Post by Fahim on Apr 15, 2005 15:09:58 GMT
*~Mozambican Geography~*
Location: South-eastern Africa, bordering the Mozambique Channel, between South Africa and Tanzania.
Geographic coordinates: 18 15 S, 35 00 E.
Map references: Africa.
Area:
- Total: 801,590 sq km.
- Land: 784,090 sq km.
- Water: 17,500 sq km.
- Comparative: Slightly less than twice the size of California.
Land boundaries:
- Total: 4,571 km.
- Border countries: Malawi 1,569 km, South Africa 491 km, Swaziland 105 km, Tanzania 756 km, Zambia 419 km and Zimbabwe 1,231 km.
Coastline: 2,470 km.
Maritime claims:
- Territorial sea: 12 nm.
- Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm.
Climate: Tropical to Subtropical.
Terrain: Mostly coastal lowlands, uplands in center, high plateaus in northwest, mountains in west.
Elevation extremes:
- Lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m.
- Highest point: Monte Binga 2,436 m.
Natural resources: Coal, Titanium, Natural Gas, Hydropower, Tantalum and Graphite.
Land use:
- Arable land: 5.1%.
- Permanent crops: 0.3%.
- Other: 94.6% (2001).
Irrigated land: 1,070 sq km (1998 estatistics).
Natural hazards: Severe droughts; devastating cyclones and floods occur in central and southern provinces
Environment:
- Current issues: A long civil war and recurrent drought in the hinterlands have resulted in increased migration of the population to urban and coastal areas with adverse environmental consequences; desertification; pollution of surface and coastal waters; elephant poaching for ivory is a problem.
- International agreements: Party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but Not ratified: none of the selected agreements.
Geography:
Note: the Zambezi (river) flows through the north-central and most fertile part of the country.
Bibliography: www.travelblog.org/World/mz-geog.html
