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South Africa:
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Other pages in this profile of South Africa:
People, Government, Economy, Communications & Transportation, Military & Transnational Issues.
People, Government, Economy, Communications & Transportation, Military & Transnational Issues.
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Background |
Definition Dutch traders landed at the southern tip of modern day South Africa in 1652 and established a stopover point on the spice route between the Netherlands and the East, founding the city of Cape Town. After the British seized the Cape of Good Hope area in 1806, many of the Dutch settlers (the Boers) trekked north to found their own republics. The discovery of diamonds (1867) and gold (1886) spurred wealth and immigration and intensified the subjugation of the native inhabitants. The Boers resisted British encroachments but were defeated in the Boer War (1899-1902); however, the British and the Afrikaners, as the Boers became known, ruled together under the Union of South Africa. In 1948, the National Party was voted into power and instituted a policy of apartheid - the separate development of the races. The first multi-racial elections in 1994 brought an end to apartheid and ushered in black majority rule. |
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Location |
Definition Southern Africa, at the southern tip of the continent of Africa |
Geographic coordinates |
Definition 29 00 S, 24 00 E |
Map references |
Definition Africa |
Area |
Definition - World rank and map total: 1,219,912 sq km land: 1,219,912 sq km water: 0 sq km note: includes Prince Edward Islands (Marion Island and Prince Edward Island) |
Area - comparative |
Definition slightly less than twice the size of Texas |
Land boundaries |
Definition total: 4,862 km border countries: Botswana 1,840 km, Lesotho 909 km, Mozambique 491 km, Namibia 967 km, Swaziland 430 km, Zimbabwe 225 km |
Coastline |
Definition 2,798 km |
Maritime claims |
Definition territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200 nm or to edge of the continental margin |
Climate |
Definition mostly semiarid; subtropical along east coast; sunny days, cool nights |
Terrain |
Definition vast interior plateau rimmed by rugged hills and narrow coastal plain |
Elevation extremes |
Definition lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Njesuthi 3,408 m |
Natural resources |
Definition gold, chromium, antimony, coal, iron ore, manganese, nickel, phosphates, tin, uranium, gem diamonds, platinum, copper, vanadium, salt, natural gas |
Land use |
Definition - World rank and map arable land: 12.1% permanent crops: 0.79% other: 87.11% (2005) |
Irrigated land |
Definition 14,980 sq km (2003) |
Total renewable water resources |
Definition 50 cu km (1990) |
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural) |
Definition total: 12.5 cu km/yr (31%/6%/63%) per capita: 264 cu m/yr (2000) |
Natural hazards |
Definition prolonged droughts |
Environment - current issues |
Definition lack of important arterial rivers or lakes requires extensive water conservation and control measures; growth in water usage outpacing supply; pollution of rivers from agricultural runoff and urban discharge; air pollution resulting in acid rain; soil erosion; desertification |
Environment - international agreements |
Definition party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements |
Geography - note |
Definition South Africa completely surrounds Lesotho and almost completely surrounds Swaziland |
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