Lesotho: Mountain Kingdom Enclave Within South Africa
Explore Lesotho, a mountainous kingdom entirely surrounded by South Africa—covering its highland landscape, Maseru capital, Basotho people, Sesotho and English use, and its constitutional monarchy and culture.
Lesotho is a small, landlocked country in southern Africa. It is entirely surrounded by South Africa, making it an enclave within that country. Lesotho is a constitutional monarchy officially known as the Kingdom of Lesotho.
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Overview
The nation covers a compact area dominated by highlands and mountains. Because of its elevation—its lowest point is higher than that of any other country—Lesotho has a cooler climate than many nearby regions. The country's administrative and economic centre is Maseru, located on the northwestern border with South Africa.
People
Lesotho's population is relatively small compared with its neighbour, numbering roughly around 2.1 million people by recent estimates. The population is largely of Basotho ethnicity and Sesotho is the most widely spoken language; English is also used for official and commercial purposes.
Quick facts
- Region: southern Africa
- Status: Sovereign kingdom and enclave within South Africa
- Capital and largest city: Maseru
- Approximate population: about 2.1 million (recent estimate)
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Author
AlegsaOnline.com Lesotho: Mountain Kingdom Enclave Within South Africa Leandro Alegsa
URL: https://en.alegsaonline.com/art/57437
Sources
- commons.wikimedia.org : Lesotho
- imf.org : "Lesotho"
- hdr.undp.org : Human Development Report 2009
- thecommonwealth.org : Commonwealth Secretariat - Member States