Lesotho's location in Africa and in the world. Add captionBy Alvaro1984 18 (Own work) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3ALocation_Lesotho_AU_Africa.svg |
Maseru is the capital city. Its coordinates are 29.31°S 27.48°E. OCHA [CC-BY-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3ALesotho_-_Location_Map_(2013)_-_LSO_-_UNOCHA.svg |
Lesotho is the highest country in the world, with its lowest
point being almost 4,600 feet above sea level.[4] It lies on the north-west side of the crest
of the Drakensburg Mountains, one of the main geographic features of southern
Africa. It has a cool, continental climate,
as distinguished from neighboring states because of its altitude and because of
its distance from bodies of water.[5] One significant benefit of this cool, high
climate is that malaria is not an issue in this region.
Lesotho is the site of the origin of the Orange River (or
Senqu River), which bisects South Africa and forms parts of several national
and international boundaries.
Lesotho has few natural resources. It is very mountainous and therefore not conducive
to easy farming—less than two-tenths of a percent of Lesotho’s land is
permanently used for farming.[6] The mountains do provide a source of income
through tourism. Pony trekking is a
growing industry. The Letseng Diamond
Mine is located in Lesotho and, while it has very poor production, it does
produce the largest diamonds in the world.[7] The Lesotho Highlands Water Project is an
additional source of income and production as it provides water resources and
power throughout Lesotho.[8] Most people survive on subsistence farming
although there is some manufacturing work.
Lesotho’s poverty—resulting from its less hospitable climate, relative
aridity, and history of war, as the Afrikaners and the English fought for
control of southern Africa—is one of the factors which has led to its high HIV/AIDS
rate, which is the third highest rate in the world. Almost 30% of adults in Lesotho have HIV/AIDS.[9]
[8] “Lesotho
Highlands Water Project”. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lesotho_Highlands_Water_Project.