A selection of interesting facts about the most economically developed state of the African continent - the Republic of South Africa.
More than 48 million people live on its territory. The level of GDP per capita in the country is $10,200. There are as many as 11 official languages. But what else do we know about South Africa?
1. Electricity in South Africa is the cheapest in terms of cost in the world. Thanks to the huge supply of coal, the cost of electricity is about 10 cents per kilowatt-hour. (World Bank Photo Collection)
2. In South Africa, there is the world's deepest gold mine called Tau Tona. Its depth exceeds 3.4 km. It is also worth noting that the country is considered the world's leading producer of gold and platinum; 750 mines are located on its territory. (John Loder)
3. South Africa has all the landforms that are found on planet Earth. (Jono Hey)
4. South Africa voluntarily abandoned nuclear weapons while being one of the developing countries. (Pierre J.)
5. In South Africa, the Premier Mine was found the most big diamond in the world - Cullinan (3106.75 carats). gemstone, later split into 9 parts, went to King Edward VII of Great Britain as a birthday present from the government of the Transvaal Colony. (Paul Parsons)
6. In South Africa, scientists have discovered the earliest evidence of life on Earth - blue-green algae, which lived about 3,500 million years ago. (budak)
7. In South Africa, there is the largest impact crater on the planet called Vredefort. Its diameter is 250-300 kilometers. The age of Vredefort is 2 billion years. (Julio Reis)
8. The Karoo region is one of the leaders in the concentration of fossils. Here it was discovered great amount dinosaur remains. (Jim Deane)
9. The most luxurious train in the world runs through South Africa. Traveling from Cape Town to Pretoria on this Rovos Rail train will cost $1,500. (David Brossard)
Interesting Facts about South Africa
For 80 years, South Africa was an apartheid country in which the state systematically discriminated against non-whites. Starting in 1911, the apartheid era began in the new state of the British Commonwealth: the black population was deprived of voting rights, land ownership rights were limited to specially created reserves, and marriages between people of different skin colors were punishable by imprisonment. This policy reached its climax in the 1950s, when large-scale forced migration of the non-white population led to a split in society into 2 parts. Since the fall of apartheid in 1991, political leaders like Nelson Mandela have been pushing for reconciliation between black and white Africans.
Nelson Mandela spent 26 years in prison (!!!), but when he came to power, he refused revenge and did everything possible to unite his country.
Mine " big hole”, where diamonds were developed, is the largest man-made mine in world history. It is located west of Bloomfrontaine, near the Kimberley. Between 1866 and 1914, about 50,000 miners dug the quarry with picks and shovels, extracting 2,722 kilograms of diamonds (14.5 million carats) in the process. During the development of the quarry, 22.5 million tons of soil were extracted. It was here that such famous diamonds as "De Beers" (428.5 carats), bluish-white "Porter Rhodes" (150 carats), orange-yellow "Tiffany" (128.5 carats) were found. At present, this diamond deposit has been exhausted. 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 then was 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 earlier (approximately 70 - 130 million years ago) there was a crater of a volcano.
The famous rooibos tea is produced in South Africa.
In the Bantu language, the Republic of South Africa is called Azani.
The most southern tip African continent- Cape Agulhas. The name is due to the fact that, in this place, the compass needle points exactly to the North Pole.
The local whites call Johannesburg, simply "Joburg", while the blacks call it "E-Goli", which means "city of gold".
On average, South African men live up to 50 years, and women up to 48 years.
Blacks belonging to the new South African middle class and upper stratum are often called "bappies", from "Black Yuppies" - "black yuppies".
The building of the First National Bank in Johannesburg was built in 1983 in the shape of a diamond with 58 facets.
Johannesburg is home to the head office of De Beers, the world leader in the production and trading of diamonds.
In South Africa, hunting is strictly controlled, and the hunting season continues throughout the year. The most desired trophy for hunters in South Africa is considered to be the prey of a lion. The buffalo is considered the most dangerous animal in the process of hunting on the territory of this state.
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.
Clarence is home to Cinderella's Castle, a fairy-tale palace built from 55,000 beer bottles.
Kimberley is named after John Woodhouse, 1st Earl of Kimberley, the English Colonial Secretary.
In many cities in South Africa there is no public transport.
South Africa is the largest producer of macadamia oil and the same nuts, exporting them to other countries.
The city of Oudtshoorn in the Northern Cape is the breeding center for ostriches 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 where whites and mestizos make up the majority of the population.
South Africa is the only state where you can order monkey steak.
The southeast wind, the so-called "Doctor Cape", is responsible for the carpet of clouds that hover over Table Mountain during the summer months. The Cape Towns gave it the poetic name "Tablecloth".
