LESOTHO
(Kingdom of Lesotho. Central Africa.)

Capital: Maseru
Currency: South African rand (ZAR)
Population: 2,5 million people
GDP (PPS): 8 bln. dollars of the USA (2017)
Area: 30 355 sq.km.
IRCHP: 160 (2015)

HISTORY

Present Lesotho, then called Basutoland, I appeared as the uniform state under the king Moshoshe I in 1822. Moshoshe, the son Mokhachane, the minor chief of the Bakoteli line, created own clan and became the chief in 1804. Between 1821 and 1823, it and his followers lodged on the Mount Butkha-Bute, having joined the former opponents in Lifakane's resistance connected with Shaq Zulu's government from 1818 to 1828.

GEOGRAPHY

Lesotho covers 30 355 sq.km. (11 720 sq. miles). This only independent state in the world which is at the height more than 1000 meters (3,281 feet) at height. Its lowest point of 1400 meters (4593 feet), thus, is the highest in the world. More than 80 percent of the territory of the country make more than 1800 meters (5 906 feet). Lesotho also is the most southern country which doesn't have an outlet to the sea and is completely surrounded with South Africa. It is between latitudes 28 ° and 31 ° southern latitude and longitudes 27 ° and 30 ° вост.

CULTURE

Traditional musical instruments include lekolulo, some kind of flute used by pasevshy boys, setolo-tolo which is played by the men using their mouth, and a female lace of thomo.
The national anthem of Lesotho - "Lesotho Fatsce La Bo-ntat Ron" which is literally translated as "Lesotho, Earth of our ancestors".
The traditional style of housing in Lesotho is called мокхоро. Many old houses, especially in towns and villages, belong to this type, with the walls which are usually constructed of the large stones cemented together. Now also the baked clay bricks and especially concrete blocks are used, and straw roofs are still widespread though they are replaced often by corrugated roofing sheets.

CLIMATE

Because of its height Lesotho within a year remains to more cool, than other regions at the same width. The most part of a rain drops out as summer thunderstorms. In the summer of Maseru and surrounding lowlands reach often 30 °C (86 °F). Winters can be cold when lowlands fall up to -7 °C (19 °F) and uplands up to -18 °C (0 °F) many times. Snow is widespread in highlands during the period from May to September; higher peaks can experience snowfalls all the year round.