The Republic of Botswana is a country in southern Africa. It has a total area of 600,370 km2. The climate is semiarid; warm winters and hot summers. The terrain is predominately flat to gently rolling tableland and the Kalahari Desert in south-west. Natural resources are diamonds, copper, nickel, salt, sodaash, potash, coal, iron ore, silver and natural gas. The religion is 50% indigenous beliefs, 50% Christian. The official language is English with Setswana also spoken. The original inhabitants of Botswana were the King who lived chiefly in the Kalahari Desert. During the 17th century the Tswana people populated the area, followed in the 19th century by the Bantu. Fearing Boer invasion, the natives appealed to the British for support and in 1885 the region became a British protectorate called Bechuanaland. In 1966 Botswana (its Setswana name) became independent. Botswana is renowned for the racial harmony of its African and European-descent citixens, represented on Botswana's flag by a thin white stripe either side of a thick black stripe on the national flag. Research Botswana