The high elevation helps people get water. The mountains hold water from rain and melted snow, like a water tower. This creates a lot of good water for people to use.
The water from the mountain and its four types of natural areas help people live. People use mountain water for electricity and farming. Each of Lesotho’s natural areas helps farmers grow crops and feed farm animals. The mild weather helps farmers grow seasonal crops.
Lesotho’s cold weather and high altitude protect people from a disease called malaria. The mosquitos that carry malaria live in tropical areas. They cannot survive in Lesotho’s cold weather. This means Lesotho, unlike many of its neighboring countries, is protected from malaria.
The mountains make it hard to travel. Vehicles struggle to drive on the rocky, rough land. The heavy rainfall turns soil into mudslides and makes it dangerous to drive on dirt roads.
People who live higher up in the mountains are more remote. People in rural areas may not be able to access roads, grocery stores, electricity or phone services.
It becomes really cold inside my house. My home does not have heat, so I use a gas heater to keep warm. It does not heat my entire home, though.
