South Africa
is a multi-ethnic country with one of the most diversified cultures in the
world. It is one-eighth the size of the US and measures about 1600 kilometers
north to south and around the same east to west. As per the 2011 census, it has
a population of 52 million and is currently the biggest economy on the African
continent.
It has a
multiparty democracy with an independent judiciary. It also has a free and
diverse press. Right up until 1994 South Africa was known for apartheid, which
the likes of Nelson Mandela helped abolish. The struggle movement helped
inspire similar efforts in other countries.
But here are a
few things we bet you didn’t know about this country:
1. South
Africa has the world’s oldest and largest meteor crater, the Vredefort Dome in
Parys. It was 300 km in diameter when it was formed two billion years ago and
is recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.
2. Unique
topography: South Africa has it all – from deserts, wetlands and grasslands to
subtropical forests and mountains. Its coastline stretches for more than 2 700
kilometers from a desert in the northwest, down the Skeleton Coast and Cape
Agulhas, then back up along the coast of the Indian Ocean; subtropical Mozambique
borders its northeast.
3. The famous
Table Mountain in Cape Town is believed to be one of the oldest mountains in
the world. It is also one of earth’s 12 energy centers that radiate electric
and magnetic energy. The mountain also has 1500 varieties of plant life – more
than England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland have combined.
4. The country
has three capital cities: Pretoria, the executive capital; Cape Town, the
legislative capital and Bloemfontein the judicial capital.
5. There are
an astonishing 11 official languages recognized by the constitution that
include English, Afrikaans, Ndebele, Pedi, Sotho, Venda, Xhosa, Swazi, Tsonga,
Tswana and Zulu. In fact, it is the world’s only country with so many official
languages.
6. South
Africa is the only country in the world to have voluntarily abandoned a nuclear
weapons program in 1991. It had actually made six nuclear warheads in the
1980s.
7. South
Africa is home to the biggest theme resort in the world. The Palace of the Lost
City, near Rustenburg, is surrounded by a 25-hectare botanical jungle that is
manmade. Interestingly, the jungle is home to around two million plants and
trees.
8. Highest
commercial bungee jump: the country is also host to the highest commercial
bungee jump at 216 meters at Bloukrans Bridge in South Africa’s Western Cape.
One more reason for adventure sports lovers to visit South Africa.
9. The
country has the longest wine route in the world along Route 62. Also called
Cape Winelands, the route stretches a whopping 850 kilometers from Cape Town
via Oudtshoorn to Port Elizabeth.
10. South
Africa is home to the only street in the world to house two Nobel Peace prize
winners. Both Nelson Mandela and Archbishop Desmond Tutu stayed in Soweto’s
Vilakazi Street.
11. South
Africa moves two inches from South America every year – part of the
continuation of the continental drift.
12. It was the
first African country ever to host the FIFA Soccer World Cup in 2010.
13. Though the
country is democratic, one of its nine provinces – that of KwaZulu-Natal – has
a monarchy, a special provision in the constitution. More so, the King of the
Zulu’s, Goodwill Zwelithini kaBhekuzulu, has 27 children and 6 wives!
14. South
Africa also has the most luxurious rail ride in the world. The Rovos Rail
train-cum-hotel runs through South Africa and beyond into Africa itself. An
average ticket costs $10,000 and upwards.
15. The Cape
Floristic Region is the only floral kingdom of the earth’s six kingdoms to be
contained in one single country. It is the smallest of the six
floral kingdoms and is home to about 9000 vascular plant species, of which 69%
are endemic. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
16. Three of
the world’s fastest land animals are found in South Africa – cheetahs, lions
and wildebeest.
17. The Karoo
region in South Africa’s Western Cape is known as the home of the fossils of
dinosaurs. In fact about 80% of the world’s mammalian fossils were found here.
This region is arid and spans more than 400,000 square kilometers.
18. Some of
the oldest remains of modern humans were found in South Africa recently. Named,
homo naledi, by archaeologists, the remains were found in a cave 50 kilometers
from Johannesburg. Interestingly, the remains were found in an area also called
the Cradle of Humankind from where archaeologists have made a lot of
discoveries concerning humans.
19. SABMiller,
the world’s second largest brewery, was founded in South Africa in 1886. Today
it produces 200 types of beer in over 80 countries. It also supplies up to
50% of China’s beer.
20. South
Africa has more than 3000 shipwrecks off its coast, most of which are more than
500 years old. In fact, every shipwreck is protected by South African law, so
it is illegal to remove any.
21. Around 41%
of the world’s gold is found here. South Africa is known for its rich minerals.
It is also the world’s largest producer of platinum - 90% of the earth’s
platinum metals are extracted there.
22. The
world’s first human heart transplant was performed in a hospital in Cape Town
in 1967.
23. The Tugela
Falls in South Africa’s, Royal Natal National Park, is the second highest
waterfall in the world at 948 meters, after Venezuela’s Angel Falls.
24. Here’s a
bizzare law: In South Africa it is illegal to sit closer than two meters from a
person of the opposite sex, if they are wearing nothing but a swimsuit.
25. Something
more bizzare? During World War I, a South African monkey called Jackie, was
awarded a medal and promoted to the rank of Corporal! The monkey ‘joined’ the
army along with its owner and soon became a mascot.