Zambia's Elevation Extremes: Highest Peak (Mafinga Central) & Lowest Point (Zambezi River)

Zambia's **topography is a high plateau (1,000–1,500 m)** punctuated by mountains in the northeast and river valleys in the south.

Elevation Extremes

Context

• Relief: 1,972 m (6,470 ft) – moderate for a large country (752,618 km²).
• Capital (Lusaka): ~1,280 m.
• Victoria Falls: ~880 m (upstream of lowest point).
• Lake Tanganyika shore: 773 m (lowest *natural* lake level; river lower due to gorge).

Geological Drivers

• East African Rift (southwestern extension) → Mafinga uplift.
• Zambezi incision – river cuts through Karoo basalt/sandstone, forming Batoka Gorge.

Zambia's elevation range **shapes its climate zones** (cool plateau vs. hot valleys), **agriculture** (maize belt 1,100–1,300 m), and **hydropower** (Kariba, Kafue Gorge, Batoka proposed).