레소토, 하늘의 왕국: A Trip to Lesotho, the 'Kingdom of the Sky'

The Kingdom of Lesotho is situated on a highland plateau entirely within South Africa. The lowest point in the mountainous country is 1,400 meters (4,593 ft) above sea level. It is home to 2.2 million residents, most of them poor, living off the land as farmers. Gathered here are a handful of images from across Lesotho over the past few years. 

The mountains of the Sani Pass in the Drakensberg Mountains, between South Africa and Lesotho, on May 26, 2007. (CC BY SA Mark Peacock) 

A herd boy in the mountains ahead of the opening ceremony of the new Sentebale Mateanong Herd Boy School on October 14, 2013 in Mokhotlong, Lesotho. Sentebale provides healthcare and education to the vulnerable children of Lesotho. (Chris Jackson/Getty Images) 

On the road from Matsieng to Moketsie, Lesotho, 2007. (CC BY SA Graham Maclachlan)

A view of Maseru, the capital and largest city in Lesotho, on February 26, 2013. (Chris Jackson/Getty Images) 

Fields near Matela, Lesotho. See this spot on Google Maps. (© Google, Inc.)

An aerial view of the mountains of Lesotho, near Maseru, on February 26, 2013. (Chris Jackson/Getty Images)

Snow on the mountains near Malealea Lodge. (CC BY Di Jones) 

Cattle are seen near snow covered houses at Makopanong village in eastern Lesotho on July 31, 2011. Winter temperatures in the southern African mountain kingdom often fall below freezing, sometimes with heavy snowfall. (Reuters/Matthew Tostevin) 

A man stands near the Letseng diamond mine in eastern Lesotho on July 31, 2011. (Reuters/Matthew Tostevin) 

Landscape near Morija, Lesotho, as the sun sets on February 23, 2013. (Chris Jackson/Getty Images) 

A Chinese construction company works on a mountain near the village of Ha Makhale, carving out the base of what next year will become the 73-meter-high Metolong Dam, on May 24, 2012. Commissioned by Lesotho, financed by Western and Arab agencies, and built by China's Sinohydro Corp, the dam is just one example of the international interest in capitalizing on the crystal-clear water in this tiny mountain kingdom surrounded entirely by South Africa. The building boom has generated billions of dollars in investment, but also changed the landscape and uprooted entire communities. (Alexander Joe/AFP/Getty Images) 

Katse Dam in Lesotho, photographed on December 11, 2005. (CC BY SA Christian Woertz) 

Back in 2000, thousands of people attend the Royal Wedding celebration of Lesotho's King Letsie III to his new bride Karabo Motsoeneng in Matsieng, on February 20, 2000. (Reuters) 

Lesotho's King Letsie III with his new wife Karabo Motsoeneng wave to the crowd on the last day of their two day Royal Wedding celebration in Matsieng village, on February 20, 2000. Lesotho is a constitutional monarchy, the King's role is largely ceremonial. (Reuters)

Maletsunyane Falls. See it mapped. (CC BY SA Graham Maclachlan)

Leribe, Lesotho. (CC BY SA Graham Maclachlan) 

A photo of the Drakensberg Mountains photographed from Lesotho in April of 2006. The clouds are rising over the border with South Africa. (Tom Adams) 

Sani Pass, February 2013. (CC BY Vaiz Ha)

A section of the city of Maseru, photographed on July 9, 2008. (Chris Jackson/Getty Images) 

An artificial lake created by the Katse Dam, the second largest in Africa, on February 17, 2010 in the Botha Bothe province of Lesotho. (Gianluigi Guercia/AFP/Getty Images)

Countryside near Mateka, Lesotho. See it mapped. (© Google, Inc.)