International disputes: quadripoint with Botswana, Namibia, and
Zimbabwe is in disagreement; Tanzania-Zaire-Zambia tripoint in Lake
Tanganyika may no longer be indefinite since it is reported that the
indefinite section of the Zaire-Zambia boundary has been settled
Climate: tropical; modified by altitude; rainy season (October to
April)
Terrain: mostly high plateau with some hills and mountains
Natural resources: copper, cobalt, zinc, lead, coal, emeralds, gold, silver, uranium, hydropower potential
Land use: arable land: 7% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 47% forest and woodland: 27% other: 19%
Irrigated land: 320 sq km (1989 est.)
Environment:
current issues: air pollution and resulting acid rain in the mineral
extraction and refining region; poaching seriously threatens
rhinoceros and elephant populations; deforestation; soil erosion;
desertification; lack of adequate water treatment presents human
health risks
natural hazards: tropical storms (November to April)
international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test
Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands; signed, but not ratified -
Desertification
Note: landlocked
@Zambia:People
Population: 9,445,723 (July 1995 est.)