What are the Key Facts of Lesotho?

Where is Lesotho?

Lesotho is a Southern African country, which is an enclave of South Africa.

What is the Geography of Lesotho?

Lesotho is spread over a total area of 30,355 sq. km (11,720 sq. mi), which is completely land area and no water area. It has a 1,106 km (687 mi) long land boundary, which it completely shares with South Africa. Lesotho has no coastline. One of the most remarkable things about this country is that it is the only independent country in the world that is situated above 1,000 m (3,281 ft). Here is Lesotho Physical Map showing all physical feature of the country.

Lesotho’s landscape is almost entirely mountainous. Around 80% of the landforms in Lesotho is situated above 1,800 m (5,906 ft). Though it is completely encircled by South Africa, the forbidding mountain range separates the two countries. The geographic landforms of this African country can be divided into three parts: the highlands, the foothills, and the lowlands.

The Maloti and Drakensberg mountain ranges form the highlands here. These highlands are mostly located in the eastern and southern parts of Lesotho. The foothills are the divider between the mountains and the lowlands. The lowlands are mainly located in the southern parts of the country, especially in the Senqu river valley as well as the Caledon River’s southern banks.

The mean elevation of the country is 2,161 m (7,090 ft). While the highest elevation point is Thabana Ntlenyana at 3,482 m (11,424 ft), the lowest elevation point is the junction of the Makhaleng River and Orange River at 1,400 m (4,593 ft).

Some of the major mountains in the Kingdom of Lesotho are Thabana Ntlenyana, Thaba Bosiu, Ntelle, Makhoarane, Qoaling, Qibing, and Phamong. The main rivers in this Southern African country are Senqu or Orange River, Mokhotlong River, Malibamat’so River, Senqunyane River, Makhaleng River, Mohokare or Celedon River.

The most important river of the country is the Orange River, which rises in the Drakensberg Mountains, located in the northeastern parts. It descends from the mountains and flows across Lesotho and then exits the country through the southwestern part at the Hoek district of Mohale to enter South Africa.

The country’s bedrock consists mainly of sandstone and shale. Peatlands is located in the mountainous escarpment in the highlands near the eastern border. Bogs partially encircle the Thabana Ntlenyana’s summit. At the higher portions of the highlands, stone garlands, block streams, blockfields, and solifluction deposits can be found.

Lesotho has a temperate climate having cold winter and hot summer. The place remains cooler than most of the regions in the same latitude because of the higher altitude.

The temperature in the areas surrounding the lowlands including Maseru generally reaches 30 °C (86 °F) during summer. In the winters, the temperature in the lowlands can be −7 °C (19.4 °F). In the highlands, the temperature can reach −20 °C (−4.0 °F) at times during the winter season.

The annual rainfall level can be around 600 mm (23.6 in) in the lowland valleys. However, it doubles to 1,200 mm (47.2 in) along the escarpment (both east and north) bordering South Africa. Most of the rainfall takes place during October-April. During summertime, the rainfall is accompanied by thunderstorms.

May-to-September is the wintertime and it predominantly remains dry. Snowfall also takes place during this time in the low valleys as well as in the deserts. The rainfall level varies significantly across the year. While the dry season can witness periodic droughts, flooding can be witnessed during the rainy season.

What is the Economy of Lesotho?

The economy of the country is based mainly on agriculture, mining, livestock, and manufacturing. Despite being a subsistence agriculture-based economy with many of its workforce engaged in animal herding, it produces only 20% of its food consumed. Around 85% of its imports consist of food items including agricultural inputs.

More than 25% of its revenues come from being a member of the Southern Africa Customs Union (SACU). Lesotho also gets royalties from South Africa for transferring water to South Africa. For reducing its dependency on customs duties as well as other transfers, the country is strengthening its tax system. In 2018, the nominal GDP increased at a rate of 1.5% to reach US$2,792 million.

2016 data shows that the country exported US$ 678 million value of goods and imported US$ 1,594 million value of goods. The main export items were cotton trousers and breeches for boys, unsweetened waters/ice/snow, greasy wool, synthetic trousers for girls, etc. The main import items were petroleum oil, sacks/bags, combed/non-carded cotton, denim, self-adhesive strip, plates, tape, etc.

The rate of unemployment decreased slightly from 27.78% in 2016 to 27.25% in 2017. The country has high inequality and it declined only marginally from 56.6% to 49.7% during 2002-17.

What is the Transportation System of Lesotho?

The transportation system in Lesotho is limited. There are 24 airports in the country, out of which 3 have paved runways and 21 have unpaved runways. 5,940 km (3,691 mi) of roadways are present in Lesotho, out of which 1,069 km (664 mi) is paved and 4,871 km (3,027 mi) is unpaved.

What International Organizations is Lesotho part of?

UN, WTO, WHO, IMF, ILO, UNESCO, ACP, AfDB, AU, C, CD, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OPCW, SACU, SADC, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WIPO, WMO, ISO (correspondent), WFTU (NGOs)

Related Link:

• Why is there a Country within the Country of South Africa?