Interesting facts about South Africa
For 80 years, South Africa was an apartheid country in which the state systematically discriminated against non-white people. Beginning in 1911, the era of apartheid began in the new state of the British Commonwealth: the black population was deprived of voting rights, rights to own land were limited to specially created reserves, and marriages between people different color leather was punishable by imprisonment. This policy reached its apogee in the 50s of the twentieth century, when large-scale forced relocations of the non-white population led to a split of society into 2 parts. Since the end of apartheid in 1991, political leaders like Nelson Mandela have sought reconciliation between black and white Africans.
Nelson Mandela spent 26 years in prison (!!!), but when he came to power, he gave up revenge and did everything possible to unite his country.
The Big Hole mine, where diamonds were mined, is the largest man-made mine in world history. It is located west of Bloemfrontein, near Kimberley. From 1866 to 1914, approximately 50,000 miners dug the quarry using picks and shovels, producing 2,722 kilograms of diamonds (14.5 million carats). During the development of the quarry, 22.5 million tons of soil were extracted. It was here that such famous diamonds as the De Beers diamond (428.5 carats), the bluish-white Porter Rhodes (150 carats), and the orange-yellow Tiffany diamond (128.5 carats) were found. Currently, this diamond deposit has been depleted. The area of the “Big Hole” is 17 hectares. Its perimeter is 1.6 km and its width is 463 meters. The hole was dug to a depth of 240 meters, but was then filled with waste rock to a depth of 215 meters, currently the bottom of the hole is filled with water, its depth is 40 meters. At the site of the quarry there used to be (approximately 70 - 130 million years ago) a volcanic crater.
The famous Rooibos tea is produced in South Africa.
In the Bantu language, South Africa is called Azani.
The southernmost tip of the African continent is Cape Agulhas. The name is due to the fact that, in this place, the compass needle points precisely to the North Pole.
Local white residents call Johannesburg simply “Joburg”, while blacks call it “E-Goli”, which means “city of gold”.
On average, South African men live to be 50 years old, and women to be 48 years old.
Blacks belonging to the new South African middle class and upper stratum are often called "buppy", from "Black Yuppies" - "black yuppies".
Building of the First National Bank in Johannesburg was built in 1983 in the shape of a diamond with 58 facets.
De Beers, the world leader in diamond production and trading, is headquartered in Johannesburg.
Hunting is strictly controlled in South Africa, and the hunting season continues throughout the year. The most coveted trophy of South African hunters is considered to be the kill of a lion. The most dangerous animal in the hunting process on the territory of this state is considered to be the buffalo.
Bloemfontein is also called the “city of justice”. The capital of the Free State is the seat of the Supreme Court of the Republic of South Africa.
In the town of Clarence is Cinderella's Castle, a fairy-tale palace built from 55,000 beer bottles.
Kimberley is named after John Woodhouse, the first Earl of Kimberley, the English Colonial Secretary.
Many cities in South Africa lack public transport.
South Africa is the largest producer of macadamia oil and similar nuts, exporting them to other countries.
The town of Oudtshoorn in the Northern Cape is the center of ostrich breeding in South Africa. Tourists are even allowed to ride them.
The Dutch founded Cape Town at the foot of Table Mountain in 1652. Thus, Cape Town is the oldest European settlement on the African continent.
There are many people in South Africa who are infected with HIV.
Cape Town is the only African city south of the equator in which whites and mestizos make up the majority of the population.
South Africa is the only country where you can order monkey steak.
The southeast wind, known as "Dr. Cape," is responsible for the blanket of clouds that hangs over Table Mountain during the summer months. Cape Townians gave it the poetic name "Tablecloth".
South African researchers managed to record several rapes of penguins by fur seals.
Cape Malays are one of the largest ethnic minorities in Cape Town. They descend from slaves who were transported to the Cape from Indonesia , during the activities of the Dutch East India Company.
The Cape of Good Hope is one of the few places in the world where the most exquisite grape varieties are grown. Connoisseurs value, above all, Chardonnay.
South Africa is the first African country to participate in the FIFA World Cup.
South Africa is considered the world leader in the number of rapes. One in four males in South Africa is considered a rapist.
The Black Awareness movement began in Port Elizabeth. The leader of this movement, Steve Biko, died in prison on September 12, 1977, after severe torture.
South Africans often refer to the city of Port Elizabeth by the initial letters of its name: "Pee-A."
Piet Retief, one of the founding Boers of Pietermaritzburg, fell into the hands of the Zulu in 1838 and was executed.
South Africa has the longest wine route in the entire world.
South Africa is the first country that was able to create gasoline from coal.
In Pietermaritzburg in 1893, Indian freedom fighter Mahatma Gandhi was thrown out of his first class carriage and forced to continue his journey in the baggage carriage.
In Ulundi today you can see the chambers of the Zulu king Kechwayo.
South Africa produces 2/3 of Africa's electricity.
At the first clash between the British and the Zulu in 1879, 25,000 Zulu fighters attacked and destroyed an unsuspecting British regiment.
Kingklip is the most delicious fish that can be found in South Africa.
