Geography and Environment
Geography and Environment of Zimbabwe
Terrain, climate, natural resources, hazards, and environmental conditions of Zimbabwe.
Overview
Zimbabwe is a landlocked country between the Zambezi and Limpopo Rivers of south-central Africa. Elevations range from below 2,000 feet in the river basins to over 7,000 feet in the Eastern Highlands. Harare and most population centers are located on the highveld, a savanna-covered plateau, some 4,000-5,000 feet above sea level. Zimbabwe covers 150,000 square miles. The landscape varies from flat and rolling ranges, to farmland and mountains, all marked by granite outcroppings. Points of geographical and scenic interest include the magnificent Victoria Falls and manmade Lake Kariba on the Zambezi River, the mountainous Eastern Highlands along the Mozambique border, and the historically important ruins of Great Zimbabwe, the capital of the ancient civilization of Zimbabwe, located near Masvingo, and several game parks.
Detailed geography
Physical Features
- Terrain
- mostly high plateau with higher central plateau (high veld); mountains in east
- Climate
- The climate on the central plateau is moderate in all seasons with warm days and cool nights. Homes do not have central heating or air-conditioning, although room heaters and fireplaces are used on winter nights (May-August). Annual rainfall averages about 28 inches on the highveld (Harare), more in the Eastern Highlands, and much less in the lowveld of the southeast and the Zambezi Valley. The sun shines nearly every day, even at the height of the warm rainy season (November-April). In Harare, the average low temperature in winter is 45°F at night, though frost occasionally occurs. The average daily temperature in summer is 75°F, with temperatures seldom surpassing 90°F.
- Weather Patterns
- http://voap.weather.com/weather/oap/ZIXX0004?template=TRVLH&par=1003114983&unit=0&key=5b85ae1d85877a1b34827fba743e2133
- Highest Point
- 2592 — Inyangani 2,592 m
- Lowest Point
- 162 — junction of the Runde and Save rivers 162 m
Borders and Area
- Area (Comparative)
- slightly larger than Montana
- Border Countries
- Botswana 813 km, Mozambique 1,231 km, South Africa 225 km, Zambia 797 km
Natural Resources and Hazards
- Natural Resources
- coal, chromium ore, asbestos, gold, nickel, copper, iron ore, vanadium, lithium, tin, platinum group metals
- Natural Hazards
- recurring droughts; floods and severe storms are rare
Environment and Land Use
- Current Environmental Issues
- deforestation; soil erosion; land degradation; air and water pollution; the black rhinoceros herd - once the largest concentration of the species in the world - has been significantly reduced by poaching; poor mining practices have led to toxic waste and heavy metal pollution
- International Agreements
- party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

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