CIA Factbook The World Factbook 1994: South AfricaGeography Location: Southern Africa, at the extreme southern tip of the continent Area: • total area: 1,219,912 sq km • land area: 1,219,912 sq km • comparative area: slightly less than twice the size of Texas • note: includes Prince Edward Islands (Marion Island and Prince Edward Island) Land boundaries: total 4,750 km, Botswana 1,840 km, Lesotho 909 km, Mozambique 491 km, Namibia 855 km, Swaziland 430 km, Zimbabwe 225 km Coastline: 2,798 km Maritime claims: • continental shelf: 200-m depth or to depth of exploitation • exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm • territorial sea: 12 nm International disputes: the dispute with Namibia over Walvis Bay and 12 offshore islands has been resolved and these territories were transferred to Namibian sovereignty on 1 March 1994; Swaziland has asked South Africa to open negotiations on reincorporating some nearby South African territories that are populated by ethnic Swazis or that were long ago part of the Swazi Kingdom Climate: mostly semiarid; subtropical along coast; sunny days, cool nights Terrain: vast interior plateau rimmed by rugged hills and narrow coastal plain Natural resources: gold, chromium, antimony, coal, iron ore, manganese, nickel, phosphates, tin, uranium, gem diamonds, platinum, copper, vanadium, salt, natural gas Land use: • arable land: 10% • permanent crops: 1% • meadows and pastures: 65% • forest and woodland: 3% • other: 21% Irrigated land: 11,280 sq km (1989 est.) Environment: • current issues: lack of important arterial rivers or lakes requires extensive water conservation and control measures; growth in water usage threatens to outpace supply; pollution of rivers from agricultural runoff and urban discharge; air pollution resulting in acid rain; soil erosion; desertification • natural hazards: subject to prolonged droughts • international agreements: party to—Antarctic Treaty, Endangered Species, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling; signed, but not ratified—Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Law of the Sea Note: South Africa completely surrounds Lesotho and almost completely surrounds Swaziland