Maseru

Maseru
Capital city
Top: Downtown Maseru; Middle: Our Lady of Victories Cathedral, Basotho Hat Shop; Bottom: Honeymoon Park, Lesotho Parliament Building
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Maseru Location of Maseru in Lesotho Maseru Maseru (Africa)
Coordinates: 29°18′54″S 27°29′13″E
Country	Lesotho
District	Maseru
Constituency	Maseru
Established	1869
Area
• Total	137.5 km2 (53.1 sq mi)
Elevation	1,600 m (5,200 ft)
Population  (2016 census)
• Total	330,760
• Density	2,397/km2 (6,210/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+02:00 (SAST)
Climate	Cwb

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Maseru is the capital and largest city of Lesotho. It is also the capital of the Maseru District. Located on the Caledon River, Maseru lies directly on the Lesotho–South Africa border. Maseru had a population of 330,760 in the 2016 census. The city was established as a police camp and assigned as the capital after the country became a British protectorate in 1869. When the country achieved independence in 1966, Maseru retained its status as capital. The name of the city is a Sesotho word meaning "red sandstones".