Pietermaritzburg Town Hall is considered the largest brick building in the Southern Hemisphere.
In South Africa, a blue diamond was found in a mine.
Durban got its name in 1835, after the then governor of the province, Sir Benjamin D'Urban.
In 1860, South Africa's first railway line opened, connecting Durban with Cape Point.
Rugby is considered the most popular sport in South Africa.
A doctor from South Africa was able to invent a unique retinal transplant technology, thanks to which Margaret Thatcher was able to save her sight.
Due to the active resettlement of the black population into bantustans, which began in the 60s of the twentieth century, the former Transkei became one of the most densely populated areas in all of Africa. If Transkei had been recognized as an independent state during the existence of the Bantustans, it would have been one of the poorest countries in the world.
Nelson Mandela, President of the Republic of South Africa from 1994 to 1999, was born in Transkei.
On the coast near Butteruertu and Kentani there are 2 beaches, which are rightfully considered beautiful beaches SOUTH AFRICA.
South Africa is the world's second largest fruit exporter.
South Africa is the most economically developed country on the continent.
The name "Transkei" comes from the name of the Kei River and translates as "on the other side of the Kei".
In 1938, a coelacanth fish was caught off the coast of East London - the only modern representative of lobe-finned fish, which were considered extinct in the era of dinosaurs. Since this specimen is practically no different from its ancestors, who lived in the World Ocean 350 million years ago, the coelacanth is called a “living fossil.” For the study of the process of evolution, this find was of extreme value, thanks to it the city acquired outstanding significance - at least in scientific circles.
South Africa takes an honorable third place in the world ranking of tap water safety!
The old Lock Street Jail in East London no longer houses dangerous criminals and is now home to a major shopping centre.
If a person is in danger in South Africa, then the law allows for any degree of self-defense.
South Africa is one of the largest mining countries in the world. It ranks first in the world in gold mining and fourth in the world in diamond mining. Most of its inexhaustible deposits of platinum and gold are located in the Northern province - Transvaal. The zone, almost 80 km long, is the world's largest gold and uranium basin, the Witwatersrand. This section stretches from Springs in the southeast of Johannesburg to Krugersdorp in the west. The Rustenburg mine is considered to be the richest platinum deposit on Earth.
More than 1,500 grow on Table Mountain various types plants! This is even more than in all Great Britain !
The Kruger National Park is one of the most beautiful nature reserves in South Africa. It was founded in 1898 by Paulus Kruger, the first president of the independent Transvaal. This national park is one of the largest in the world!
The most famous resort in the Transvaal is Warmbad with its hot springs. Their weak natural radioactivity helps with many diseases.
About 2,000 ships sank off the coast of South Africa, many of them more than 500 years old.
South Africa is the only country in the world where three Nobel Prize laureates lived on the same street! They all lived on Vilakazi Street in Soweto.
On October 7, 1931, Anglican Bishop Desmond Mpilo Tutu was born in the mining town of Klerksdorp. In 1984 he received the Nobel Prize for his fight against apartheid through peaceful means.
Those wishing to take part in a multi-day excursion in the Kruger National Park must apply a year (!) in advance, as such tours are extremely popular. In addition, it is worth practicing, because such a trip requires a certain amount of physical preparation.
International trade in ivory was banned in 1989. Since then, the elephant population, greatly reduced by extermination, has reached its optimal level of 7,500 individuals. Some other species of animals, also among the most coveted by poachers, are now placed in private reserves.
South Africa is home to some of the largest plants in the world – baobabs. They live up to 5,000 years (!!!) and reach a trunk diameter of 25 meters! The fruits of these trees are edible and are called “monkey bread.”
South Africa was able to voluntarily give up nuclear weapons, although it took part in their development.
The Fortress of Good Hope is the oldest architectural structure South Africa. It was built in 1679, but has never been attacked by enemies.
From Table Mountain you can see Robben Island, where a leper colony operated from 1846 to 1931. Nelson Mandela spent more than 20 years of his life in prison on this island. For some time now, it has become possible for tourists to visit the island.
The area of South Africa is so large that it can be equivalent to five squares Japan or three Texas!
Almost every day, the fishing port of the village of Hout Bay receives a rich catch of fish from the coastal waters cooled by the Bengal Current. Hout Bay is also a center for lobster fishing. In its fish restaurants you can try smoked hake and other specialties.
In the depths of South Africa there are almost all the noble metals: vanadium, manganese, chromium, uranium, gold. Catalysts for European cars are supplied almost exclusively from South African mines. Diamonds and gold are mined here open method, that is, they are not lifted from underground mines, but scooped out of huge pits.
Residents of South Africa can eat meat in the morning, afternoon and evening. They cannot live a day without this product.
South Africa is one of the most promising countries for tourism development. This is due to the variety of ancient attractions and unique natural places.
The Drakensberg Mountains got their name from a legend. According to it, a huge dragon lives in the mountains. But mountain residents more often call this ridge simply “the roof of South Africa.”
The Drakensberg Boys' Choir is South Africa's most famous children's choir, touring all over the world.
