Location Southern Africa, between South Africa and Zambia

Geographic coordinates 20 00 S, 30 00 E

Map references Africa

Area
total: 390,580 sq km
water: 3,910 sq km
land: 386,670 sq km

Area - comparative slightly larger than Montana

Land boundaries
total: 3,066 km
border countries: Botswana 813 km, Mozambique 1,231 km, South Africa 225 km, Zambia 797 km

Coastline 0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims none (landlocked)

Climate tropical; moderated by altitude; rainy season (November to March)

Terrain mostly high plateau with higher central plateau (high veld); mountains in east

Elevation extremes
lowest point: junction of the Runde and Save rivers 162 m
highest point: Inyangani 2,592 m

Natural resources coal, chromium ore, asbestos, gold, nickel, copper, iron ore, vanadium, lithium, tin, platinum group metals

Land use
arable land: 8%
permanent crops: 1%
other: 91% (1998 est.)

Irrigated land 1,170 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards recurring droughts; floods and severe storms are rare

Environment - current issues deforestation; soil erosion; land degradation; air and water pollution; the black rhinoceros herd - once the largest concentration of the species in the world - has been significantly reduced by poaching; poor mining practices have led to toxic waste and heavy metal pollution

Environment - international agreements
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note landlocked; the Zambezi forms a natural riverine boundary with Zambia; in full flood (February-April) the massive Victoria Falls on the river forms the world's largest curtain of falling water

NOTE: The information regarding Zimbabwe on this page is re-published from the 2002 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of Zimbabwe Geography 2002 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Zimbabwe Geography 2002 should be addressed to the CIA.