Researchers in South Africa 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.
cape Good Hope- one of the few places in the world where the most exquisite grape varieties are grown. Connoisseurs appreciate, above all, Chardonnay.
South Africa is the first African country to participate in the World Cup.
South Africa is considered the world leader in the number of rapes. Every 4th male resident in South Africa is considered a rapist.
In the city of Port Elizabeth, the liberation movement "Black Self-Consciousness" began. The leader of this movement, Steve Biko, died in prison on September 12, 1977, after severe torture.
Residents of South Africa often call the city of Port Elizabeth after initial letters its names: "P-Hey".
Piet Retief, one of the founding Boers of Pietermaritzburg, fell into the hands of the Zulus in 1838 and was executed.
South Africa has the longest wine route in the world.
South Africa is the first country that was able to create gasoline from coal.
In Pietermaritzburg in 1893, the Indian freedom fighter Mahatma Gandhi was thrown out of his first class carriage and forced to continue his journey in the baggage car.
In Ulundi, even today you can see the chambers of the Zulu king Kechvayo.
South Africa produces 2/3 of Africa's electricity.
At the first British-Zulu clash in 1879, 25,000 Zulu fighters attacked and annihilated an unsuspecting British regiment.
Kingklip is the most delicious fish that can be found in South Africa.
The Pietermaritzburg City Hall building 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, the first railway line in South Africa was opened, which connected Durban with Cape Point.
Rugby is considered the most popular sport in South Africa.
A doctor from South Africa was able to invent unique technology retinal transplantation, thanks to which Margaret Thatcher was able to save her sight.
In connection with the active resettlement of the black population in the bantustans, which began in the 60s of the twentieth century, the former Transkei became one of the most densely populated areas throughout Africa. If during the existence of the Bantustans the Transkei had been recognized as an independent state, 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 the Transkei.
On the coast near Butterworth and Kentani there are 2 beaches, which, by right, are considered the most beautiful beaches in South Africa.
South Africa is the second largest fruit exporter in the world.
South Africa is the most economical developed country continent.
The name "Transkei" comes from the name of the river Kei and translates as "on the other side of the Kei".
In 1938, a latimetry fish was caught off the coast of East London - the only modern representative of lobe-finned fish that were considered extinct in the era of dinosaurs. Since this specimen practically does not differ from its ancestors, who lived in the World Ocean 350 million years ago, latimetry 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 value at least in academic circles.
South Africa occupies an honorable third place in the world rating of tap water safety!
The building of the old Lock Street Jail in East London no longer contains dangerous criminals, now it houses a large shopping center.
If a person in South Africa is in danger, then any degree of self-defense is allowed by law.
South Africa is one of the largest mining countries peace. 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 - the Transvaal. The zone, almost 80 km long, is the world's largest gold- and uranium-bearing Witwatersrand basin. This section stretches from Springs in the southeast of Johannesberg to Krugersdorp in the west. The Rustenburg mine is considered the richest deposit of platinum on Earth.
There are over 1,500 different types of plants growing on Table Mountain! 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 Krueger, the first president of the independent Transvaal. This national park one of the largest in the world!
The most famous resort of the Transvaal is Warmbad with its hot springs. Their weak natural radioactivity helps with many diseases.
Approximately 2,000 ships had to sink off the coast of South Africa, many of them over 500 years old.
South Africa is the only country in the world where three Nobel Prize winners lived on the same street! They all lived on Vilakazi Street in the city of Soweto.
In the city of mining - Klerksdorp, on October 7, 1931, the Anglican Bishop Desmond Mpilo Tutu was born. In 1984, he received the Nobel Prize for fighting apartheid by peaceful means.
Those wishing to take part in a multi-day tour of the Kruger National Park should apply a year (!) Before it starts, as such tours are extremely popular. In addition, it is worth practicing, because such a journey requires a certain physical preparation.
international trade ivory was banned in 1989. Since then, the number of elephants, greatly reduced by extermination, has reached an optimal number of 7,500 individuals. Some other animal species, also among the most coveted by poachers, are now placed in private reserves.
One of the largest plants in the world, baobabs, grows in South Africa. 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 in South Africa. It was built in 1679, but has never been attacked by enemies.
From Table Mountain you can see Robben Island, on which a leper colony operated from 1846 to 1931. Nelson Mandela spent more than 20 years of his life 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 equated to five squares. Japan or three Texas!
The fishing port of the village of Hout Bay receives a rich fish catch almost every day from the coastal waters cooled by the Bengal current. Hout Bay is, moreover, the center of catching lobsters. Smoked hake and other specialties can be tasted in its fish restaurants.