Built from scratch, Welkom is the only major city in South Africa without traffic lights. Traffic is regulated by 23 roundabout signs.
South Africa ranks third in terms of biological diversity in the world.
South Africa is a country that uses steam power intensively: according to its railways and today more than 400 steam locomotives operate.
In South Africa, many rivers and aquifers run under water. To pump out life-giving moisture, mainly wind-powered pumps are used.
Pretoria is considered the official capital of South Africa, but in fact there are three capitals in the country: Pretoria (the executive branch), Cape Town (the legislative branch) and Bloemfontein (the judicial branch).
More than 11% of the South African government budget goes to healthcare. This sector receives the most funding.
A 200 km wide strip of fynbos (a type of shrubby vegetation containing up to 9,000 plant species) stretches along the Atlantic coast.
50,000 tons of gold (!!!), which is 1/3 of the world's production, was extracted from the Witwatersrand deposit.
The Vredefort crater, the largest on the planet, is 300 km in diameter, formed from the collision of an asteroid with the Earth more than 2 billion (!) years ago.
The most luxurious train in the world runs through South Africa. Traveling from Cape Town to Pretoria on this Rovos Rail train costs $1,500.
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The Orange River, South Africa's largest river, is 2,300 km long. In the territory Kingdom of Lesotho The sources of the Orange River are located at an altitude of over 3,000 meters, and, for this reason, in some areas they freeze in the cold season. The waters of the Orange River evaporate quickly in hot climates. Sometimes it dries up even before it flows into the ocean. The river often has high waves that form during powerful storms.
The area of the Great Limpopo transnational park is 35,000 km², on the territory of which three states have abolished borders for unhindered visits by tourists.
The Zwaing crater, with a diameter of more than 1 km and a depth of about 200 meters, was formed by a meteorite impact approximately 220,000,000 years ago (!!!). In its center, over time, a lake appeared; salt and water are extracted from the depths of the reservoir.
The most dangerous area of Johannesburg is Alexandria. None of the whites risk appearing there... even during the day. It is noteworthy that it is located near the business center of the city.
Muthi Market in Durban is a center for traditional African medicine. Here you can buy not only a variety of medicines, but also their ingredients, without which it is “impossible to cure”: crocodile teeth, animal and bird claws, snake skins, herbs and roots. Right at the market, healers will make a diagnosis, and at the same time predict the future, after consulting with the spirits of their ancestors. Finally, they will definitely offer to purchase a magical talisman.
On December 3, 1967, a significant event in the history of medicine took place in Cape Town. Surgeon Christian 
Barnard (1922 - 2001) performed the world's first human heart transplant. This was the start of a new direction in surgery. Today, Barnard’s technique is used by cardiac surgeons around the world.
In the center of Cape Town lies a huge wasteland, on which only four churches and a mosque stand. This is the territory of the former Sixth District, which until 1963 was inhabited, and very densely, by dockers, fishermen, students, immigrants and other poor urban people. Racist (then) city officials decided that the area was more suitable for whites, and, overnight, the residents of the Sixth Ward were evicted. To the credit of the descendants of the Europeans, they did not benefit from the fruits of the discriminatory barbaric action. Today, the Museum of the Sixth Arrondissement has been created here and pillars with the former street names have been driven in.
There are a lot of names in South Africa that are similar to Slavic ones. There are names such as Andrey, Lida, Yuri, Anna, Katya, Nadya. The African language also has several words similar to Ukrainian ones. Pharmacy - pharmacies, paper - papir (identical to Ukrainian).
The average age of a Cape Town resident is 26 years.
Every day, except Sunday, a cannon fires at noon in Cape Town. This tradition is more than 200 years old, and it was founded by the East India Company.
Cape Town sells about 500 brands of local wine, high quality and inexpensive. The traditions of winemaking in South Africa are very long; it is known that Napoleon had an extraordinary appreciation for “Cape” wines. Today, South Africa is one of the leading wine producers in the world, and the most famous local grape variety is Pinotage.
Coal seams in South Africa are found at a depth of about 7 - 10 meters! This is amazing - the cost of coal mining has been reduced hundreds of times - there is no need to build mines and endanger people's lives.
In the vicinity of Cape Town, from a ship departing from the Simons Town naval base, you can watch whales splashing in the waters of the Indian Ocean.
White farmers, who, in last years, are oppressed in South Africa (according to various sources, from 1,200 to 3,000 people died), and move to other African countries. Yes, they have already turned Mozambique in a reputable supplier of bananas, and in Zambia They established corn production, after which the country began to provide itself with this product. In 2009 the authorities Congo announced a program to invite farmers from South Africa.
The black mamba is the fastest of snakes: it moves at a speed of 20 km/h.
Throughout history they have killed more people than lions, jaguars and crocodiles combined - hippos! These cute and calm animals, at first glance, are extremely aggressive!
On the banks of the Maputo River lives a leatherback turtle - the largest in the world: body length up to 2.5 meters, weight up to 600 kg, span of front flippers up to 5 meters.
