Located in south-central Africa, the country of Zambia is completely landlocked, which means that it is surrounded by land. Zambia contains some of the continent's most impressive natural scenery, including Victoria Falls, a huge waterfall on the Zambezi River, and the lands of South Luangwa National Park, a protected wildlife area. The capital of Zambia is Lusaka. GeographyZambia covers an area of 290,586 square miles (752,614 square kilometers). It is bordered on the north by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the northeast by Tanzania, on the east by Malawi, on the southeast by Mozambique, on the south by Zimbabwe and a tip of Botswana, on the southwest by Namibia, and on the west by Angola. Most of the country is located on a plateau, which is a large flat surface that is raised above the surrounding land. The plateau slopes toward the southwest; therefore, the highest elevations occur in the east and northeast. At 6,170 feet (1,881 meters) Mount Mahoni, near the border with Malawi, is the highest point in Zambia. The plateau is crossed by several deep river valleys and troughs. In addition, shallower depressions are filled with lakes and swamps. The largest rivers are the Luangwa, Luapula, Kafue, and Zambezi. The Zambezi River is the site of the spectacular Victoria Falls. About 300 miles (480 kilometers) down river from the falls, the Kariba Dam forms Lake Kariba on the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe. It is one of the largest artificial lakes in the world. The dam harnesses the power of the Zambezi River to run power plants that supply electric power to both Zambia and Zimbabwe. Zambia has a milder climate than might be expected for a tropical landlocked country because of its high altitude. From April to August, Zambia has a cool, dry season. From November to April, the weather is warm and wet. Plants and animalsThe land in Zambia is generally either open woodland or grassland (savannah). The woodlands have many types of trees, including the baobab tree. Grasslands often exist around the swamps and lakes, where there is flooding during the rainy season. Zambia has a wide variety of wildlife, though poaching (illegal hunting) is a problem. The Zambian government has established many national parks and game-management areas to protect the animals that live there. These areas are home to elephants, lions, monkeys, zebras, giraffes, antelope, wolves, hyenas, and baboons. Zambia also has many species of reptiles such as viper snakes, crocodiles, and tortoises. People and cultureZambia has more than 60 ethnic groups, each with its own language, culture, and customs. The largest ethnic groups are the Bemba, Nyanja, and Tonga. There are also European and Asian people in Zambia, many of whom work in commerce, mining, and agriculture. Because Zambia used to be a British colony, English is the official language of government. The population of Zambia is unevenly distributed throughout the country. About 45 percent of the people live in urban (city) centers along the rail lines. Lusaka, the capital, is the largest city, followed by Ndola and Kitwe in the northern mining area known as the Copperbelt. Almost half of the Zambian people follow Christianity. However, many people in the country blend their traditional tribal beliefs and practices with their Christianity. Islam and Hinduism are also practiced in Zambia. Music and dance are important to the people of Zambia. The traditional instruments of Zambia include the drum, bell, flute, xylophone, horn, and kalimba, which is an African hand piano. Traditional Zambian art consists mainly of carved wood, pottery, and baskets. EconomyThe Zambian economy is heavily based on agriculture and mining. About 70 percent of the Zambian people earn a living from agriculture. Major crops include sugarcane, cassava, corn (maize), and wheat. Some people also raise livestock and fish. Although some of these products are sold to other countries, most people live entirely on what they grow themselves. Because Zambia has large amounts of the minerals copper and cobalt, many people have moved to the northern region known as the Copperbelt to work in the mining industry. There are also jobs manufacturing the copper and other minerals that come from the mines. Copper and cobalt have traditionally been Zambia's biggest exports (products that are sold and sent to other countries). Other industries include construction, food and beverage processing, chemical manufacturing, and textile manufacturing. Despite its rich natural resources, Zambia is one of the world's poorest nations. Unemployment is high, and the economy is very dependent on its copper exports. When the price of copper fell on world markets in the late 20th century, Zambia's economy suffered as a result. Both mining and manufacturing declined. Services became a major section of the economy in their place, though by the beginning of the 21st century, the country was working to develop new industries as well as to revive the mining sector. HistoryEarly historyHuman history in the Zambia area dates back thousands of years, almost to the birth of humankind. Archaeologists working in the area have found human skeletons that are more than 100,000 years old. The remains found in the country have helped archeologists learn more about the daily life and activities of early humans. Most early people in the area were farmers and cattle herders. The ancestors of many of Zambia's current ethnic groups began to arrive in the area in the 15th century. They established individual kingdoms in different parts of the region. Europeans arriveAlthough a few Portuguese visited the area in the 18th century, Europeans settlers did not move there in great numbers until the mid-19th century. They had heard favorable reports about the land and its mineral wealth from the famous Scottish missionary and explorer David Livingstone. In the late 1890s, Cecil Rhodes, the head of the British South Africa Company, signed treaties with most of the Zambian tribes and took over much of the country. In 1911 the area controlled by the company was named Northern Rhodesia, after Rhodes. The company began to sell the country's mineral reserves for its own profit. The British South Africa Company worked with the British government to build rail lines linking the mines with ports on the Indian and Atlantic oceans. British rule and independenceIn 1924 Northern Rhodesia came under the direct rule of the British government. In 1953 Britain combined Northern Rhodesia with neighboring Nyasaland (now Malawi) and Southern Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) to form the Central African Federation. However, the Africans wanted to be able to participate in the government, and the federation fell apart after pressures for African independence increased. Finally, on October 24, 1964, the country gained its independence and entered the British Commonwealth as the Republic of Zambia. Under the new government, voting rights were given to all citizens. After independenceKenneth Kaunda, one of the leaders in the fight for independence, became the first president of Zambia. However, he made sure that he and his political party stayed in power by creating laws that banned all other political parties. In this way, Kaunda was president for almost 30 years. Other people in the country began to oppose the one-party system because they had no say in their government. Finally, Kaunda could no longer ignore the demands of the people, and in 1990 a new law was put into effect that allowed for more than one political party in Zambia. Since independence, Zambia has experienced serious economic and political problems. Zambia's relationships with its eight neighbors range from friendly to hostile. Hostile relationships with the neighbors make it hard for Zambia to trade with other countries because shipping goods to ports for export is very difficult for this land-locked country. Population (2001 estimate), 9,770,000. |