Brief Introduction about Botswana
4
IN this, its second quarter- century of independence, Botswana can look back with pride upon its accomplishments and, at the same time, can look forward with comfidence to further developments. The country's national principles of democracy, unity and self reliance have been successfully implemented to maintain positive growth and, both in seeking to cope with its disadvantages and in emphasising its advantages, employers and employed are joined together in the effort to make 'Enterprise Botswana' a going concern. In a global economy becoming increasingly inter-dependent, Botswana is looking to active participation. The Okavango Delta - a landscape of flood plains. Although it is a landlock ed country, its very position gives Botswana a competitive edge for, lying as it does at the centre of the southern African region, it has relatively easy access to all regional markets amd is thus able to draw on regional resources relatively easily. LOCATION AND TOPOGRAPHY Located in southern Africa, with Namibia (in the west and north), Zambia and Zimbabwe (in the north-east), and South Africa (in the east and south) as neighbours, the Republi c of Botswana is a
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Transcript of Brief Introduction about Botswana
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IN this, its second quarter-
century of independence,
Botswana can look back with
pride upon its
accomplishments and, at the
same time, can look forward
with comfidence to further
developments. The country's
national principles of
democracy, unity and self
reliance have been successfully implemented to maintain
positive growth and, both in seeking to cope with its
disadvantages and in emphasising its advantages, employers
and employed are joined together in the effort to make
'Enterprise Botswana' a going concern. In a global economy
becoming increasingly inter-dependent, Botswana is looking
to active participation.
The Okavango Delta - a landscape of flood plains.
Although it is a landlocked country, its very position gives Botswana a
competitive edge for, lying as it does at the centre of the southern
African region, it has relatively easy access to all regional markets
amd is thus able to draw on regional resources relatively easily.
LOCATION AND TOPOGRAPHY
Located in southern Africa, with Namibia (in the west and north),
Zambia and Zimbabwe (in the north-east), and South Africa (in the
east and south) as neighbours, the Republic of Botswana is a
8/8/2019 Brief Introduction about Botswana
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relatively flat country approximately 582000 square kilometres in
area.
The eastern portion contains the highest and lowest points (almost
1500 metres and about 500 metres, respectively), with hills, valley,
and rocky outcrops. The flat, vast western portions is semi-arid with
rocky outcrops. Two -third of the country is characterised by gently
undulating, sandy plains, with the central portion a shallow basin. One
of southern Africa's longest rivers, the Okavango, flows through the
country, fanning out into a delta of some 15000 square kilometres to
form a uniqueenvironment with a myriad of water channels.
The Kgalagadi (or Kalahari) Desert occupies approximately 80 percent
of the country, with valleys and pans atched across the landscape.
Sowa Pan - spoonbills at the Nata River
Mouth.
CLIMATE AND RAINFALL
With an average of some 1000 metres
above sea level, the area experiences a
wide range of temperatures, varying from
an acerage daily maximum of 33 C in
January, to -7 C in the southern part of the country. Winter begins in
May, with July being the coldest month and October and November
sometimes extremely hot.
Rainfall is erratic and sporadic, ranging from 250 milimetres per yearin the south-west to over 600 milimetres in the north-east. (An
interesting point is that the unit of currency, the Pula, takes its name
from a traditional greeting which, approximately fot this land of great
thirst, means 'rain'.) The main rainy season occurs in the summer
months between November and March.
An elephant herd on the banks of the Kwai River.
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NATURAL
BEAUTY
A land of unique
natural beauty, Botswana can be regarding
as one of the great holiday destinations in
the world - strikingly rugged wilderness areas with an immense
variety of wildlife, the fascinating complexity of an unusual mix of bird
species - all these are Botswana's unflaunted riches. Most of the
country is covered by savannah, and indigenous trees include rhe
mopani, camel thorn and baobab.
Zebra herd standing in long grass.
MINERAL WEALTH
Of those treasures that do lie buried, the
mineral wealth of the country is the major
stimulus behind its rapid economic growth, its
extend still to be fully realised, with layers of
untold thickness still to be laid bare. Igneous activity has occured
throughout the country's geological history, the most economically
significant being the kimberlite pipes with their wealth of diamonds.
A conveyor at Morupule Colliery carries coal from the mine to the
power station.
PEOPLE
As early as the 16th century Tswana communities entered the country
and a system of incorporation was begun with absorption of the
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