Lesotho is a landlocked country in southern Africa located above 1.400 meters above sea level. In other words, the entire territory of Lesotho is at a higher altitude than the highest mountains in many countries, including Great Britain, Ireland, the Netherlands, Denmark and others, reports IFLScience.
This country is also known as the "Kingdom in the Sky".
Its unique geography is a product of the region's complex history. Lesotho is an enclave of the Republic of South Africa, which means that it is completely surrounded by this country, he reports N1.
At the beginning of the 19th century, the Zulu people, under their leader Shaka Zulu, established a standing army and went on military campaigns. The period of conflict became known as Mfecane, or "crushing", marked by great bloodshed and displacement of people.
Among those fleeing the violence was a clan led by King Moshoeshoe I who sought refuge in the mountains. Here he built a kingdom that, due to its geographical characteristics, was easier to defend against invaders.
Formerly known as Basutoland, Lesotho became a mother country under British colonial rule through a treaty signed with Moshoeshoe in 1843.
It was annexed to the then Cape Colony in 1871, but in 1884 it was returned to the direct control of the royal family. As part of post-war efforts to decolonize Africa, the country gained independence in 1966 as the Kingdom of Lesotho, with King Moshoeshoe II.
Several other landlocked nations are known for their mountainous landscapes, most notably Bhutan and Nepal in the Himalayas, although the lowest points in these areas are below 1.000 meters.
For example, the highest point of Nepal is the summit of Mount Everest at 8.848 meters above sea level, but the lowest point is only 60 meters in the Tarai plains at Jhapa, not far from the border with India.
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