Geography

Area
30,355 square kilometers

Hemmed in by South Africa, with a coast on the Atlantic, Lesotho is a country of volcanic plateaus with 4 peaks that are over 3000 m in height. Mount Thabana Ntlenyana reaches 3482 m.

Principal cities
Teyateyaneng, Leribe, Mafeteng

Neighboring country
South Africa

Highest point
Thabana Ntlenyana
3,482 m

General Information

Status
Kingdom

Government
Parliament government; Commonwealth country; democratic power; includes a king (Letsie III), prime minister, national assembly made up of 65 members elected by universal suffrage and a 33-member Senate made up of 22 chiefs and 11 appointees.

Important Date
October 4, 1966 - Declaration of independence from Great Britain

Capital
Maseru

Currency
Loti

Languages spoken
English, Sotho

Principal industries
the country has a large amount of water and industry is centered on hydro-electricity; production of export products such as wool, leather and hides.

Agriculture
corn, sorghum, fruit