In the bowels of South Africa there is almost everything noble metals: vanadium, manganese, chromium, uranium, gold. Catalysts for European cars come almost exclusively from South African mines. Diamonds and gold are mined here open way, that is, do not lift 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 single day without this product.
South Africa is one of the most promising countries for the development of tourism. This is due to the variety of ancient sights and unique natural places.
The Dragon Mountains got their name from a legend. According to her, a huge dragon lives in the mountains. But, the inhabitants of the mountains 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 on a bare spot, the city of Velkom is the only Big City in South Africa, which has no traffic lights. Traffic is regulated by 23 roundabout signs.
South Africa ranks third in terms of biodiversity in the world.
South Africa is a country of intensive use of steam energy: according to its railways and today more than 400 steam locomotives run.
In South Africa, many rivers and aquifers run underwater. For pumping out life-giving moisture, mainly wind-powered pumps are used.
Pretoria is considered official capital South Africa, but, in fact, there are three capitals in the country: Pretoria (organs are located executive power), Cape Town (the legislature) and Bloemfontein (the judiciary).
Over 11% state budget South Africa goes to health care. This sector receives the most funding.
200 km wide strip of fynbos (a type of shrub vegetation, including up to 9,000 plant species), stretching along the coast of the Atlantic Ocean.
50,000 tons of gold (!!!), which is 1/3 of the world's production, was extracted from the Witwatersrand deposit.
300 km diameter of the planet's largest crater Vredefort, 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 will cost $1,500.
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2,300 km is the length of the Orange River, the largest river in South Africa. Within the territory of Kingdoms 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 during the cold season. The waters of the Orange River evaporate quickly in hot climates. Sometimes it dries up before it even enters the ocean. Frequent on the river high waves formed during powerful storms.
The 35,000 km² area of the Great Limpopo transnational park, on the territory of which three states have abolished borders for unhindered visits by tourists.
The Zweing crater, more than 1 km in diameter and about 200 meters deep, was formed by a meteorite impact approximately 220,000,000 years ago (!!!). In its center, over time, a lake appeared, salt and water are mined from the bowels of the reservoir.
The most dangerous area of Johannesburg is Alexandria. No whites dare to appear there ... even during the day. It is noteworthy that it is located near business center cities.
Muti Market in Durban is the center of traditional African medicine. Here you can buy not only a variety of drugs, but also their ingredients, without which it is “impossible to heal”: crocodile teeth, claws of animals and birds, snake skins, herbs and roots. Right at the bazaar, healers will make a diagnosis, and at the same time, they will predict the future by conferring with the spirits of their ancestors. Finally, they will definitely offer to purchase a magical talisman.
On December 3, 1967, a landmark event in the history of medicine took place in Cape Town. Surgeon Christian 
Barnard (1922-2001) performed the world's first human heart transplant. Thus, a new direction in surgery was launched. Today, the Barnard technique is in service with cardiac surgeons around the world.
In the center of Cape Town there is a huge wasteland, on which there are only four churches and a mosque. This is the territory of the former District Six, which until 1963 was inhabited, and quite densely, by dock workers, fishermen, students, immigrants and other poor urban people. The racist (then) authorities of the city decided that the area was more suitable for whites, and, overnight, the inhabitants of the Sixth District were evicted. To the credit of the descendants of Europeans, they did not take advantage of the fruits of the discriminatory barbaric action. Today, the Museum of the Sixth District has been created here and poles with the former street names have been driven in.
In South Africa, there are a lot of names similar to Slavic ones. There are such names as Andrei, Lida, Yuri, Anna, Katya, Nadia. In the African language, there are also several words similar to Ukrainian. Pharmacy - pharmacies, paper - paper (identical to Ukrainian).
The average age of a resident of Cape Town is 26 years.
Every day, except Sundays, 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.
In Cape Town, about 500 brands of local wine are sold, of high quality and inexpensive. The traditions of winemaking in South Africa are very old, it is known that Napoleon greatly appreciated the "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 naval base Simonstown, you can watch the whales splashing in the waters of the Indian Ocean.
White farmers who, in last years, oppressed in South Africa (according to various sources, from 1,200 to 3,000 people died), moved to other African countries. Yes, they have already converted Mozambique into a reputable supplier of bananas, and into Zambia established the production of corn, 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 the snakes: it moves at a speed of 20 km/h.
Killed throughout history more people than lions, jaguars and crocodiles combined - hippos! These cute and calm, at first glance, animals are extremely aggressive!
A leatherback turtle lives on the banks of the Maputo River - the largest in the world: body length up to 2.5 meters, weight up to 600 kg, front flippers span up to 5 meters.
