Geography of Lesotho#Extreme points

Lesotho is a country in Southern Africa, located at around 29°30' south latitude and 28°30' east longitude. It is the 141st largest country in the world, with a total land area of {{convert|30355|km2|sqmi|0}}, of which a negligible percentage is covered with water. Lesotho is completely surrounded by South Africa, making it one of only three countries in the world that are enclaved within another country; the other two are San Marino and Vatican City, both located within Italy.{{cite book| title=Transit Regime for Landlocked States : International Law and Development Perspectives| author=Kishor Uprety| publisher=The World Bank| year=2005| isbn=0-8213-6299-2| pages=5}} The total length of the South African border is {{convert|909|km|mi}}.{{cite web| url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/lesotho/| title=CIA - The World Factbook - Lesotho| author=CIA| access-date=2008-04-15| archive-date=2021-07-02| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210702003726/https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/lesotho/| url-status=live}} Lesotho's status as an enclave also means that it is landlocked and largely dependent on South Africa. The nearest major shipping port is Durban.Uprety 2005, p. 9

{{further|Lesotho Highlands}}

File:Lesotho Malealea.jpg

Lesotho can be roughly divided into three geographic regions: the lowlands, following the southern banks of the Caledon River, and in the Senqu river valley; the highlands formed by the Drakensberg and Maloti mountain ranges in the east and central parts of the country; and the foothills that form a divide between the lowlands and the highlands.{{cite web| url=http://www.africaguide.com/country/lesotho/| title=Lesotho travel guide| work=The Africa Guide| access-date=2008-04-19| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080509143934/http://www.africaguide.com/country/lesotho/| archive-date=2008-05-09| url-status=dead}} The lowest elevation in the country is at the junction of the Makhaleng and Orange (Senqu) rivers (at the South African border), which at {{convert|1400|m|ft|0}} is the highest lowest point of any country.{{cite book| title=Southern Africa| author=Alan Murphy| publisher=Lonely Planet| year=2007| isbn=978-1-74059-745-6| pages=140}} Lesotho is the only independent state in the world that lies entirely above {{convert|1000|m|ft|0}} in elevation.{{cite web| url=http://www.esa.int/esaEO/SEMYMSWUP4F_index_0.html| title=Earth from Space: Winter in southern Africa| author=European Space Agency| access-date=2008-04-19| archive-date=2012-10-20| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121020001113/http://www.esa.int/esaEO/SEMYMSWUP4F_index_0.html| url-status=live}} The highest point is the peak of the Thabana Ntlenyana mountain, which reaches an elevation of {{convert|3482|m|ft|0}}. Over 80% of Lesotho lies above {{convert|1800|m|ft|0}}.

Even though very little of Lesotho is covered in water, the rivers that run across the country are an important part of Lesotho's economy. Much of the country's export income comes from water, and much of its power comes from hydroelectricity. The Orange River rises in the Drakensberg mountains in northeastern Lesotho and flows across the entire length of the country before exiting to South Africa at the Mohale's Hoek District in the southwest. The Caledon River marks the northwestern part of the border with South Africa. Other rivers include the Malibamatso, Matsoku and Senqunyane.

The bedrock of Lesotho belongs to the Karoo Supergroup, consisting mostly of shale and sandstone.{{cite book| title=The Physical Geography of Africa|author1=W. M. Adams |author2=A. S. Goudie |author3=A. R. Orme|author-link2=Andrew Goudie (geographer) | publisher= Oxford University Press| year= 1999| pages=152| isbn=0-19-823406-6}} Peatlands can be found in the highlands of Lesotho, most extensively in the mountainous escarpment near the country's eastern border. The summit of Thabana Ntlenyana is partially encircled by bogs.Adams, Goudie, Orme, p. 245

