 1,489 m |
| Natural resources: | diamonds, copper, nickel, salt, soda ash, potash, coal, iron ore, silver |
| Land use: |
arable land:
1%
permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 46% forests and woodland: 47% other: 6% (1993 est.) |
| Irrigated land: | 20 sq km (1993 est.) |
| Natural hazards: | periodic droughts; seasonal August winds blow from the west, carrying sand and dust across the country, which can obscure visibility |
| Environment - current issues: | overgrazing; desertification; limited fresh water resources |
| Environment - international agreements: |
party to:
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements |