Lesotho is an independent kingdom in southern Africa and is a member of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the Commonwealth of Nations. Before gaining independence in 1996 Lesotho, then known as Basutoland, was a British Protectorate. Lesotho is a mountainous country covering an area of about 30,355 square kilometres, and is totally surrounded by the Republic of South Africa. The latest population census puts the population at about 160,000.
Lesotho has an invigorating temperate climate. The four seasons of the year are quite distinct, with Spring running from August to October; Summer from November to January; Autumn from February to April; and Winter from May to July. Autumn is the season with most rain, while Winter often brings heavy snow which caps the Maluti Mountains throughout the season. Temperatures in the lowlands can vary from a minimum of around -2 degrees centigrade or less in Winter to a maximum of around 32 degrees in both Summer and Winter. Lesotho does not have an abundance of natural resources.
The most abundant natural resource is water, known as the "white gold" of the Country. A giant multi-billion dollar project known as the Lesotho Highlands Water Project is currently being developed with the objective of harnessing the water and selling it to South Africa. It is expected that the revenues that will accrue from the sale of the water will help to develop the economy of Lesotho. The project is expected to be fully operational by the year 2030, when all five dams that are to be constructed are completed and are all pumping water to South Africa.