Bartolomeu Dias - discoverer of the Cape of Good Hope - subsequently took part in the discovery Brazil , but while sailing off the coast of Africa, his ship disappeared without a trace in the ocean, and the fate of the navigator remained unknown.
At the beginning of the twentieth century, the number of spectacled penguins at the Cape of Good Hope was more than a million individuals. In the past, the total population of this species has been steadily declining: 1956 - 145,000, 1972 - 70,000 - due to the uncontrolled use of penguin eggs for food. As a result of protective measures, the African penguin population has now reached 185,000 individuals. In order for African penguins to quietly breed their offspring, and to protect eggs from seagulls, special clay oval houses are equipped in the nesting areas for penguins.
One in five South Africans is unemployed.
Local legend says that it is here, on the Cape of Good Hope, that you can most often see the “Flying Dutchman” - a mysterious ship whose captain in 1680 sold his soul to the devil for a chance to escape the storm. They say that this ship is destined to be seen by someone who will soon experience misfortune. The funicular that takes you up to the lighthouse is also called the Flying Dutchman.
Residents of Johannesburg have a dangerous tradition of throwing unnecessary things out of windows during the Christmas holidays. Among them there are often extremely heavy objects - refrigerators, microwaves etc. So, the authorities officially forbade throwing away refrigerators.
In Johannesburg 6,000000 artificially planted trees - so it is, in fact, the largest man-made forest on earth.
South Africa is sometimes called the Rainbow Country. This name was coined by Archbishop Desmond Tutu (and supported by Nelson Mandela) as a metaphor for a new, multicultural, and multi-ethnic society.
The Battle of the Bloody River, between armed groups of Boers and Zulu, took place on December 16, 1838. The Boers asked the Africans to give them land for settlement, but the Zulus rejected the request and killed the entire peace delegation. In response, the Boers organized a raid for revenge. In the valley of the Nkome River, 500 Boers were attacked by more than 10,000 Zulus armed with spears, while the Boers had cannons and rifles. All Zulu attacks were repulsed. Having lost several thousand people, the Zulus fled. None of the Boers died.
The Pretoria Zoo is one of the largest in the world. On an area of 60 hectares there are more than 130 
species of mammals and 120 species of birds.
The Afrikaans language reflects history: it has borrowings from the Dutch language (it was spoken by the Boer Dutch who moved to Africa), many borrowings from French and German (they were spoken by other European colonialists), even more from Portuguese (the influence of communication with the descendants of the Portuguese colonizers of Africa) and very little of the local African languages (the Boers treated the local tribes with disdain).
In South Africa there is the southernmost point of the continent - Cape Agulhas, where two oceans washing the country - the Atlantic and the Indian - come together. The immediate point of confluence is symbolized by a massive stone. It is customary for tourists to take photographs there. There is a lighthouse on the cape, which still guides sailors to safe passage past the Needles Shoal.
The area of the Northern Cape is comparable to that of large country, How Germany .
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In 1905, a monument to the horses that died during the war was unveiled in the city of Port Elizabeth. This one-of-a-kind memorial is dedicated to more than three hundred thousand horses (!!) who died during the 11th Anglo-Boer War.
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The Eastern Cape is home to South Africa's only ski resort, Tiffindell, in the southern Drakensberg Mountains, on the slopes of the province's highest mountain, Ben Macdui.
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South Africa is home to one of the most dangerous beaches in the world. It's called Fish Hoek beach. In addition to the whales that can be seen here, white sharks have chosen its waters. Therefore, you need to swim here very carefully.
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IN international classification cities with the most favorable climatic conditions, the city of Port Elizabeth ranks fourth.
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On September 22, 1979, in the area of the Prince Edward Islands, an outbreak was recorded that in all respects resembled a nuclear weapons test. No country has claimed responsibility for the explosion. It is believed that this was a joint test between South Africa and Israel , but the fall of a very large meteorite cannot be ruled out.
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The wife of South African President Nelson Mandela, Graça Machel, was twice First Lady. First, she became the wife of the President of Mozambique, Samora Machel. But, he died in a plane crash and 12 years later Graca married the political leader of South Africa.
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Mandela houses in Cape Town are prefabricated one-room barracks with a bathroom, which are found in large numbers in Kayelitsha, a slum area of the city.
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The famous English writer John Ronald Reuel Tolkien was born in Bloemfontein.
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The Modjadji Rainforest is a protected area that contains the world's largest collection of wild sago trees.
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Charlize Theron, famous actress and one of the most beautiful women planet, born and raised in South Africa.
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The exact translation from Afrikaans of the name of the Soutspansberg mountains is “salty frying pan”. This is what salt lakes and salt marshes are called in southern Africa.
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In South African witchcraft, muthi, the dried brain of the Cape vulture, is used to predict the future. In 2010, the FIFA World Cup in South Africa almost wiped out the entire population of this rare bird: local fans massively used an ancient method to predict the results of the championship.
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The English name of the local tribes - Bushmen - literally means “people of the steppe”: “bush” is an area overgrown with bushes. This word should be used with great caution in South Africa, since in many parts of the country and beyond its borders this word is considered offensive, since the Boers, colonists from Holland, called the Bushmen that way: in their language, “boseman” means “man of the forest.”