Solifluction deposits, blockfields, blockstreams and stone garlands can be found across the higher portions of the Lesotho Highlands. These features were formed in connection to the periglacial conditions that prevailed during the last glacial period in the area.{{cite journal|author-last=Sumner |author-first=P.D. |date=2004 |title=Geomorphic and climatic implications of relict openwork block accumulations near Thabana-Ntlenyana, Lesotho|journal=Geografiska Annaler: Series A, Physical Geography |volume=86|issue=3 |pages=289–302|doi=10.1111/j.0435-3676.2004.00232.x |s2cid=128774864 }}{{cite journal|author-last=Mills |author-first=S.C. |author-last2=Barrows |author-first2=T.T. |author-last3=Telfer|author-first3=M.W.|author-last4=Fifield |author-first4=L.K. |date=2017|title=The cold climate geomorphology of the Eastern Cape Drakensberg: A reevaluation of past climatic conditions during the last glacial cycle in Southern Africa |journal=Geomorphology |volume=278 |number=278|pages=184–194|doi=10.1016/j.geomorph.2016.11.011 |bibcode=2017Geomo.278..184M |hdl=10026.1/8086 |hdl-access=free }}

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File:Map of lesotho.png

{{main|Districts of Lesotho}}

Lesotho is divided into 10 administrative districts, each with its own capital, called a camptown.{{cite book| title=Commonwealth Yearbook| author=Commonwealth Secretariat| year=2004| pages=180| isbn=0-11-703227-1| publisher=The Stationery Office for the Commonwealth Secretariat| location=London}} The districts are further subdivided into 80 constituencies, which consist of 129 local community councils.{{cite web| url=http://www.statoids.com/yls.html| title=Lesotho Councils| work=Statoids| access-date=2008-04-15| archive-date=2018-09-26| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180926130418/http://www.statoids.com/yls.html| url-status=live}} The distribution of population in Lesotho overlaps with the country's varied ecological conditions; poverty too is linked to ecological conditions.{{Cite news |last=Anand |first=Aanchal |date=2024 |title=Territorial development: An innovative approach for Lesotho |url=https://blogs.worldbank.org/en/nasikiliza/territorial-development-innovative-approach-for-lesotho-afe-0624}}

Districts (in alphabetical order):

• Berea
• Butha-Buthe
• Leribe
• Mafeteng
• Maseru
• Mohale's Hoek
• Mokhotlong
• Qacha's Nek
• Quthing
• Thaba-Tseka

{{See also|Climate Change in Lesotho}}

File:Snowfall Lesotho 2.jpg]]

Because of its altitude, the country remains cooler throughout the year than most other regions at the same latitude. Lesotho has a temperate climate,{{Cite web |url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/lesotho/ |title=The World Factbook |access-date=2021-01-24 |archive-date=2021-07-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210702003726/https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/lesotho/ |url-status=live }} with hot summers and cold winters. Maseru and its surrounding lowlands often reach {{convert|30|C|F}} in the summer.{{cite book| title=Lesotho Profile (2006/April)| author=Walden Publishing Ltd| publisher=World of Information| year=2006}} Winters can be cold with the lowlands getting down to {{convert|-7|C|F|1}} and the highlands to {{convert|-20|C|F|1}} at times.

The yearly precipitation varies from around {{convert|600|mm|in|1}} in the lowland valleys to around {{convert|1200|mm|in|1}} in areas of the northern and eastern escarpment bordering South Africa. Most of the rain falls as summer thunderstorms: 85% of the annual precipitation falls between the months of October and April. The winters—between May and September are usually very dry. Snow is common in the deserts and low valleys between May and September; the higher peaks can experience occasional significant snowfall year-round. Annual variance in rainfall is quite erratic, which leads to periodic droughts in the dry season (May to September) and flooding, which can be severe in the rainy season (October–April).

{{Weather box

| location = Maseru (1931–1960)

