Zambia
Zambia shares Victoria Falls with Zimbabwe, and in the dry season you can swim in a natural rock pool right at the edge of the drop.
- CapitalLusakaOn the central plateau
- PopulationAbout 20 millionLandlocked in southern Africa
- Area752,612 km2Mostly high plateau
- CopperA leading African producerThe Copperbelt in the north
Zambia is a landlocked country on a high plateau, which keeps its climate mild despite sitting in the tropics. The Zambezi River forms much of its southern border and plunges over Victoria Falls into a narrow gorge.
At the top of the falls, on the Zambian side, the Devil's Pool forms in the low-water season: a natural rock basin at the very lip of the drop where a rock ledge stops swimmers going over.
National symbols
- National animal African fish eagle, shown on the flag
- National flower Bougainvillea
- National anthem Stand and Sing of Zambia, Proud and Free
- National day Independence Day, 24 October
Map of Zambia
Geography
Zambia covers 752,612 km2 and borders eight countries: the Democratic Republic of Congo, Tanzania, Malawi, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Namibia and Angola. It is landlocked.
Most of the country is a plateau between 1,000 and 1,600 m. The Zambezi forms the southern border and drops 108 m at Victoria Falls. Lake Kariba, Lake Tanganyika and Lake Bangweulu all lie partly within Zambia.
Climate
Zambia has three seasons: a cool dry season from May to August, a hot dry season in September and October, and a warm wet season from November to April.
The plateau altitude keeps temperatures moderate, generally 15C to 30C. The Zambezi valley is hotter and lower. Rainfall is higher in the north than the south, and droughts affect farming and hydroelectric output.
Culture
English is the official language, and seven Zambian languages have regional official status, including Bemba, Nyanja and Tonga. Over 70 languages are spoken.
Around 95 per cent of Zambians are Christian, and Zambia is constitutionally declared a Christian nation. The Kuomboka ceremony, in which the Lozi king moves from the flooding plains to higher ground in a great painted barge, is a spectacular annual event.
Economy
Copper is the backbone of the economy. The Copperbelt in the north has been mined for a century, and Zambia is one of Africa's largest producers. Cobalt is a valuable by-product.
Agriculture, especially maize, tobacco and sugar, employs most people. Tourism at Victoria Falls and the national parks is significant, and dependence on copper prices makes the economy vulnerable to swings.
The flag
A green field with a block of three vertical stripes, red, black and orange, in the lower right corner, and an orange African fish eagle flying above them.
Green stands for the land, red for the struggle for freedom, black for the people, and orange for the country's mineral wealth, especially copper. The eagle in flight represents the people's ability to rise above the nation's problems.