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Geography of Botswana

Geography of Botswana
Botswana Map.jpg
LocationBotswana.svg
Continent Africa
Region Southern Africa
Coordinates 22°00′S 24°00′E / 22.000°S 24.000°E / -22.000; 24.000
Area Ranked 48th
 • Total 581,730 km2 (224,610 sq mi)
 • Land 97.42%
 • Water 2.58%
Coastline 0 km (0 mi)
Borders Total land borders: 4,374.15 km (2,717.97 mi)
Namibia: 1,544 km (959 mi)
South Africa: 1,969 km (1,223 mi)
Zambia: 0.15 km (0.093 mi)
Zimbabwe: 834 km (518 mi)
Highest point Tsodilo Hills 1,489 m (4,885 ft)
Lowest point Junction of the Limpopo and Shashe Rivers 513 m (1,683 ft)

Botswana is a landlocked country located in Southern Africa, north of South Africa. Botswana occupies an area of 581,730 square kilometres (224,610 sq mi), of which 566,730 km2 (218,820 sq mi) are land. Botswana has land boundaries of combined length 4,347.15 kilometres (2,701.19 mi), of which the constituent boundaries are shared with Namibia, for 1,544 km (959 mi); South Africa 1,969 km (1,223 mi); Zimbabwe, 834 km (518 mi) and Zambia, 0.15 km (0.093 mi). Much of the population of Botswana is concentrated in the eastern part of the country.

Sunshine totals are high all year round although winter is the sunniest period. The whole country is windy and dusty during the dry season.

Botswana is semi-arid, due to the short rain season. However, the relatively high altitude of the country and its continental situation gives it a subtropical climate. The country is remote from moisture-laden air flows for most of the year. The dry season lasts from April to October in the south and to November in the north where, however, rainfall totals are higher. The south of the country is most exposed to cold winds during the winter period (early May to late August) when average temperatures are around 14 °C (57.2 °F). The whole country has hot summers with average temperatures around 26 °C (78.8 °F). Sunshine totals are high all year round although winter is the sunniest period. The whole country is windy and dusty during the dry season.

The land is predominantly flat to gently undulating tableland, although there is some hilly country, where mining is carried out. The Kalahari Desert is in the central and the southwest. The Okavango Delta, one of the world's largest inland deltas, is in the northwest and the Makgadikgadi Pans, a large salt pan lies in the north-central area. The Makgadikgadi has been established as an early habitation area for primitive man; This large seasonal wetland is composed of several large component pans, the largest being Nwetwe Pan, Sua Pan and Nxai Pan. Botswana's lowest elevation point is at the junction of the Limpopo and Shashe Rivers, at a height of 513 m (1,683 ft). The highest point is Monalanong Hill, at 1,494 m (4,902 ft). The country is divided into four drainage regions, which are sometimes indistinct due to the arid nature of the climate:


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