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 is Lesotho's capital city with a population of approximately 227,880 (2006). 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".