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For all their cute appearance, roe deer antelopes, whose height is only 75 cm, can be very aggressive. The male, armed with sharp horns, bravely defends a herd of ten females and can easily tear apart an enemy with his horns.
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The eland antelope is perfectly adapted to high temperatures environment in South Africa. During a drought, her body temperature rises by 7 degrees, thanks to which she does not lose fluid as a result of sweating.
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Tugela Falls is the second highest waterfall in the world - 948 meters. But this is not the height of one stream, but the total height of its five freely falling cascades, the largest of which is 411 meters.
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The “Sardine Run” is a still unexplained wildlife phenomenon observed from late May to late July off the coast of KwaZulu-Natal. Shoals of sardines, the species Sardinops sagax, striking in their size, spawn at Cape Agulhas, and then rise north, swimming en masse along the coast of KwaZulu-Natal, and reaching the Durban area, they go into the ocean. Presumably, the migration progress is affected by temperature changes sea water. The size of schools of sardines reaches 7 km in length, 1.5 km in width and 30 meters in thickness. With the beginning of migration, dolphins, Cape fur seals, sharks, whales and seabirds gather here hunting for sardines.
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The discoverer of gold deposits in the Witwatersrand in 1886 is considered to be Australian gold prospector John Harrison. A monument was erected to him in Gauteng, and a park was named in his honor. Harrison's fate was unfortunate: he sold his license for 10 pounds and disappeared, since then no one has heard of him again. His license went to simple miners, who suddenly and immensely became rich, and received the nickname Randlords.
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The skin of the giant belt-tailed lizard is adapted to quickly absorb water, allowing the reptile to store moisture during short rains in the dry areas of the Veld.
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At the beginning of the twentieth century, in the village of Pilgrim's Rest, the Boer government tried to start issuing its own money. A total of 530 gold coins, nicknamed the “Steppe Pound,” were minted. Today such a pound is one of the rarest and most expensive coins in the world.
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In the village of Hoedspruit there is a one-of-a-kind farm for the conservation and breeding of cheetahs, where, in particular, the royal cheetah is kept - a unique species discovered by zoologists only in 1927.
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Mpumalanga is the main mining region for South African coal: the province sells 83% of all South African coal. Almost all coal is used as fuel for power plants and for the production of synthetic fuels.
Tours to South Africa – special offers of the day
About nature and history:
1. In South Africa there is the oldest meteor trail on earth, it runs across the Vaal River and is called the Vredefort dome. A meteor crashed violently into the Earth almost two billion years ago (and the Earth is said to be 4.5 billion years old in total).
2. The rocks near Barberton in Mpumalanga - they are considered the oldest in the world - more than three billion years old. Since they are the most accessible from all sides, NASA scientists often come here to explore them and find some evidence about their possible origin from other distant planets.
3. Tugela Falls is the second highest waterfall in the world, its water falls from a height of 850 meters. The first place is occupied by Angel Falls in Venezuela, height 979 meters.
4. There are 18,000 native plant varieties in South Africa, 80% of which are uniquely South African.
5. Blyde River Canyon is the third largest canyon in the world. The Grand Canyon in the USA is the largest, and the Fish River Canyon in Namibia is the second largest, but both are dry.
6. South African fields have 30 plant species per square kilometer, more than the biodiversity of tropical forests.
7. Can mountains be moved? Yes, they can, and you can see such wonders in Cape Town in the Swartberg mountains.
8. South Africa and its neighbors are the most sunny places on the entire globe; more than half of the solar energy of the entire earth per 1 square meter is absorbed here. m.
9. Therapsids - the true ancestors of mammals, the remains of which have been preserved almost unchanged since 200 million years ago, were found in South Africa. These animals were the ancestors of the dinosaurs of the Jurassic period. Also in South Africa, fossilized remains of a fossilizing shark were found that were about 280 million years old.
10. South Africa is home to the world famous baobab plant.
11. According to recent research, the city of Sutherland on the Northern Cape is one of the most geologically stable places on Earth, despite the fact that there are 66 volcanoes here, although they have long been extinct.
12. Lake Fundudzi in Venda is possibly the world's only freshwater lake formed by a landslide.
13. The only street in the world named after two laureates at once Nobel Prize of the world is located in Soweto. Nelson Mandela and Archbishop Desmond Tattoo both have buildings on this street.
Food and drink:
1. Walt Disney loves South African wine and drinks it exclusively on his 73-acre ranch.
2. South Africa has the longest wine route in the world, wine route number R62.
3. South Africa is the world's largest producer of macadamia nuts and macadamia oil, which is exported throughout the world.
4. South Africa is the only country in the world where you can order a dish called monkey steak without the risk of actual indigestion. This dish was invented many decades ago by foreign chefs in Johannesburg.