Bartolomeu Dias - the discoverer of the Cape of Good Hope - subsequently, took part in the opening 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, total strength the population of this species has steadily declined: 1956 - 145,000, 1972 - 70,000 - due to the uncontrolled use of penguin eggs for food. As a result protective measures, at present, the number of African penguins has reached 185,000 individuals. In order for African penguins to safely breed, and to protect eggs from seagulls, special clay oval houses are equipped in nesting places for penguins.
One in five South Africans is unemployed.
Local legend tells that it is here, on the Cape of Good Hope, that you can most often see " Flying Dutchman"- a mysterious ship whose captain sold his soul to the devil in 1680 for a chance to avoid a storm. They say that this ship is destined to be seen by the one with whom misfortune will soon happen. The funicular that takes you up to the lighthouse is also called the Flying Dutchman.
The people of Johannesburg have a dangerous tradition of throwing unwanted things out of windows during the Christmas holidays. Among them are often extremely heavy objects - refrigerators, microwaves etc. So - the authorities officially banned the disposal of 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. The name was coined by Archbishop Desmond Tutu (and endorsed by Nelson Mandela) as a metaphor for a new, multicultural, and multiethnic society.
The Battle of Bloody River, between the armed detachments of the Boers and the Zulus, 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 peaceful delegation. In response, the Boers organized a retaliatory raid. 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 guns. All Zulu attacks were repulsed. After losing several thousand men, the Zulus fled. None of the Boers died.
The zoo in Pretoria is one of the largest in the world. On the territory of 60 hectares there are more than 130 
mammal species and 120 bird species.
The Afrikaans language reflects history: it has borrowings from Dutch(it was spoken by the Dutch Boers who moved to Africa), many borrowings from French and German (they were spoken by others European colonizers), even more from Portuguese (the influence of communication with the descendants of the Portuguese colonizers of Africa) and quite a bit from local African languages (to local tribes the Boers were dismissive).
In South Africa, there is the southernmost point of the continent - Cape Agulhas, where two oceans converge, washing the country - the Atlantic and Indian. The immediate place of confluence symbolizes a massive stone. It is customary for tourists to take pictures on it. There is a lighthouse on the cape, which, to this day, indicates to sailors a safe passage past Needle Bank.
The area of the Northern Cape is comparable to that of major country, how Germany .
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In 1905, a monument to the horses that died during the war was opened 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 Boer War.
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The Eastern Cape is home to South Africa's only ski resort, Tiffindell, in the southern Dragon Mountains, on the slopes of the province's highest mountain, Ben Macdui.
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South Africa has 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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AT international classification cities with the most favorable climatic conditions, the city of Port Elizabeth ranks fourth.
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On September 22, 1979, an outbreak was recorded in the Prince Edward Islands region, which by all indications was similar to a nuclear weapon test. No country claimed responsibility for the explosion. It is assumed that this was a joint test of South Africa and Israel , but the fall of a very large meteorite is not excluded.
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The wife of South African President Nelson Mandela, Graça Machel, was first lady twice. Initially, she became the wife of the President of Mozambique, Samora Machel. But, he died in a plane crash and 12 years later Graça married political leader SOUTH AFRICA.
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Mandela's houses in Cape Town are called prefabricated one-room barracks with a bathroom, standing in many in Keyelitsha, a slum area of the city.
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Bloemfontein was the birthplace of the famous English writer John Ronald Reuel Tolkien.
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Mojadji Moist Forests 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, was born and raised in South Africa.
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The exact translation from the Afrikaans language of the name of the Southspansberg mountains is “salt pan”. So in southern Africa they call salt lakes and salt marshes.
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In South African witchcraft, "muti" - the dried brain of a Cape vulture is used to predict the future. In 2010, the World Cup in South Africa almost destroyed the entire population of this rare bird: local fans massively used the ancient method to predict the results of the championship.
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The English name of the local tribes - the Bushmen - literally means "man of the steppe": "bush" is an area overgrown with shrubs. 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 so: in their language, “bosieman” means “man from the forest”.
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With all their cute appearance, roe deer antelopes, whose height is only 75 cm, can be quite aggressive. The male, armed with sharp horns, bravely defends a herd of ten females and is able to easily tear the enemy with his horns.
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The eland antelope is well adapted to high temperatures environment in South Africa. During a drought, her body temperature rises by 7 degrees, due to which she does not lose fluids through 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 hitherto unexplained wildlife phenomenon observed from late May to late July off the coast of KwaZulu-Natal. Impressive shoals of sardines, of the species Sardinops sagax, spawn near Cape Agulhas, and then rise to the north, swimming in their entire mass along the coast of KwaZulu-Natal, and reaching the area of the city of Durban, they go into the ocean. Presumably, the course of migration is affected by temperature changes sea water. The size of shoals of sardines reaches 7 km in length, 1.5 km in width and 30 meters in thickness. With the beginning of migration, here, hunting for sardines, dolphins, Cape seals, sharks, whales and seabirds.
