Geography of Swaziland
Swaziland is a country in Southern Africa, lying between Mozambique and South Africa. The country is located at the geographic coordinates 26°30′S 31°30′E / 26.500°S 31.500°E. Swaziland has an area of 17,363 square kilometres, of which 160 are water. The major regions of the country are Lowveld, Midveld and Highveld.
Climate
The climate of Swaziland varies from tropical to near temperate. The seasons are the reverse of those in the Northern Hemisphere with December being mid-summer and June mid-winter. Generally speaking, rain falls mostly during the summer months, often in the form of thunderstorms. Winter is the dry season. Annual rainfall is highest on the Highveld in the West, between 1,000 and 2,000 mm (39.4 and 78.7 in) depending on the year. The further East, the less rain, with the Lowveld recording 500 to 900 mm (19.7 to 35.4 in) per annum. Variations in temperature are also related to the altitude of the different regions. The Highveld temperature is temperate and, seldom, uncomfortably hot while the Lowveld may record temperatures around 40 °C (104 °F) in summer.
The average temperatures at Mbabane, according to seasons:
| Spring | September – October | 18 °C (64.4 °F) |
| Summer | November – March | 20 °C (68 °F) |
| Autumn | April – May | 17 °C (62.6 °F) |
| Winter | June – August | 13 °C (55.4 °F) |
Physical geography
The terrain largely consists of mountains and hills, with some moderately sloping plains. The lowest point is the Great Usutu River, at 21 metres, and the highest is Emlembe, at 1,862 m.
As a landlocked country, Swaziland has neither coastline nor maritime claims. In terms of land boundaries, Swaziland borders Mozambique for 105 kilometres, and South Africa for 430, giving a total land boundary length of 535 km.
Natural resources
Swaziland possesses the following natural resources: asbestos, coal, clay, cassiterite, hydropower, forests, small gold and diamond deposits, quarry stone, and talc.
670 km² of the country's land is irrigated. The following table describes land use in Swaziland.
| Use | Percentage of Area |
|---|---|
| arable land | 9.77 |
| permanent crops | 0.7 |
| other | 89.53 |
Environment
The Kingdom of Swaziland is prone to floods and drought. Soil erosion as a result of overgrazing is a growing problem.
Swaziland is part of the following international agreements: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Nuclear Test Ban and Ozone Layer Protection. The country has signed, but not ratified the agreement on desertification, and the law of the sea.
Extreme points
This is a list of the extreme points of Swaziland, the points that are farther north, south, east or west than any other location.
- Northernmost point - unnamed location of the border with South Africa immediately north of the village of Horo, Hhohho District
- Easternmost point - the tripoint with South Africa and Mozambique, Lubombo District
- Southernmost point - unnamed location on the border with South Africa, Shiselweni District
- Westernmost point - a section of the border with South Africa, Manzini District*
- Note: Swaziland does not have a westernmost point as the western-most section of the border is formed by the 31° longitude
External links
- European Digital Archive on the Soil Maps of the world - soil maps of Swaziland