5. No other country in the world consumes as much fish and seafood as South Africa.
Medicine and Science:
1. The world's first heart transplant was performed in South Africa in 1967 by South African doctor Chris Barnard. 2. South African doctor Percy Amolis invented a method for restoring the retina of the eye, which was first tried on a former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. The operation was successful, thanks to which Margaret Thatcher retained her sight for a long time.
Water and ecology:
1. There are only 12 countries in the world that have immediately drinkable water in their taps, South Africa is one of these countries. The quality of water in the country's taps ranks third in the world.
2. South Africa and Zimbabwe removed fences between their countries to connect national parks with a total area of 35,000 m2, after which the reserve became the largest in the world. It is larger in area than Switzerland, Belgium or Taiwan.
3. South Africa is the number one country in the world for diversity and quantity flowering trees.
4. South Africa has the third most high level biological diversity in the world.
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The southern part is considered the most developed part of Africa. This is where you can see skyscrapers and innovative technologies combined with endless white beaches, blue ocean waters and grasslands with wild animals. It is also here that you can get acquainted with the customs of unique African tribes, enjoy a safari, soak up the gentle rays of the sun, relax in nightclubs, try traditional food of local residents and get a lot of unforgettable impressions. Next, we suggest reading more interesting facts about South Africa.
1. It is the territory of South Africa that is famous for the fall of the meteorite.
2. South Africa is a world leader in the mining of platinum, diamonds, gold and rare minerals.
3.The first human heart transplant was performed in South Africa.
4. The oldest rocks in the world are also located in South Africa.
5. South African wine is highly regarded by Walt Disney.
6.The famous rooibos tea is produced in South Africa.
7.The deepest hole in the earth is located in South Africa.
8. South Africa differs from the countries of the world in that it has high-quality running water.
9. On average, South African men live to be 50 years old, and women to be 48 years old.
10.Hunting is strictly controlled in South Africa, and the hunting season lasts throughout the year.
11.There are about 18,000 native plants in South Africa.
12.South Africa is a state that is fully provided with the sun.
13. South Africa is the largest producer of macadamia oil and similar nuts, exporting them to other countries.
14.This is the only state where you can order monkey steak.
15.No one consumes as much seafood and fish as South Africa.
16.South Africa has 3 capitals: Pretoria, Cape Town and Bloemfontein.
17. South Africa is the second country that exports fruit in large quantities.
18.A colony of penguins lives near South Africa.
19.South Africa is the first African country to participate in the FIFA World Cup.
20. South Africa is considered the most developed African country.
21.Approximately 900 species of birds live in the territory of this state.
22.Approximately 5 million white people live in South Africa.
23.South Africa has 11 official languages and many dialects.
24.Johanesburg is The largest city, located in South Africa.
25.99.9% of residents in this country have a driver’s license.
26. South Africa has ideal roads.
27.The rand is the official currency in circulation in this country.
28.Cigarettes are quite expensive in South Africa.
29.South African vodka is vile and very expensive.
30. South African drivers are polite.
31.Most residents of South Africa have Russian names.
32.In South Africa, a stupid and not at all smart person can be called a “baboon”.
33. South Africa is the first state that was able to create gasoline from coal.
34. Gasoline is cheap in this country.
35.In South Africa, an engineer’s salary is $3,500.
36. Residents of South Africa mainly suffer from aggressive hippos.
37.Kingklip is the most delicious fish that can be found in South Africa.
38.Rugby is considered the most popular sport in South Africa.
39. The mentality of the inhabitants of this state is similar to the Slavic one.
40.South Africa is the most economically developed country on the continent.
41.If a person is in danger in South Africa, then the law allows for any degree of self-defense.
42.About 2,000 ships sank off the coast of South Africa.
43. South Africa has the cheapest electricity.
44. South Africa is the only state in which 3 Nobel Prize laureates lived on a single street.
45.Human remains that were found in this country are more than 160,000 years old.
46.The most growing in South Africa a big tree– baobab, the fruits of which are called “monkey bread”.
47. South Africa was able to voluntarily give up nuclear weapons.
48.South Africa is a state where the tourism business is promisingly developed.
There are 49.280000 mills on the territory of this state.
50. Of the 49 million residents of South Africa, only 18 million are able-bodied people.
51.The first heart transplant in South Africa was performed by Chris Barnard.
52.More than 28 thousand schools operate on the territory of this state.
53. The lake located in South Africa is the only lake that was formed due to a landslide.
54.There are a lot of different spices in South Africa.
55.Dry meat in this country is called “biltong”.
56.Residents of South Africa can eat meat in the morning, afternoon, and evening. They cannot live a day without this product.
57.South Africans prefer spicy dishes.
58. South African drivers hardly violate traffic rules.
59.The most coveted trophy of South African hunters is considered to be the kill of a lion.
60.The most dangerous animal in the hunting process on the territory of this state is considered to be the buffalo.
61.Tau Tona is the deepest mine in South Africa, thanks to which gold is mined.
62.South Africa is endowed with all the relief forms that exist on Earth.
63.South Africa is considered one of the states developing nuclear weapons.
64.The largest diamond named Cullinan was found in South Africa.
