Botswana has always enjoyed a political stability that has been the envy of much of the rest of Africa. The blue of the national flag represents the peaceful nature of the country, in contrast to the bright reds and blacks of many other countries, representing wars of liberation.
The country covers an area of 581 730 square km (slightly smaller than Texas). It is covered by the Kalahari sands but also contains the worlds largest oasis in the form of the Okavango delta. Although two thirds of the country lie within the tropics, it is a dry and drought prone region. Only one perennial river, the Okavango, flows into the country and brings with it over 90% of the country's fresh water. A population of only 1.5 million makes Botswana one of the most thinly populated countries.
Botswana is a democracy, with elections every five years. The country gained independence from Britain in 1966 and has since become one of the countries with the highest growth rates in the world and a per capita income growth of 9.2% in 1998. The major industry is Diamonds, followed closely by Tourism, Manufacturing and Agriculture. There is also a small but active stock exchange.