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The discoverer of the gold deposit in the Witwatersrand in 1886 is considered to be the Australian gold prospector John Harrison. In Gauteng, a monument was erected to him, 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 girdletail lizard is adapted to quickly absorb water, allowing the reptile to store moisture during intermittent rains in the dry areas of the Weld.
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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 own money. A total of 530 gold coins were minted, nicknamed the "Steppe Pound". Today, such a pound is one of the rarest and most expensive coins in the world.
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Hoedspruit is home to a one-of-a-kind cheetah conservation and breeding farm, including the king cheetah, a unique species only discovered by zoologists in 1927.
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Mpumalanga - main area mining of South African hard coal: the province sells 83% of all South African coal. Virtually all coal is used as fuel for power plants and for the production of synthetic fuels.
Tours in South Africa – special offers of the day
In South Africa, poverty and wealth are in the neighborhood, and the beauties of pristine landscapes exist literally two steps away from each other - interesting facts about South Africa will help you figure it all out.
- Pretoria is the capital of the Republic of South Africa, but in reality, 2 more cities are considered capital cities in the country - Cape Town and Bloemfontein. Distributed location among all power structures: executive, legislative and judicial respectively. At the same time, the largest metropolis of the state is Johannesburg.
- South Africa has 11 official languages. And for the most part, the inhabitants of the country can communicate in 3 or more languages. English is used by over 50% of the country's inhabitants. Afrikaans is similar to the mixture of German, Dutch and Flemish languages inherent in the inhabitants of the north of Belgium.
- The uniqueness of South Africa is that only in the city of Soweto on Vilakazi Street and nowhere else in the world did they live in different time 2 Nobel Prize winners.
- South Africa is on the list of countries that themselves have renounced nuclear weapons. At the same time, she also produced deadly products on her own.
- The South African state is among the countries that mine gold and diamonds. The mines from which future diamonds are extracted are on the list of the deepest in the world: there are those that go as deep as six kilometers. Stocks of platinum ( white gold) in its open spaces contains up to 80% of the world's.
- AT national park"Table Mountain" grows over 1.5 thousand representatives of the flora. This is comparable to all the vegetation growing in an area larger than Great Britain.
- South Africa is home to 3 of the 5 fastest ground representatives fauna. This is a cheetah, which develops a speed of 101 km / h, a wildebeest, which moves at a speed of up to 90 km / h, and a lion: its achievements in running are up to 80 km / h.
- In South Africa, baobabs grow, which are considered the most majestic in the world.. Their life expectancy is over 5 thousand years: during this time, the trunk of one tree increases in diameter up to 25 m. Baobabs bear fruit with edible fruits called “monkey bread”. They look like cucumbers and have a sweetish pulp, for which monkeys fell in love with them.
- Tour operators rate South Africa as one of the most promising countries in terms of tourism development. The explanation for this lies in the variety of ancient sights and the rarest natural locations: the oldest rocks in the light of Barberton in the province of Mpumalanga have existed here for over 3 billion years.
- The South African Cango caves are ranked among the most beautiful in the whole world.. They stretched for a length of over 4 km.
- Table Mountain is on the list of the oldest peaks in the world.. Its "growth" reaches 1087 m above the sea line.
- In South Africa, there is the "cradle of mankind" - the oldest burial of aborigines from those known to archaeologists.
- South Africa hosted the 2010 FIFA World Cup, and at the same time acquired the title of the country in which competitions of this magnitude were held. But rugby and cricket are recognized as the most popular sports here.
- Tugela waterfall descends in South Africa. Its “height” is 850 m (according to other reference books, the height is indicated both at 947.8 m and at 933 m). This is the second indicator on the planet among representatives of this natural phenomenon. Ahead of him is Angel - a waterfall in Venezuela, "growing" to 979 m.
- The Republic of South Africa, having many natural options, on which numerous thermal power plants operate, receives the cheapest electricity in the world. At the same time, it generates it in an amount equal to 2/3 of all electricity produced on the African continent.
Country Description
Republic of South Africa (SAR), a state in southern Africa. On May 31, 1910, the Union of South Africa was created, which included the self-governing British colonies (Cape, Natal) and the Boer republics (the Orange Free State and the Transvaal). On May 31, 1961, the country was proclaimed a republic, and on April 27, 1994, democracy triumphed in South Africa.
South Africa is divided into 9 provinces:
- Western Cape (Cape Town, the legendary Cape of Good Hope, wine routes, Garden Route)
- Eastern Cape 
- KwaZulu Natal (a resort area with a conditional capital in Durban - favorite place recreation of the inhabitants of South Africa with the beaches of the warm Indian Ocean, the famous Dragon Mountains, the birthplace of the most warlike tribe - the Zulus)
- Houteng (the most significant and smallest province with the cities of Johannesburg and Pretoria)
- Northwest (the magnificent Sun City, the area is the main supplier of diamonds, gold and platinum)
- Mpumalanga (famous Kruger Park)
- Limpopo (former Northern Province, the main protected areas of the Southern part of the country)
- Northern Cape (the largest in terms of territory with the "diamond capital" Kimberley, the Kalahari Desert, the Orange River, the Augrabis waterfalls)
- Free State
GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION, NATURE
One of richest countries world, occupying the southernmost part of the African continent. South Africa has become today one of the most attractive places for recreation and travel. The total area of the country is 1,220,430 sq. km. In the north, South Africa borders Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe and Mozambique; within the country are small independent states- Swaziland and Lesotho. South Africa is washed by the waters of two oceans: the Indian in the east and the Atlantic in the west.
What is it that irresistibly attracts tourists to South Africa? Nature first. National parks and private reserves, where in natural conditions you can observe wild animals up close and, most importantly, the famous "big five" - elephant, lion, rhinoceros, buffalo, and leopard. By the way, it was believed that elephants, rhinos and hippos in South Africa disappeared in the middle of the last century. Today, in the largest national park in the world - Kruger Park, special events are held to resettle, and sometimes even shoot, elephants in order to regulate their numbers.
CAPITAL, MAJOR CITIES
The capital is Pretoria. Cape Town (2 million people), Johannesburg (1.8 million people), Durban (1 million people), Port Elizabeth (400 thousand people), Germiston (200 thousand people), Bloemfontein (180 thousand people).
WEATHER AND CLIMATE
In South Africa, about 20 climatic zones. To the north is the savannah east coast- the subtropical zone, in the south, around Cape Town - the real Mediterranean. In general, South Africa has a dry climate. Since the country is located in southern hemisphere, the seasons are opposite to the seasons of the northern hemisphere (summer - from November to March). The best time to visit South Africa is from October to April. In general, South Africa has a favorable climate, the air temperature does not fall below 20 °C. In summer (European winter - from October to April), the air temperature in Johannesburg is 27 ° C, in Cape Town 28 ° C, in Durban 29 ° C, the water temperature in the Atlantic and Indian Oceans 24-26 °С.
POPULATION
43 million people. The Niger-Congo group (Zulu, Xhosa, Tswana, Pedi, Suto, Tsongo, Swazi, etc.) - 72%, Afrikaners (white descendants of the Dutch) - 9.5%, mestizos - 9%, Indians - 3%.
11 languages are declared official in New South Africa, which are spoken by the ethnically diverse population of South Africa. However, the vast majority of South Africans understand English. If you have knowledge of English, this is quite enough for normal communication.
Despite the motley composition of the population, South Africa is predominantly Christian country with the predominant influence of the Protestant, Dutch Reformed and Anglican churches. Christians - 60%, pagans - 25%, Muslims - 10%, Hindus - 5%.
HOLIDAYS AND WEEKENDS
New Year- 1st of January
Human Rights Day - March 21
Good Friday - Friday before Easter
Family Day - the day after Easter
Freedom Day - April 27
Workers' Day - May 1
Youth Day - June 16
National Women's Day - August 19
Heritage Day - September 24
Day of Reconciliation - December 16
Christmas (Christmas Day) - December 25
Day of Goodwill - December 26th.
South African cuisine is an invaluable treasure trove. The colorful palette of ethnic restaurants in the country matches its cultural diversity. In many homes, braaivleis (traditional meat dishes) is a mixture of elements of traditional African, Malaysian, Indian and Old Boer cuisine. In anticipation of kebabs and homemade sausages, pap (thick cornmeal porridge) and shebu (vegetable liquid seasoning), binyani (spiced pot marinated chicken), you can indulge in biltong (cured meat) and chillibites (kebab).
TRANSPORT
The main mode of transport in South Africa is the private car. Double-decker buses on the main city routes are rare. When using a taxi, you must make an order through the hotel or a representative of the travel company that hosts you. "Catching" a taxi right on the street is not safe. Voting in cities and on the road is not accepted.
Coincides with Kyiv.
The official currency in South Africa is the rand. It is issued in the form of banknotes in denominations of 10, 20, 50, 100 and 200 rand. In any of the banks in South Africa, upon presentation of a passport, you will freely exchange the required amount of currency. Information about the rate of the rand in relation to any of the hard currencies of the world is given in any of the local banks. Currency exchange is best done not in a hotel, where the rand is always undervalued, but in a bank.
