Topography in Lesotho

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Topography in Lesotho helplesotho.org Lesotho is divided into four physiographic regions: the mountain region in the east, the foothills in central Lesotho, the Orange River Valley from the north-east to the south-west, and the lowlands in the west. Two-thirds of Lesotho terrain is mountainous. The highlands have an average elevation of over 2,438 meters. Even the country’s lowlands have an average elevation of 1,524 to 1,829 meters. Mountains Mount Thabana-Ntlenyana Lesotho has two mountain ranges: the Drakensberg and the Maloti ranges. The Drakensberg Mountains rise in the east and drop near the South African border. The Maloti Mountains are located in the centre of Lesotho, and join the Drakensberg range in the north. The highest mountain in Lesotho is Mount Thabana-Ntlenyana and reaches a height of 3,482 meters. Not only is it the highest point in Lesotho, but it also has the highest elevation in all Image © summitpost.org of southern Africa. Mount Thabana-Ntlenyana is located on the Mohlesi ridge of the Drakensberg and Maloti mountains. Soil Erosion Did You Know? Environmental change and destruction has had a • Lesotho is the only country on harsh impact on the land of Lesotho. Soil erosion earth whose lowest elevation is refers to the wearing away of the top layer of soil. above sea level (1000m). This causes a huge problem for the people who • The lowest point is the junction of want to grow crops. Soil erosion results in the loss of arable land, loss of grazing land, and the loss the Orange and Makhaleng Rivers of water by rapid runoff after heavy rainstorms in (1,400m). areas where the vegetation has been depleted. • Thabana-Ntlenyana translates from Sesotho to “Beautiful little mountain” The information included on this handout was compiled by a Help Lesotho volunteer from a variety of sources..

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Lesotho the Commonwealth Yearbook 2014 the Commonwealth Yearbook the Most Significant Issue Is Overgrazing, Resulting Maseru (Capital, Pop
Lesotho Lesotho KEY FACTS Africa is Thabana–Ntlenyana (3,842 metres) in eastern Lesotho. The land descends to the west to an arable belt, known as the Joined Commonwealth: 1966 lowlands, where the capital is situated and two-thirds of the Population: 2,052,000 (2012) population live. The country is well-watered in a generally dry GDP p.c. growth: 2.8% p.a. 1990–2012 region, the Orange river and its tributary the Caledon both rising in UN HDI 2012: world ranking 158 Lesotho. Official languages: Sesotho, English Climate: The climate is temperate with well-marked seasons. The Time: GMT plus 2hr rainy season (receiving 85 per cent of total precipitation) is October Currency: loti, plural maloti (M) to April, when there are frequent violent thunderstorms. Rainfall averages 746 mm p.a. Temperatures in the lowlands range from Geography 32.2°C to –6.7°C; the range is much greater in the mountains. From May to September, snow falls in the highlands with heavy Area: 30,355 sq km frosts occurring in the lowlands. Coastline: none Capital: Maseru Environment: The most significant issue is overgrazing, resulting The Kingdom of Lesotho is a small landlocked country entirely in severe soil erosion and desertification. surrounded by South Africa. It is known as the ‘Mountain Vegetation: Mainly grassland and bushveld, with forest in ravines Kingdom’, the whole country being over 1,000 metres in altitude. and on the windward slopes of mountains. Forest covers one per The country is divided into ten districts, each named after the cent of the land area and arable land comprises ten per cent.
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Accepted Manuscript
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