Lesotho is the world’s only sovereign state located entirely above 1,000 metres in elevation.
The country is a mountainous enclave surrounded by South Africa. Its lowest point, at the junction of the Makhaleng and Orange rivers, is about 1,400 metres above sea level, already higher than the minimum elevation required by the fact. Much of the landscape consists of high plateaus, steep valleys, and the Maloti Mountains.
Lesotho’s high altitude gives it a distinctive climate, including regular winter snowfall in the mountains. The country is sometimes called the “Kingdom in the Sky,” a nickname linked to its elevated terrain. It should not be confused with Rwanda or Ethiopia, which also contain extensive highlands but have substantial areas below 1,000 metres.
Lesotho became independent from the United Kingdom in 1966, when it was known as Basutoland. Its capital and largest city is Maseru, in the western lowlands near the South African border.