VISA AND CUSTOMS CONTROL
Customs regulations in South Africa are distinguished by liberalism and do not create problems for tourists. The strict ban applies only to the import of weapons and drugs. The currency imported into the country is not declared. Persons with a foreign passport have the right to take out of the country any number of legally purchased goods. At the same time, it should be borne in mind that by presenting special checks (tax invoice) at the customs, which, at your request, will be issued by the store where the goods were purchased. You will be refunded 14% of the cost of this product, the so-called BAT. However, if you want to take with you the skins and stuffed animals of wild animals, as well as products made from them, as a souvenir of South Africa, you need to present the license obtained when purchasing them at customs. Ivory is forbidden to be exported in any form.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
The tourism industry of South Africa arose and until the mid-80s developed exclusively for the internal needs of the white population, which focused it mainly on elite clients. This trend continues to this day, so the bulk of tourists coming from Europe, America, Asia are rich and very rich people. Tourists are attracted by the luxury of hotels and resorts, impeccable, unparalleled service in the world, excellent cuisine, famous wines and, of course, hunting.
In South Africa, two miracles coexist: geographical - the Cape of Good Hope, rightfully called the edge of the Earth and man-made - the fabulous city of Sun City, a grandiose entertainment complex, whose amazing architecture leaves no one indifferent. Here is the best PALACE hotel in the world, here is one of the best casinos in the world. In Sun City you can do anything famous view sports - even skiing.
Personal safety. In cities like Johannesburg and Cape Town, lesser degree Pretoria and Durban, walking in the center in the evening is not recommended. In the fashionable area of Sandton in Johannesburg, you can walk freely even in the evening. However, we recommend that you keep cash and documents in a safe, the keys to which will be given to you by the receptionist at the hotel at your request.
Tips. In cafes and restaurants, a porter in a hotel, it is customary to give a tip to a porter. So, for example, in cafes and restaurants it is supposed to tip 10% of the order value. Tipping is also customary for gamekeepers who accompany you on safari. The amount should be discussed with your guide before leaving for the Game Lodge, if you are traveling with an escort, you can discuss it right on the spot. Thanks to the guides working with you in the form of a tip - completely at your discretion.
Clothing. When visiting the National Parks and for relaxing on the ocean, you need to take light, comfortable clothing on the road. For an evening visit to a restaurant, you should have smart, but not chic clothes, which are familiar to you on such occasions. Be sure to have a woolen sweater with you for evening walks or safari, and when traveling to Cape Town, a light but windproof jacket due to the strong winds that often blow there.
Interesting facts about Yuzhno African Republic
About nature and history:
1. South Africa has the most old footprint from a meteorite on earth, it runs across the Vaal River and is called the Vredefort dome. A meteor crashed into the Earth almost two billion years ago (the entire Earth is said to be 4.5 billion years old).
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 directions, NASA scientists often come here to study them and find some evidence of their possible origin from other distant planets.
3. Tugela Falls - the second highest waterfall in the world, the water in it falls from a height of 850 meters. The first place is occupied by the Angel Falls in Venezuela, the height is 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. grand canyon in the USA is the largest, and Fish River Canyon in Namibia is the second largest, but both are dry.
6. South African fields on one square kilometer have 30 plant varieties, more than the biodiversity of rainforests.
7. Can mountains be rolled up? Yes, they can, and you can see such wonders in Cape Town in the Swartberg Mountains.
8. South Africa and its neighbors are the sunniest places in the world. the globe, more than half of solar energy of the whole land per 1 sq. 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 found in South Africa are fossilized remains of a fossilized shark about 280 million years old.
10. South Africa is home to the world famous baobab plants.
11. According to recent studies, 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, though long extinct.
12. Lake Fundudzi at Venda - perhaps the only lake in the world with fresh water, formed by the landslide.
13. The only street in the world named after two laureates at once nobel prize the world is located in Soweto. Nelson Mandela and Archbishop Desmond Tatu both have buildings on this street.
14. In the entire history of mankind, 165,000 tons of gold have been mined (as of the end of 2009), and half of this amount is in South Africa.
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 worldwide.
4. South Africa is the only country in the world where you can order a dish called monkey steak without the risk of real internal 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 retinal repair, which was first tried on 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 whose taps are immediately drinkable, South Africa is one of these countries. The quality of tap water in the country ranks third in the world.
2. South Africa and Zimbabwe removed the fences between their countries to connect the territories together national parks with total area 35,000 m2, after which the reserve became the largest in the world. In terms of territory, it is larger than Switzerland, Belgium or Taiwan.
