Geography |
The Republic of Zimbabwe, located in southern Africa, is bounded on the north by Zambia and Mozambique, on the east by Mozambique, on the south by South Africa and on the south-west and west by Botswana. The total area of the country is 390 759 km2.
Much of the country is a high, rolling plateau from 900 to 1 500 m in elevation, part of the great central and southern African plateau. A broad ridge, known as the High Veld, runs from south-west to north-east across the country. The land slopes downward to the north to the Zambezi River and to the south to the Limpopo River. These regions, with an elevation of about 1 000 m, are known as the Middle Veld. The Low Veld consists of sandy plains in the Zambezi, Limpopo, and Sabi river basins. The highest point in the country, Mount Inyangani (2 592 m), lies in the mountains along the eastern border.
Although Zimbabwe lies in the Tropics, its climate is moderated by its high elevation. The average temperature is 16° C in July (winter) and 21° C in January (summer). The average annual rainfall is about 890 mm in the High Veld and less than 610 mm in most parts of the Middle Veld. Most rainfall occurs during the summer from October to April.
The designations employed and the presentation of material in this publication do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries.