FACTS ABOUT SOUTH AFRICA

AMAZING FACTS ABOUT SOUTH AFRICA

1.                 South Africa is the largest meat producer in Africa.

2.                 Table Mountain is one of the oldest mountains on the planet.

3.                 South Africa is the only country in the world where right hand drive cars are produced by Mercedes Benz.

4.                 The variety of flower species found on Table Mountain number more than those found in the entire United Kingdom.

5.                 Rovos Rail is the most lavish train in the world.

6.                 South Africa’s lion, wildebeest, cheetah and springbok, are four of the seven fastest mammals on earth.

7.                 With more than 6 million trees in Johannesburg, it is believed to be the site of the largest man-made forest on earth.

8.                 The biggest and oldest one-day marathon in the world, the Comrades Marathon, is run between Durban and Pietermaritzburg, in Kwazulu Natal.

9.                 Two thirds of Africa’s electricity is generated in South Africa.

10.            As much as 80% of Africa’s rail infrastructure is found in South Africa.

11.            Most of the world’s macadamia nuts come from South Africa.

12.            South Africa is three times bigger than Texas, and five times bigger than Japan.

13.            The world’s largest bird, the ostrich, is found here.

  

14.            The African elephant is the largest land mammal in the world. The African bush elephants can weigh up to 11 tons and live up to 70 years!

15.            South Africa is home to the tallest animal in the world, the giraffe.

16.            The Least Dwarf Shrew, the smallest mammal in the world, lives in South Africa.

17.            The world’s largest reptile, the Leatherback Turtle, is found in South African waters.

18.            No less than eight of the world’s heritage sites are found here.

19.            South Africa is home to the largest antelope in the world, the Eland.

20.            The whale shark is found in the ocean waters of South Africa.

21.            South Africa is home to the world’s heaviest flying bird, the Khori Bustard.

22.            About 1/5 of the world’s gold comes from mines in South Africa.

23.            About 900 different types of birds are in South Africa, which is about 10% of the total bird species on earth.

24.            The kingdom of Lesotho is completely surrounded by South Africa.

25.            South Africa has wetlands, deserts, bush, grasslands, mountains, escarpments, and subtropical forests.

26.            South Africa’s tap water is considered to be the third best and safest water in the world that is ready to drink.

27.            No other country in the world abandoned its nuclear arms program voluntarily like South Africa did.

28.            The oldest human remains, more than 160,000 years old, were discovered in South Africa.

29.            South Africa is the only country in the world to have played host to the rugby, soccer, and cricket World Cups.

30.            Table Mountain is considered to be one of 12 main energy centers on the planet emitting spiritual, magnetic, and electric energies.

31.            With 11 official languages, South Africa has the most in the world.

32.            The Western Deep Level mines, at almost 4 km, are the deepest in the world.

33.            One in five adults in South Africa attends a gym or health club at least once a month.

34.            Two Nobel Prize winners, namely Nelson Mandela and Archbishop Desmond Tutu, both lived on Vilakazi Street in Soweto.

35.            Some of the oldest and most diverse dinosaur fossils were discovered here.

36.            South Africa is the second largest producer of fruit on the planet.

37.            It is the first country in the world to succeed in turning coal into oil.

38.            The South African Professor Chris Barnard performed the world’s first heart transplant.

39.            Palace of the Lost City, one of the largest themed hotels in the world, is found in South Africa.

40.            The Tugela Falls are the second-highest in the world.

41.            The South African rand (ZAR) is the official currency of South Africa.

42.            South Africa Imports: machinery and equipment, chemicals, petroleum products, scientific instruments, foodstuffs

43.            South Africa Exports: gold, diamonds, platinum, other metals and minerals, machinery and equipment.

44.            The internet country code for South Africa is .za.

45.            South Africa shares a border with Botswana, Mozambique, Namibia, Swaziland, and Zimbabwe.

46.            The total population of South Africa is 54,300,704.