| metric first = yes

| single line = yes

| Jan high C = 28

| Feb high C = 27

| Mar high C = 25

| Apr high C = 21

| May high C = 18

| Jun high C = 15

| Jul high C = 16

| Aug high C = 19

| Sep high C = 23

| Oct high C = 24

| Nov high C = 26

| Dec high C = 28

| Jan low C = 14

| Feb low C = 14

| Mar low C = 12

| Apr low C = 8

| May low C = 3

| Jun low C = 0

| Jul low C = -1

| Aug low C = 2

| Sep low C = 6

| Oct low C = 9

| Nov low C = 12

| Dec low C = 13

|precipitation colour = green

| Jan precipitation mm = 114

| Feb precipitation mm = 89

| Mar precipitation mm = 96

| Apr precipitation mm = 67

| May precipitation mm = 29

| Jun precipitation mm = 12

| Jul precipitation mm = 14

| Aug precipitation mm = 15

| Sep precipitation mm = 19

| Oct precipitation mm = 63

| Nov precipitation mm = 80

| Dec precipitation mm = 93

| year precipitation mm =

|unit precipitation days = 0.1 mm

|Jan precipitation days = 13

|Feb precipitation days = 10

|Mar precipitation days = 11

|Apr precipitation days = 8

|May precipitation days = 6

|Jun precipitation days = 3

|Jul precipitation days = 3

|Aug precipitation days = 3

|Sep precipitation days = 3

|Oct precipitation days = 8

|Nov precipitation days = 10

|Dec precipitation days = 10

|year precipitation days =

|Jan humidity = 37

|Feb humidity = 42

|Mar humidity = 43

|Apr humidity = 42

|May humidity = 38

|Jun humidity = 35

|Jul humidity = 32

|Aug humidity = 27

|Sep humidity = 24

|Oct humidity = 30

|Nov humidity = 34

|Dec humidity = 35

|year humidity =

|Jan sun = 287

|Feb sun = 263

|Mar sun = 259

|Apr sun = 241

|May sun = 247

|Jun sun = 232

|Jul sun = 254

|Aug sun = 279

|Sep sun = 278

|Oct sun = 276

|Nov sun = 279

|Dec sun = 307

|year sun =

| source 1 = Danish Meteorological Institute{{cite web | last1 = Cappelen | first1 = John | last2 = Jensen | first2 = Jens | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130427173827/http://www.dmi.dk/dmi/tr01-17.pdf | archive-date = April 27, 2013 | url = http://www.dmi.dk/dmi/tr01-17.pdf | work = Climate Data for Selected Stations (1931-1960) | title = Lesotho - Maseru | page = 166 | publisher = Danish Meteorological Institute | language = da | access-date = April 7, 2017}}

| date = August 2011

}}

{{Weather box

|location = Letšeng-la-Terae

|metric first = yes

|single line = yes

|Jan high C = 14.8

|Feb high C = 14.5

|Mar high C = 12.2

|Apr high C = 10.6

|May high C = 7.7

|Jun high C = 5.4

|Jul high C = 5.4

|Aug high C = 6.8

|Sep high C = 9.9

|Oct high C = 11.2

|Nov high C = 12.6

|Dec high C = 13.7

|Jan mean C = 9.8

|Feb mean C = 9.7

|Mar mean C = 7.7

|Apr mean C = 5.1

|May mean C = 2.0

|Jun mean C = -0.1

|Jul mean C = 0.0

|Aug mean C = 1.5

|Sep mean C = 4.6

|Oct mean C = 6.0

|Nov mean C = 7.5

|Dec mean C = 8.9

|Jan low C = 4.8

|Feb low C = 4.9

|Mar low C = 3.3

|Apr low C = -0.3

|May low C = -3.6

|Jun low C = -5.5

|Jul low C = -5.3

|Aug low C = -3.8

|Sep low C = -0.6

|Oct low C = 0.8

|Nov low C = 2.5

|Dec low C = 4.1

|precipitation colour = green

|Jan precipitation mm = 133

|Feb precipitation mm = 119

|Mar precipitation mm = 120

|Apr precipitation mm = 67

|May precipitation mm = 20

|Jun precipitation mm = 10

|Jul precipitation mm = 8

|Aug precipitation mm = 24

|Sep precipitation mm = 57

|Oct precipitation mm = 89

|Nov precipitation mm = 115

|Dec precipitation mm = 119

|source 1 = Climate-data.org{{cite web

|url=http://en.climate-data.org/location/923374/

|title=Climate: Letšeng-la-Terae

|accessdate=26 April 2015

|archive-date=27 June 2015

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150627124351/http://en.climate-data.org/location/923374/

