The Kingdom of Lesotho is a country within South Africa - South Africa completely encircles Lesotho. Lesotho has a total area of 30,350 km2. The climate is temperate with cool to cold, dry winters and hot, wet summers. The terrain is mostly highland with some plateaus, hills, and mountains. Natural resources are some diamonds and other minerals, water, agricultural and grazing land The religion is 80% Christian, rest indigenous beliefs. The official language is English with Sesotho (southern Sotho), Zulu and Xhosa also spoken. Lesotho was founded as Basutoland by the Sotho leader, Moshoeshoe I in 1827. In 1868 Lesotho became a British protectorate, which enabled the country to avoid becoming part of South Africa. In 1965 Lesotho achieved self-government as a kingdom ruled by Moshoeshoe II, and in 1966 was granted full independence. Research Lesotho
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