65. Blue-green algae that existed 3500 million years ago were found in South Africa.
66.The most best train in global space, a trip on which can cost $1,500.
67.Afrikaans is a South African language that is similar to the Flemish language.
68.People with a good specialty and with higher education in South Africa they earn decent amounts.
69.In 1999, the Pan African Games were held in South Africa.
70. South Africa is considered the first country in the number of flowering trees.
71.The country has its own wine industry.
72.Bank branches and ATMs at South African airports operate 24 hours a day.
73.South Africa has a state-of-the-art telecommunications network.
74.Many cities in South Africa do not have public transport.
75.This state has a high crime rate.
76.There are many people in South Africa who are infected with HIV.
77.80% of the plants growing in this state are considered uniquely South African.
78. South Africa is the birthplace of baobabs.
79.Researchers from South Africa were able to record several rapes of penguins by fur seals.
80.The largest diamond was found in 1905 in South Africa.
81.B national park South Africa you can see a white lion.
82.South Africa is considered the world leader in the number of rapes.
83. Every 4th male resident in South Africa is considered a rapist.
84. South Africa has the longest wine route in the entire world.
85.South Africa produces 2 thirds of all African electricity.
86.South Africa is considered a haven for the smallest succulents.
87. South Africa is the only country producing Mercedes-Benz C class.
88. Three of the five fastest animals in the world live in this country.
89. South Africa has the highest jumping bridge.
90.On leadership positions There are white people in South Africa.
91.South Africa is a multinational country.
92. In South Africa, a blue diamond was found in a mine.
93.The African language is a synthesis of German and Dutch.
94.There is no religious majority in this state.
95. A doctor from South Africa was able to invent a unique retinal transplant technology, thanks to which Margaret Thatcher was able to save her sight.
96.Residents of South Africa prefer to drink beer rather than strong alcoholic drinks.
97.In South Africa, traps made from flamethrowers have been invented that help keep your car safe from theft.
98.South Africa is symbolized by Cape Agulhas and the Cape of Good Hope.
99.20% of South Africans are unemployed.
100.11% of the country's annual finances are spent on healthcare.
SOUTH AFRICA: Interesting Facts about country
3.7 (73.33%) 3 votesSouth Africa (SA) is located in the southern part of the African continent, along the coastline of the Indian and Atlantic oceans. The country ranks 24th in terms of population - almost 53 million people. It is a land of many races and religions. The majority of residents are black Africans. Want to know more? We will tell you the most interesting facts about this amazing country.
Historical reference
South Africa has a very long history, the oldest human fossil in the world was found here. Many years ago, the Dutch came to South Africa and created new language called "Afrikaans". In 1924, the first hominid fossil was discovered near Taung. The fossil is known as the Taung Child.
Land of many races and peoples
Modern humans appeared in South Africa about 170,000 years ago.
The Zulus and the Khosa were the two main ethnic groups that roamed Africa.
Bartolomeu Dias was the first Portuguese explorer to lead an expedition to explore South Africa in 1487.
Cape Town became a British colony in 1806.
There are more than 5 million illegal immigrants in the country, of which 3,000,000 are from Zimbabwe.
There are 23 public universities in South Africa.
Cricket, rugby and football are the most popular sports in South Africa.
Statistical data
Some statistics:
- The adult literacy rate is close to 90%.
- About 80% of the residents are Christians.
- About 70% of South Africans live in cities.
South Africa has 11 official languages, the most common of which are:
- Zulu (22.7%);
- Afrikaans (13.5%);
- braid (16%).
Unusual flag
The South African flag contains many different colors:
- gold is responsible for the wealth of the country;
- white - for peace;
- blue is the color of the sky;
- green – the color of crops and plants;
- black is the color of native African peoples;
- red is the color of those who lost their lives on the battlefield for freedom.
State Economy
Diamonds were discovered in Africa in 1867, and gold in 1884. This discovery led to confrontation between the indigenous population and the Europeans.
In the 1970s, South Africa began a nuclear weapons program.
Almost one fifth of South Africa's economy is based on mining. Thanks to it, 514,760 people are employed in Africa.
Diversity of flora and fauna
South Africa has many different "indigenous" animals - impalas, wildebeests, white rhinos, hyenas, hippos and giraffes. The River Rabbit is under threat in South Africa.
There are 200,000 species of mushrooms here. South Africa is rich in plants, with about 20,000 different species, accounting for 10% of all the world's plants. Only a total of 1% of South Africa's land is forest.
We hope you learned something new and that our article was useful to you. We'd love for you to share your thoughts with us in the comments.
The Republic of South Africa is located in the extreme southern part of Africa. Its capital is Pretoria, although it is not the largest or most developed city in the country. There are as many as 11 official names of South Africa and 11 state languages. This is an amazing country with a lot of unknown and interesting things, from nature to modern traditions and laws.
Ancient
South Africa can boast a large number of truly important historical discoveries, and, now famous, some of the world's oldest monuments.
So, near the Vaal River there is an ancient trace from the place where a meteorite fell on Earth. This place was called the Vradevolt crater. It has been established that it is about two billion years old. 
