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A kingdom in the sky. There's only one country on Earth situated above 1400 meters above sea level.

Researchers point out that the country's distinctive geography is actually a product of the region's incredibly complex history.
Небесное королевство: на Земле существует лишь одна страна, находящаяся на высоте свыше 1400 метров над уровнем моря.

The age of our planet is over 4.5 billion years, during which it has undergone several radical transformations in appearance. Moreover, the internal processes of the Earth and the movement of its tectonic plates occur extremely slowly but essentially never stop, making the planet incredibly dynamic, as noted by IFLScience.

For centuries, scientists have studied the geology of the Earth to gain insights into its current state and the reasons behind it, and each time we manage to learn something new. For instance, an intriguing fact is that there is only one country on Earth whose territory is entirely situated above 14,000 meters above sea level.

This country is Lesotho, also known as the "Kingdom in the Sky." The entire territory of Lesotho is actually located above the highest mountains in many countries around the world, including the United Kingdom, Ireland, the Netherlands, Denmark, Estonia, Bangladesh, and others.

It is known that the unique geography of the nation is a result of the complex history of the region, as Lesotho is an enclave within South Africa—completely surrounded by the territory of another country and, for understandable reasons, has no access to the sea.

Researchers believe that the history of this unique nation is linked to the early 19th century when the Zulu people, led by their leader Shaka Zulu, established a standing army and began a campaign of military expansion. This period of conflict became known as Mfecane, or "the crushing," characterized by immense bloodshed and displacement of people.

Among those who managed to escape the violence was a clan led by King Moshoeshoe I, who sought refuge in the mountains. There, he established his kingdom, which was significantly easier to protect from invaders due to its location.

лесото, страна лесото, лесото карта

It is noteworthy that the "Kingdom in the Sky" was previously known as Basutoland, and later became Lesotho—a native state under British colonial rule by a treaty signed with Moshoeshoe in 1843. The country gained independence only in 1966 as the Kingdom of Lesotho, with King Moshoeshoe II as its sovereign ruler.

Scientists point out that there are several other landlocked countries known for their landscapes: for example, Bhutan and Nepal in the Himalayas. However, researchers emphasize that the lowest points of these nations are still below 1,000 meters.

It is known that Nepal's highest point is Mount Everest, which stands at 8,848 meters and is considered the highest mountain on Earth. At the same time, the lowest point of the country is only 60 meters above sea level.

Thus, while Lesotho may not claim the title of the most mountainous country on the planet, it stands out for its remarkable mountainous terrain, which never descends below an elevation of 1,400 meters above sea level.