Where in the world is

1. Where in the world is Lesotho?

2. Where in the world is Lesotho? http://www.countryreports.org/country.asp?countryid=140&countryName=Lesotho

3. The Kingdom of Lesotho • Lesotho – pronounced le-soo-too – is a small kingdom completely surrounded by the country of South Africa and is slightly smaller than Maryland. • The country is very mountainous with heights between 6,000 to 11,000 feet above sea level and is knick named “Kingdom in the Sky”.

4. A closer look at the Kingdom in the Sky http://www.mapquest.com/atlas/?region=lesotho

5. Maseru –The Capital City • Pronounced măz´eroo, Maseru is Lesotho's only sizable city and its administrative center. A trade and transportation hub, it lies on Lesotho's main road and is linked with South Africa's rail network. An international airport is nearby. • Lesotho, formerly known as Basutoland, was a British protectorate and gained its independence in 1966. • Maseru means “Place of Red Sandstone”

6. Maseru – The Capital City Photo courtesy of L. Babich. All rights reserved.

7. Maseru – The Capital City Photo courtesy of L. Babich. All rights reserved.

8. Catholic Cathedral, Maseru http://www.travel-images.com/lesotho1.jpg

9. The Kingdom in the Sky Maseru does offer some city pleasures including casinos and a variety of cuisines from local specialties to Chinese, Italian and Indian food. But mostly visitors come to Lesotho to enjoy the beautiful country with pristine mountains, waterfalls and lush hillsides. It is a walker’s paradise with few fences and roads. As a destination, it is indeed off the beaten path.

10. The Mountains of Lesotho Photograph courtesy of L. Babich. All rights reserved.

11. The Mountains of Lesotho Photo courtesy of L. Babich. All rights reserved.

12. The Mountains of Lesotho Photo courtesy of L. Babich. All rights reserved.

13. The Mountains of Lesotho Photo courtesy of S. Patel. All rights reserved

14. People of Lesotho • 99.7% of the people of Lesotho are Basotho and speak Sesotho in addition to other Africa languages as well as English. • 80% of the population is Christian and 20% observe traditional African beliefs or other major religions.

15. People of Lesotho Photo courtesy of C. Kuehn. All rights reserved.

16. People of Lesotho Photo by E. Ziemba. All rights reserved.

17. People of Lesotho Photo courtesy of S. Patel. All rights reserved.

18. Language of Sesotho • The official languages of Lesotho are English and Sesotho • Here are some words in Sesotho – • ‘M’e is a term of respect for a woman • Ntate is a term of respect for a man • Leloti means “mountains” • Nkoe is the word for “leopard”

19. Weaving in Lesotho • The town of Teyateyaneng or TY as it is referred to locally is the center of weaving and handicrafts in Lesotho. Skilled weavers at the Setsotho Weavers, Hatooa Mose Moasali Weavers, and Heland Basali Handicrafts create wall hangings, rugs, bags and other items from locally grown wool and mohair.

20. Weaving in Lesotho – Wool Drying Photo by E. Ziemba. All rights reserved.

21. Weaving

22. Weaving Photo courtesy of W. Bicknell. All rights reserved.

23. The Dinosaurs of Lesotho • Lesotho is rich in prehistoric past especially dinosaurs. • Near Hlotse, 180-200 million year old dinosaur footprints from the Triassic period are visible. • Dinosaur footprints are scattered throughout Lesotho.

24. The Dinosaurs of Lesotho • Lesotho was home to the dinosaur that carries its name – the Lesothosaurus! • Lesothosaurus had a small head, perhaps with small, fleshy cheeks, ridged cheek teeth, and a horny lower beak. Long, toe and shin bones show that Lesothosaurus was capable of running extremely fast. In many ways, the creature resembled a modern gazelle - a defenceless planteater on the alert at all times for danger because the only means of escaping an attacker is instant flight at high speed.  (www.dinodata.net).

25. Lesotho’s Dinosaur Footprints Photo courtesy of L. Babich. All rights reserved.

26. Lesotho’s Dinosaur Footprints Photo courtesy of L. Babich. All rights reserved.

27. Maletsunyane Falls, Lesotho • The Maletsunyane Falls are three times higher than Niagara Falls and are the second highest in southern Africa.

28. Maletsunyane Falls, Lesotho http://www.world66.com/africa/lesotho/maletsunyanefalls

29. Life in Lesotho • Traditional homes in Lesotho are called “rondavel” and are found in outside towns and cities. • Rodavels are round houses made of stone often one foot thick and finished on the outside with a mud plaster and a thatched roof.

30. Rondavel Photo courtesy of W. Bicknell. All rights reserved.

31. Rondavels in Lesotho Photo courtesy of W. Bicknell. All rights reserved.

32. Rural Life in Lesotho Photo by S. Patel. All rights reserved.

33. Rural Life in Lesotho Photo by W. Bicknell. All rights reserved.

34. So that’s where Lesotho is! Now you know exactly where Lesotho is and that it is a beautiful mountainous country filled with friendly people, ancient traditions and history dating back to prehistoric times. Please explore our website for more information about Lesotho and the projects we are undertaking to improve health for the people of Lesotho. www.HealthShares.org

35. And finally… • Thank you to my colleagues at the Boston University School of Public Health for generously donating their photographs for use on our website. • Elizabeth Ziemba, President, SHARED Click Here to learn more about SHARED’s projects in Lesotho.