South Africa at a glance.
President - Jacob Zuma 2009
Total area - 1219912 sq km
Population - 49109107
Administrative capital - Pretoria
Legislative capital - Cape Town
Judicial Capital - Bloemfontein.
Large cities:
Cape Town - 3140600
Johannesburg - 1675200
Pretoria - 1541300
Durban - 2396100
Bloemfontein - 3780000
South Africa is divided into nine provinces:
Gauteng, Northern Province, Mpumalanga, North West, Kwa Zulu Natal, Eastern Cape, Western Cape, Northern Cape, Free State.
Interesting Facts about South Africa.
- South Africa is the cradle of mankind.
- The Tugela falls is the second highest waterfall in the world at 850 metres, the Angel falls in Venezuela is the highest at 979 metres.
- Vilakazi street in Soweto, South Africa is the only street in the world to house two Nobel Peace Prize winners, Nelson Mandela and Archbishop Desmond Tutu.
- Only South African wines are served at the 73 acre Walt Disney Animal Kingdom Lodge.
- South Africa has the longest wine route in the world, The R62 in the Cape.
- The first heart transplant was done by South African Dr Chris Barnard.
- Only 12 countries in the world produce tap water fit to drink and South Africa has the third best quality.
- South Africa's Floral Kingdom is ranked No.1 in the world.
- South African's invented the breakwater dolosse and the automatic pool cleaner.
- Gauteng has the most advanced infrastructure in Africa.
- South Africa is the top ranked gold producer in the world.
- The Vredefort Dome is the worlds largest meteor scar, which plummeted to the earth two billion years ago. This area was declared a world heritage site.
- South Africa has 11 official languages.
- The rocks around Barbeton in Mpumalanga are some of the most ancient in the world at over three billion years old.
- A 280 million year old fossilized shark was found in the Karoo region of South Africa.
- Graca Michel who is married to Nelson Mandela was the first person to be married to heads of state of two different countries - she was formerly married to Samora Michel of Mozambique.
- There are about 280 000 windmills in South Africa, second only to Australia.
- South Africa is the only country in the world to have hosted the Fifa Soccer World Cup, The Rugby World Cup and the Cricket World Cup.
- The Comrades marathon is the largest marathon, the Midmar Mile the largest open water swimming event and the Cape Argus the largest timed cycle race, in the world.
- The worlds largest diamond was found in Cullinan in 1905 and weighed 3106.75 carats uncut.
- South Africa is the only country in the world where you can order 'monkey gland' steak at a restaurant. It was invented decades ago by overseas chefs as a pointed insult, aimed at the citizens of Johannesburg who poured Worcestershire and tomato sauce over their meat.
- South Africa has the cheapest electricity in the world.
- There are more than 2000 shipwrecks dating back 500 years off the South African coast.
- South Africa is 5 times the size of Japan and 3 times the size of Texas.
- South African Brewery, SAB Miller ranks by volume as the 2nd largest brewing company worldwide.
- Rovos Rail is considered the most luxurious train in the world.
- South Africa is the second largest exporter of fruit in the world.
- Chris Hani-Baragwanath Hospital in Soweto is the largest hospital in the world.
- Durban is the largest port in Africa and the 9th largest in the world.
- The best place in the world to watch whales from the land is Hermanus in the Western Cape.
- Sutherland in the Karoo houses one of three of the largest telescopes in the world.
- Kruger National Park supports the greatest variety of wildlife species on the African continent.
More interesting facts to follow.....
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