Zambia

• Geography

Geography

Zambia is a landlocked country in South Central Africa surrounded by Congo, Tanzania, Malawi, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Namibia and Angola.The Geographical coordinates are 15 00 S, 30 00 E. It has the total area of752,610 sq km including land area 740,720 sq km and water of11,890 sq km. Oddly shaped and slightly larger than the state of Texas, Zambia covers 752,610 sq kms.  Border countries include Angola, the Democratic Republic of Congo (formerly Zaire), Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Tanzania and Zimbabwe.  

Zambia sits on a high plateau, sloping sharply in the north down to Lake Tanganyika which Zambia shares with Tanzania, Burundi and Congo (Zaire).  There are three major rivers; the Zambezi which forms the border with Namibia and Zimbabwe, the Kafue which flows into the Zambezi south of Lusaka (the Capital) and the Luangwa which also flows into the Zambezi.

Zambia's most impressive geographical aspect is Victoria Falls which is shared with Zimbabwe.  On the Zambezi river at Livingstone, the falls are 2kms wide, 100m deep and 546 million cubic meters of water flow over them every minute.

Covering some 750,000 square kilometres it is roughly the size of France, Switzerland, Austria and Hungary combined but with a population of about 10 million. It consists of a generally level plateau of between 1060 and 1363 metres above sea level broken by small hills of mineral rich granite. In the east the Nyika Plateau rises to over 4000 metres.

The plateau is cut by the Zambezi River from which the country takes its name, and its tributaries the Kafue and Luangwe producing large valleys and waterfalls such as the Victoria Falls. The rivers are unsuitable for river transport along their length though they are very suitable for hydroelectricity generation.

Border countries are Angola 1,110 km, Democratic Republic of the Congo 1,930 km, Malawi 837 km, Mozambique 419 km, Namibia 233 km, Tanzania 338 km, Zimbabwe 797 km .

Capital       Lusaka

Languages   Official language English,regional languages are Mbukushu, Nyanja

Currency   Zambian Kwacha (ZMK)

Climate

There are three seasons in Zambia.  Cool and dry from May - August, hot and dry September and October and rainy from November - April.  However because of the high altitude, the average daytime temp year round is 79F/26C.  Average rainfall in the wet season is 178mm/month.  

Although within the tropical latitudes of 10 to 18 degrees south of the equator its altitude, averaging 1,300m above sea level, gives Zambia a moderate temperate climate with humidity normally below 40%.

There are three distinct seasons; cool and dry from May to August, hot and dry from September to November, and warm and wet from December to April. Only in the valleys of the Zambezi and Luangwe Rivers is there excessive heat particularly in the hottest month of October, and it is only during the wet season that there is any noticeable degree of humidity.The average rainfall, between November and April, is about 950mm. Summer temperatures range from 20 degrees to 32 degrees C. Winter temperatures from 10 degrees to about 26 degrees. The country is prone to droughts from time to time.

The climate and location means that the country has considerable potential to develop its agricultural sector.