Geography of Botswana – The Ultimate Free Guide 2021
Learn facts and Geography of Botswana including Major Geographical Features, Natural resources, Region, area, Capital, Border countries, rivers in Botswana.
- Botswana officially the Republic of Botswana, is a landlocked country in Southern Africa. Botswana is topographically flat, with up to 70 percent of its territory being the Kalahari Desert.
- it is one of the most sparsely populated countries in the world. About 11.6 percent of the population lives in the capital and largest city, Gaborone. Formerly one of the world’s poorest countries – with a GDP per capita of about US$70 per year in the late 1960s – Botswana has since transformed itself into an upper middle income country, with one of the world’s fastest-growing economies.
- Homo sapiens had first inhabited the country over 200,000 years ago. The Tswana ethnic group were descended mainly from Bantu-speaking tribes who migrated southward of Africa to modern Botswana around 600 AD, living in tribal enclaves as farmers and herders. In 1885, the British colonized the area and declared a protectorate under the name of Bechuanaland.
- The economy is dominated by mining, cattle, and tourism. Botswana has a GDP (purchasing power parity) per capita of about $18,113 as of 2021, one of the highest in Africa.
- Botswana is a member of the African Union, the Southern African Development Community, the Commonwealth of Nations, and the United Nations.
- The term Batswana was originally applied to the Tswana, which is still the case. However, it has also come to be used generally as a demonym for all citizens of Botswana.
Geography of Botswana
Region:
Southern Africa
Area:
Ranked 48th
Capital:
Gaborone
Population:
2,254,068
Bordering Countries:
Botswana is bordered by Namibia, Zambia, Zimbabwe and South Africa
Total Size:
224,610 sq mi
Geographical Coordinates:
22°00′S 24°00′E
World Region or Continent:
Africa
Geographical Low Point:
Junction of the Limpopo and Shashe Rivers.
Geographical High Point:
Tsodilo Hills 1,489 m
Climate:
- Botswana is semi-arid, due to the short rain season.
- The country is remote from moisture-laden air flows for most of the year. The dry season lasts from April to October in the south and to November in the north where, however, rainfall totals are higher.
- The south of the country is most exposed to cold winds during the winter period when average temperatures are around 14 °C.
- The whole country has hot summers with average temperatures around 26 °C.
Major cities:
| Gaborone |
| Francistown |
| Molepolole |
| Serowe |
| Selibe Phikwe |
| Maun |
| Kanye |
| Mahalapye |
| Mogoditshane |
| Mochudi |
| Lobatse |
| Palapye |
| Ramotswa |
| Moshupa |
| Tlokweng |
| Bobonong |
| Thamaga |
| Letlhakane |
| Tonota |
| Mmadinare |
| Jwaneng |
| Tutume |
| Gabane |
| Shoshong |
| Ghanzi |
| Letlhakeng |
| Orapa |
| Kopong |
| Mmopane |
| Kasane |
Major Land forms:
- Kalahari area with semi-desert and bush savannah in the south, west and central area.
- Okavango Delta and other wetlands in the north.
- Tree savannah in the rainy north and east.
- Salt pan areas with surrounding grass savannah.
Major Rivers and Lakes:
Major Rivers:
- Chobe
- Savuti
- Linyanti
- Okavango
- Khwai
Major Lakes:
- Okavango,
- Upper Zambezi, and
- Cuando
Natural Resources:
Natural Resources in Botswana are
- Diamonds,
- Silver,
- copper,
- Nickel,
- Coal soda ash,
- Potash, and
- Iron ore.
Major Geographical Features:
Biomes & Ecosystems:
Botswana is a relatively flat with almost 70% of the country forming part of the Kalahari Desert. The country is divided into five biomes with several ecological regions.
Topography:
Botswana is mostly flat with a few hills, most of its highest points located along the south-east section of the country . The semi-arid Kalahari Desert covers about 70% of Botswana’s surface.
Oceans:
- Atlantic Ocean.
- Indian Ocean.
Islands:
- Kubu Island
- Madinari Island
- Sedudu
Mountain Ranges:
- Otso Mountains and
- The Tsodilo Hills.
Cities of Botswana :
| Gaborone |
| Francistown |
| Molepolole |
| Serowe |
| Selibe Phikwe |
| Maun |
| Kanye |
| Mahalapye |
| Mogoditshane |
| Mochudi |
| Lobatse |
| Palapye |
| Ramotswa |
| Moshupa |
| Tlokweng |
| Bobonong |
| Thamaga |
| Letlhakane |
| Tonota |
| Mmadinare |
| Jwaneng |
| Tutume |
| Gabane |
| Shoshong |
| Ghanzi |
| Letlhakeng |
| Orapa |
| Kopong |
| Mmopane |
| Kasane |
See Also:
