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Location of South Africa is on the very southern tip of Africa, it is a republic which is surrrounded by land at the top and the two oceans, Indian Ocean and Atlantic Ocean. Location of South Africa gives it the very charecteristic climate and natural vegetation in combination with geographical peculiariaties. Location of South Africa is also responsible in a major way for the economic and socio-political milieu of the Republic of South Africa.
Geographical location of South Africa is 25°43'S, 28°17'E and it lies in the southern hemisphere.
The neighbouring countries of South Africa are Mozambique, Namibia, Swaziland, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Lesotho, an independent dominion enclosed by South African land. These countries and geo-political entities not only share the boundaries of South Africa, but also have deep rooted socio-cultural bonds.
Topography of South Africa is very varied despite it being a country of moderate size. Added to the influence of the oceans, such variations in topography make for a huge diversification in natural vegetation and consequently in the animal life of the country. The tall escarpments of the Drakensberg mountains give way towards the southern plains. In fact the total elevetion falls in that direction. The intense desert of the south Namib in the distant northwest to the luxuriant subtropical vegetation in the east along the Mozambiquan boundary and the Indian ocean all are found due to the location of South Africa. The land rapidly climbs up along a hilly escarpment to the inner plateau, the Highveld. The farthest southwest is climatically very akin to that of the Mediterranean with dry, hot summers and humid and wet winters.
Location of South Africa is thus almost single handedly responsible for the creation of the variety we see in a country whose motto is “Unity in Diversity”.
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