Lesotho is the only country on Earth where every part of the land is at least 1,400 meters (4,593 feet) above sea level.

Lesotho is covered by the Maloti and Drakensberg mountain ranges. More than 80% of the country sits above 1,800 meters (5,905 feet). Its highest peak is Thabana Ntlenyana which reaches 3,482 meters (11,424 feet). This is the highest point in all of Southern Africa.The high altitude makes Lesotho much colder than the areas around it. Snow is common during the winter months from June to August. Because of the cold weather and snow, Lesotho has the only ski resort in sub-Saharan Africa. The high elevation also supports plants and animals that do not live anywhere else on the continent.The mountains acted as a natural fortress for the Basotho people during wars in the 1800s. Today much of the land is still hard to reach by car. Many people use the Basotho pony to travel across the rocky ground.The land formed millions of years ago from thick layers of lava. Over time water and wind carved the rock into deep valleys and flat plateaus. Lesotho acts as a water tower for the region. It sends water to South Africa through a massive system of dams and tunnels.