62 Facts About Lesotho

Lesotho, officially the Kingdom of Lesotho, is an enclaved country within the border of South Africa. 

Lesotho has an area of 30,355 square km. 

Lesotho's capital and largest city is Maseru. 

Lesotho was previously known as Basutoland. 

Lesotho has Sesotho and English as its official languages. 

Lesotho's official currency is Lesotho loti (LSL). 

South African rand (ZAR) is also used along with Lesotho loti.

Basutoland was the previous name for Lesotho. A Mosotho is a person, and the people are known as Basotho.

The name of "Lesotho" roughly means the land of the people who speak Sesotho.

Currently, more than 40% of the country's population lives in poverty.

Lesotho is a high-altitude country, rising 2161 metres above sea level. It's also known as "The Kingdom in the Sky."

At 3,482 metres, "Thabana Ntlenyana" is the highest point in the country.

The Orange and Makhaleng River confluence at 1,400 m is the country's lowest point. It is also the lowest point in any country on the planet.

Lesotho is the world's only country entirely above 1,000 metres.

Lesotho is slightly smaller in size than Maryland, United States.

Lesotho has a total land boundary length of 1,106 kilometres.

The country's growing population is causing desertification, soil erosion, and overgrazing.

Lesotho is a mountainous country, with more than 80% of the land rising above 1,800 metres above sea level.

Lesotho has one of Africa's highest adult literacy rates.

Because a large portion of its population works outside the country, foreign remittances play an important role in its economy.

Many women in the country work because of poverty, the death of their husbands, or the unemployment of their husbands.

Maseru is Lesotho's capital city. The Caledon River runs through the city. "Red sandstones" is the city's name.

Animal herding and agriculture are the primary occupations of approximately 75% of the country's population.

Almost 90% of Lesotho's consumption is imported from neighbouring South Africa.

Diamond mining contributes significantly to the country's GDP, accounting for 9% of total output.

Kids in the country play soccer and listen to music to pass the time.

Radio is the most widely used medium in the country. South African radio and television stations are also broadcast to the country.

In 2004, the first phase of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project was officially inaugurated. This water project is critical to both Lesotho and South Africa. Lesotho derives electrical energy from this project as well, thanks to the hydroelectric power planet.

Every year, Lesotho receives 300 days of sunshine. The rainy season in the country lasts from October to April.

The 11th of March is designated as "Moshoeshoe Day" in the United States. This day commemorates the death of Lesotho's founding father, Moshoeshoe I, on March 11, 1870.

The name Lesotho is pronounced "le-soo-too."

Lesotho is home to three rivers: the Caledon, the Orange, and the Tugela. All of these rivers flow from the Lesotho Mountains.

Lesotho's Katse Dam is Africa's second largest double-curvature arch dam. It stands 185 metres tall and 710 metres long. The dam was completed in 1996 at an estimated cost of $8 billion.

Water delivery from the Katse Dam began on January 22, 1998. However, the majority of the dam's water is used by South Africa, which pays Lesotho nearly $35 million for water supply.

Winters in the country are harsh and cold. And the people's traditional clothing, a blanket made almost entirely of wool, keeps them warm in the freezing temperatures. These blankets, which frequently have colourful patterns, serve as a cultural identity as well as a status symbol.

Lesotho also has the highest ski resort in Africa, Afriski, which is 3050 metres above sea level.

The Lesotho Loti, the country's currency, is not accepted in South Africa. On the contrary, the South African Rand is widely accepted throughout Lesotho.

Pakalitha Mosisili has been the Prime Minister of Lesotho since March 17, 2015.

In 1933, Lesotho became a constitutional monarchy.

Lesotho's Maletsunyane Falls is a 192-meter-high waterfall. At 3,110 feet, Africa's Tulega Falls is the world's second highest waterfall.

Lesotho has less than 2% of its land area covered by forest. Furthermore, 10% of the country's land is arable.

The country is divided into ten districts, which are named after their respective capital cities.

The HIV virus affects at least 23% of the country's population, and the government is using technology to combat the deadly disease.

Lesotho experienced its worst drought in more than 40 years in 2016. People are only allowed to eat once a day and must walk for miles to collect water.

Sesotho was one of the first African languages to develop a written form, and it has a rich literary tradition.

The Basotho hat is a well-known conical woven hat with a distinctive top knot. The design of these hats is also featured on the country's flag.

In 1998, the capital city of Lesotho, Maseru, was the site of a political conflict that resulted in the destruction of infrastructure. In the end, many historical structures were destroyed.

The Lesotho people's daily staple food is pap-pap or papa. This recipe is for cornmeal porridge (a dish consisting of oatmeal or another meal or cereal boiled in water or milk.) The porridge is served with a thick sauce made of chopped vegetables, peas, and other greens.

To save money on food imports from neighbouring South Africa, most families grow their own wheat, corn, cabbage, pumpkins, and peas, among other things.

In Lesotho, beef is the most important meat, and cows are slaughtered only on special occasions. Sheep and goats are raised for their wool, milk, and meat as well. Fresh eggs from chicken can be used for breakfast.

Funerals and weddings are costly occasions for a Lesotho family because they must serve delicious food to guests and neighbours.

Beer and tea are widely consumed in the country. Tea is frequently served with fried cakes, while many households in the region prefer locally brewed beer.

Cows are more valuable than money in Lesotho.

The wealthy class of society is the most likely to own an automobile.

The country's legal system is based on English common law and Roman-Dutch law.

Lesotho is a homogeneous nation. The Basotho ethnic group accounts for more than 98% of the country's population.

Lesotho is also associated with the dinosaur Lesothosaurus, which evolved in this region 200 million years ago. Lesothosaurus translates as "Lesotho lizard." It was 1 metre long, herbivorous, and bipedal. Paleontologist Peter Galton proposed the name in 1978.

Lesotho is classified as one of the world's Least Developed Countries.

Women outnumber men in the region when it comes to literacy. From a young age, men are primarily engaged in livestock and subsistence farming.

Lesotho became an official British protectorate in 1868.

People in rural and mountainous areas live in rondavels, which are huts. The walls of these huts are made of stone and mud, and the roofs are made of grass. People who live in towns have houses with concrete walls and tin roofs.

Water in the country is known as "white gold" due to its natural abundance.