比勒陀利烏斯

賴索托(Lesotho)

正式名稱賴索托王國（Kingdom of Lesotho）

舊稱巴蘇圖蘭（Basutoland）

非洲南部獨立王國，為南非共和國境內的一塊飛地。面積30,355平方公里。人口約2,177,000（2001）。首都︰馬塞魯。賴索托人口幾乎全是講班圖語的索托人。語言︰索托語、英語（均為官方語）、阿非利堪斯語、祖魯語、科薩語和法語。宗教︰基督教（國教），包括天主教、賴索托福音教會、聖公會。貨幣︰洛蒂（loti,M）。全境約2/3地區為山地，最高點是恩特萊尼亞納（Ntlenyana）山，海拔3,482公尺；西北偏中的馬洛蒂（Maloti）山脈，是非洲兩條最大河流－－圖蓋拉河、橘河－－的發源地。礦產資源不足。農業佔用了2/3得勞動力，主要農產品為玉米、高粱和小麥。牲畜可供出口（牛、羊毛和馬海毛）。工業有食品加工、紡織與服裝，以及傢俱。政府形式為共和國，兩院制。國家元首為國王，政府首腦是總理。

約在16世紀，講班圖語的農民便開始在該地區定居，逐漸形成若干酋長領地。其中勢力最大的在1824年建立起巴索托（Basotho）王國。1843年由於巴索托人與南非布林人的關係日趨緊張，因而接受了英國的保護；1868年成為英國領地，1871年併入開普殖民地。1880年當殖民地政府試圖解除巴索托人的武裝時，導致暴動反抗；四年後，賴索托地區不再屬於開普殖民地，而成為英國高階專員領地。1964年賴索托宣佈獨立，採行君主立憲制。1993年新憲法生效，結束了七年的軍事統治。20世紀後期，賴索托遭受內部政治問題與經濟衰退。

English version：

Lesotho

formerlyBasutolandIndependent kingdom,southern Africa,an enclave lying within the Republic of South Africa. Area: 11,720 sq mi (30,355 sq km). Population (1997 est.): 2,008,000. Capital: Maseru. Almost all of its population belong to the Sotho,a Bantu-speaking people. Languages: Sotho,English (both official),Africaans,Zulu,Xhosa,French. Religions: Christianity (official),including Roman Catholicism,Lesotho Evangelical Church,Anglicanism. Currency: loti. About two-thirds of Lesotho's total area is mountainous; its highest point is Mount Ntlenyana (11,424 ft,or 3,482 m). The Maloti Mountains in the central northwest are the source of two of South Africa's largest rivers,the Tugela and the Orange. It has scant mineral resources. Agriculture employs two-thirds of the workforce; its chief farm products are corn,sorghum,and wheat. Livestock provide exports (cattle,wool,and mohair). Industries include food processing,textiles and apparel,and furniture. It is a republic with two legislative houses; its chief of state is the king,and the head of government is the prime minister. Bantu-speaking farmers began to settle the area in the 16th century,and a number of chiefdoms arose. The most powerful organized the Basotho in 1824,and obtained British protection in 1843,as tension between the Basotho and the South African Boers increased. It became a British territory in 1868 and was annexed to the Cape Colony in 1871. The colony's effort to disarm the Basotho resulted in revolt in 1880,and four years later it separated from the colony and became a British High Commission Territory. In 1964 it declared its independence as a constitutional monarchy. A new constitution,effective 1993,ended seven years of military rule. In the late 20th century,Lesotho suffered from internal political problems and a deteriorating economy.