Namibia Geography
Namibia Geography: A summary of information about Namibia Geography, from government research data as well as independent research and other sources.
Namibia: Geography
Location
Southern Africa, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between Angola and South Africa
Geographic coordinates
22 00 S, 17 00 E
Map references
Africa
Area
total: 825,418 sq km land: 825,418 sq km water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative
slightly more than half the size of Alaska
Land boundaries
total: 3,824 km border countries: Angola 1,376 km, Botswana 1,360 km, South Africa 855 km, Zambia 233 km
Coastline
1,572 km
Maritime claims
contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate
desert; hot, dry; rainfall sparse and erratic
Terrain
mostly high plateau; Namib Desert along coast; Kalahari Desert in east
Elevation extremes
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Konigstein 2,606 m
Natural resources
diamonds, copper, uranium, gold, lead, tin, lithium, cadmium, zinc, salt, vanadium, natural gas, hydropower, fish note: suspected deposits of oil, coal, and iron ore
Land use
arable land: 1% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 46% forests and woodland: 22% other: 31% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land
60 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards
prolonged periods of drought
Environment - current issues
very limited natural fresh water resources; desertification
Environment - international agreements
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