It is also worth remembering the Barberton rocks, which more than 3 billion years. These are the oldest rocks in the world. Scientists are still arguing about their origin and history.
- ancestors of dinosaurs found in South Africa. They are 200 million years old, but they are preserved in perfect condition.
In the city of Kimberley there is an amazing diamond mine in the shape of a huge hole. From 1866 to 1914, it was dug using picks and ordinary shovels, without any specialized equipment, by fifty miners. It is considered the largest man-made quarry. Some of the most famous diamonds in the world were found here: De Beers, Tiffany, Porter Rhodes.” After the mine had exhausted itself, it was filled with empty rock and, over time, water appeared at the bottom. 40 meters deep. Today this is the main asset and historical monument city of Kimberley. But, alas, nothing lasts forever. The edges of the mine begin to gradually crumble, threatening peaceful tourists. There is a danger of collapse of nearby roads. In connection with this, the South African authorities have banned the movement of large vehicles, such as trucks, on some of the roads.
The second highest waterfall in the world - 948 meters. It is represented by five free-falling cascades of different heights. Located in the Royal Natal National Park. The waterfall is in great demand among tourists, so there are two hiking trails leading to it.
World leader
It is a leader in the extraction of rare minerals, gold, diamonds, and platinum. A third of all diamonds in the world, including famous ones, were found or mined here. For example, the largest diamond in the world is the Cullinan (3106.75 carats). South Africa has the deepest mines, both diamond and gold mines. There is also a lot of coal here. South Africa is the first country to make gasoline from coal. Thanks to this amount of coal, the country has very cheap electricity compared to other countries.
Medicine
The country has a good quality of medicine. In 1967, the world's first heart transplant operation was performed here, and later a method for restoring the retina was invented. Today, as before, they conduct medical research, and the quality of medical care is at a fairly high level.
Citizen safety
The laws of the country allow almost any measures to preserve the personal safety of citizens, including traps in cars to prevent theft or the use of a stun gun. Moreover, if there is a threat of robbery, speeding and running red lights are acceptable.
Roads
Almost everyone here has a driver’s license, except that children don’t have one, since they can’t drive yet. The reason for this is the black market, where you can buy them cheaply. True, you need to undergo re-certification every year, but it is free and therefore does not cause big problems. Drivers in the country know and respect the laws; they always stop at red lights, even if there is no one on the road. You can rarely see traffic cops here, and they simply don’t take bribes. All trails and roads are in excellent condition.
Nature
On one square kilometer of South African meadows sometimes grows up to 30 species of different plants, which is considered a record. It has the highest level of biodiversity on Earth, higher even than in Rainforest. At the same time, 80% of all plants are considered unique, growing exclusively in this country.
South Africa is also considered the birthplace of baobabs and is considered one of the most sunny places on the planet.
For extreme sports enthusiasts there is a large safari, for tourists there is a small, introductory safari. You can go on a tour, see the area, see the animals. They hunt here quite often. It is considered the most honorable to defeat a lion, and the most dangerous - a buffalo, since if you do not kill it with the first shot, you yourself can become dinner. A buffalo accelerates to 50 km per hour in a short time, and it is almost impossible to escape from it. The weapon must be large-caliber, due to the thick skin of the buffalo, which is quite difficult to pierce. 
The biggest thing to watch out for while on safari is hippos. There are quite a lot of them, and it is civilians who most often suffer from them, not hunters. The hippopotamus is the most ferocious and dangerous animal in the country, from which more people suffer than from any other animal. At the same time, there are also jaguars, rhinoceroses, lions, buffalos and elephants.
Unusual kitchen
In restaurants across the country you can order monkey steak. Usually such delicacies cost at least poisoning or more serious problems, but not in South Africa. They know how to cook this meat here, and it is completely safe to eat. The dish is unusual and deserves the attention of tourists, but it is not for everyone. 
Kingclip– the most delicious local shrimp fish. It can be ordered at any restaurant. This delicacy is much more pleasant than monkey steak, perhaps due to its more familiar fishy taste. Everyone cooks fish here possible ways. It is believed that South Africans eat a lot of fish, even more than in Japan.
Cigarettes and alcohol
Prices for cigarettes and alcohol are about the same as in Europe, but their quality does not always match the price. The vodka here is very bad and low quality. Almost no one buys it. At the same time, the country produces local moonshine - mampur. It is quite good, but it is difficult to drink and not everyone will dare to do so due to its excessive strength - 75 degrees. The beer can boast of excellent quality; it is very tasty here. affordable price. And with beer they often take dry meat, which is also very tasty - “biltong”.
- The official currency of the country is the rand. 7 rand is equal to about 1 dollar.
- There has still not been a single coup d'etat in South Africa.
- Russian names are often found here, although there are practically no Russians.
- “Babun” is the name given to slow-witted people. The word comes from the baboon monkey.
- There is a pleasant climate here, low temperatures almost never happens. -10 is very rare.
- The sad statistics of the country include the fact that South Africa is the leader in the number of rapes in the world.
- The country is one of the top three in terms of water quality.
