Zimbabwe

Straddling the high plateaus between the Zambezi and Limpopo rivers, Zimbabwe consists of four physical regions. Running south-west north-east across the country is the High Veld, land more than 4,000 feet above sea level, which is most extensive in the northeast. Flanking the High Veld is the Middle Veld from 3,000 feet below which lies the low Veld, consisting of the Limpopo and Sabi-Lundi basins in the south and the less extensive Zambezi basin in the north. Gently rolling plateaus cover these three regions except for the narrow belt of rugged hills associated with faults along the Zambezi River trough. Broken country also occurs along the dissected edges of each major erosion surface.

Prominent features include the Great Dyke, a highly mineralized intrusion of resistant rocks more than 300 miles long, and marked by ranges of hills. Zimbabwe's fourth region is the Eastern Highlands, a narrow, mountainous belt along the Mozambique border. This belt, the raised and folded edge of the great tableland of south central Africa, contains several heights exceeding 6,500 feet, including Inyangani, at 8,519 feet the highest point in Zimbabwe.

Zimbabwe lies entirely within the Tropics, but temperatures are moderated by altitude. On the High Veld average monthly temperatures range from 72°F in October to 55°F in July; in the low lying Zambezi valley, the range is from 86 to 68°F.

In winter there is a wide diurnal range and occasionally destructive night frosts occur on the high plateaus.

Rain falls mainly in November-March and is very variable in amount and distribution, except in the Eastern Highlands which average 1,400 mm annually, compared with 750 mm on the northeast High Veld and less than 400 mm in the Limpopo valley.

Vegetation consists mostly of savanna woodlands, but has been greatly affected by Man in most areas. Small animals are still widespread, but big game (elephants, zebra, giraffe, lions) is now found only in the reserves such as the Wankie Game Reserve (5,250 square miles).

English is the official language and is in general use among the whites, some of whom speak Afrikaans, and between them and educated Africans.

African languages include Sindebele, spoken by the Matabele, and Chishona, the tongue of the Mashona.

There are African and non-African educational systems, and about 90% of African children receive not less than five years primary education.

Among the white population the chief Christian groups are the Anglicans, Presbyterians and Roman Catholics.

Most of the Africans are animists.