3. South Africa is the number one country in the world in terms of diversity and number of flowering trees.
4. South Africa has the third most high level biodiversity in the world.
1. The population of South Africa is about 50 million people.
2. Whites - only about 5 million, while they occupy almost all leadership positions in the country.
3. South Africa has 11 officially registered languages (and countless dialects).
4. The two most popular languages in South Africa are English and African.
5. African is a mixture of German and Dutch.
6. The African language is very similar to Flemish. Flemish is spoken by the inhabitants of the northern part of Belgium. These two languages are 90 percent similar.
7. Many people think that the capital of South Africa is Johannesburg or Cape Town. The capital of South Africa is Pretoria. This city is located about 150 km from Johannesburg and is the third most populated in South Africa (after the two mentioned above).
8. The largest city is Johannesburg. About 11 million people live there.
9. The most dangerous area of Johannesburg is Alexandria. None of the South Africans dare to appear there ... even during the day. It is noteworthy that it is located near the business center of the city.
10. Roads in South Africa are in perfect condition.
11. The police on the road can be seen extremely rarely.
12. Giving a bribe to the police is unrealistic.
13. 99.9% of South Africans have a driver's license.
14. Most African Americans in South Africa bought these rights "on the black market."
15. Getting a driver's license in South Africa is easy - it costs about 400 rand (about $60). But at the same time every 5 years you pass recertification. It's free.
16. South African currency - rand. 7 rand = 1 US dollar.
17. Cigarettes in South Africa are quite expensive. They cost about the standards of Europe. For a pack of Marlboro you will give about 40-45 rand.
18. South Africa has a huge amount of spices - for every taste.
19. Vodka in South Africa is expensive and tastes terrible.
20. National moonshine in South Africa is called mampur. However, most South Africans do not use it. Its strength is about 75 degrees.
21. South Africans love meat. They eat it for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
22. They call dry meat “biltong”. Very delicious.
23. In South Africa, there is the largest trace of a meteorite on Earth - Vredefort. This meteorite crashed into our planet 2 billion years ago.
24. People in South Africa love spicy food.
25. Drivers in South Africa are very polite - they never break the rules. Even if he is alone on the road, he will never run a red light and will always stop in front of a stop sign.
26. There are a lot of names in South Africa that are similar to Slavic ones. There are such names as Andrei, Lida, Yuri, Anna, Katya, Nadia.
27. The African language also has several words similar to Ukrainian. Pharmacy - pharmacies, paper - paper (identical to Ukrainian).
28. A person who is not very smart is called a "baboon" in South Africa. From the name of the monkey "baboon".
29. South Africa is the first country in the world to produce gasoline from coal!
30. 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.
31. In addition to coal, South Africa is also rich in gold and diamonds. Diamond mines are among the deepest in the world. Some reach 6 kilometers in depth.
32. Gasoline in South Africa is quite cheap - a dollar per liter.
33. The salary, for example, of a labor protection engineer is about 3,500 US dollars.
34. Loans for housing there are very profitable - about 4-5 percent.
35. A house (2-story) by the ocean in South Africa can be bought for $100,000 (not in a major city).
36. South Africa is home to countless nationalities - from Indians to Europeans and Chinese.
37. Despite the fact that South Africa is African country- the water in the taps of the country is considered the third in the world in terms of purity and is immediately suitable for food.
38. The "cradle of mankind" is located in South Africa - the oldest burial place of ancient people from all known to modern archaeologists.
39. The climate in South Africa is quite favorable. For them, minus 5–10 is abnormal cold. Their summer is from December to February. Winter is from June to August.
40. There are a lot of national parks in South Africa that you can easily get into and organize a safari for yourself.
41. The Big Five in Africa are elephant, rhinoceros, lion, jaguar and buffalo.
42. It's hard to believe, but more people have been killed in history than lions, jaguars and crocodiles combined - hippos! These cute and calm at first glance animals are extremely aggressive!
43. The most honorable trophy for a hunter in South Africa is a lion.
44. The most dangerous animal for hunting is the buffalo. He is hunted by either real professionals.
46. Fish cuisine in South Africa is very rich and varied. Not surprisingly, South Africa is surrounded by ocean on 3 sides.
47. The most popular sports in South Africa are rugby and cricket.
48. The nickname of the rugby players of the national team of South Africa is springboks. Springbok is the smallest antelope in South Africa (about the size of an average sheepdog), but very fast and agile.
49. Football (or soccer) in South Africa is also quite popular.
50. South Africans are very nice and open people. Their mentality is very similar to the Slavic one. They are one of the few nations who laugh heartily at our anecdotes and jokes.