|url-status=live

}}

|date=April 2015}}

thumb

File:Lesotho2025OSM.png

Lesotho is poor in natural resources.{{cite web| url=http://www.worldinformation.com/worldroot/start.asp?content=world&continent=Africa&country=266&bodytext=profile&p=3| title=Country Information: Lesotho (page 3)| work=worldinformation.com| access-date=2008-04-19}} {{Dead link|date=September 2010|bot=H3llBot}} Economically the most important resource is water. The Lesotho Highlands Water Project allows exporting water from the Malibamatso, Matsoku, Senqu and Senqunyane rivers to South Africa, while also generating hydroelectric power for Lesotho's needs. As of April 2008, the first phase of the project has been completed.{{cite web| url=http://www.lhwp.org.ls/overview/default.htm| title=Project Overview| work=Lesotho Highlands Water Project| access-date=2008-04-19| url-status=dead| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080511013231/http://www.lhwp.org.ls/overview/Default.htm| archive-date=2008-05-11}} The project already accounts for an estimated five percent of Lesotho's GDP, and when fully completed, it could account for as much as 20 percent.{{cite web| url=http://www.worldreport-ind.com/lesotho/natural.htm| title=White gold powers economic cooperation| author=World Report Limited| access-date=2008-04-20| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090107025538/http://www.worldreport-ind.com/lesotho/natural.htm| archive-date=2009-01-07| url-status=usurped}}

The main mineral resource is diamonds from the Letseng diamond mine in the Maluti mountain range. The mine produces very few stones, but has the highest dollar ratio per carat of any diamond mine in the world.{{cite web |url = http://www.khulsey.com/jewelry/kh_jewelry_diamond_mines_pg2.html |title = South African Diamond Mines |work = khulsey.com |access-date = 2008-04-19 |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080413055442/http://www.khulsey.com/jewelry/kh_jewelry_diamond_mines_pg2.html |archive-date = 2008-04-13 }} Other mineral resources include coal, galena, quartz, agate and uranium deposits, but their exploitation is not considered commercially viable.{{cite journal| title=Lesotho: Mining| author=The Economist Intelligence Unit| date=2004-02-20}} Clay deposits can be found in the country, and are used for producing tiles, bricks and other ceramics.

Much of the population engages in subsistence farming,{{cite web| url=http://www.lesotho.gov.ls/about/economy.php| title=Lesotho Economy| work=Lesotho Ministry of Communications, Science and Technology| access-date=2008-04-19| url-status=dead| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080419010254/http://www.lesotho.gov.ls/about/economy.php| archive-date=2008-04-19}} even though only 10.71% of the country's surface is classified as arable land and 0.13% has permanent crops. Much of the land has been ruined by soil erosion.{{cite web| url=http://www.irinnews.org/report.aspx?reportid=48540| title=LESOTHO: "The land is blowing away"| work=IRIN| access-date=2008-04-21| archive-date=2011-08-07| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110807223511/http://www.irinnews.org/report.aspx?reportid=48540| url-status=live}} The most fertile farmlands are in the northern and central lowlands, and in the foothills between the lowlands and the mountains.{{cite web| url=http://www.lesmet.org.ls/climate_of_lesotho.htm| title=Climate of Lesotho| work=Lesotho Meteorological Service| access-date=2008-04-19| url-status=dead| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071224101153/http://www.lesmet.org.ls/climate_of_lesotho.htm| archive-date=2007-12-24}} Large tracts of the fertile farmland to the north of the country—in the Free State region of South Africa—were lost to European colonists in wars during the 19th century.

This is a list of the extreme points of Lesotho, the points that are farther north, south, east or west than any other location.

• Northernmost point - unnamed location on the border with Golden Gate National Park in South Africa immediately north-west of the village of Monontsa, In Butha-Buthe District
• Easternmost point - unnamed location on the border with South Africa immediately west of the South African mountain Giant's Castle, Mokhotlong District
• Southernmost point - Gairntoul mountain, Quthing District
• Westernmost point - unnamed location in the Caledon River on the border with South Africa, Mafeteng District

{{reflist|30em}}

{{Geography of Africa}}

{{Africa topic|Climate of}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Geography Of Lesotho}}