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| Interesting Facts About South Africa |
South Africa Facts. South Africa is the southernmost African country in Africa. It is limited toward the south by 2,798 kilometers of coastline of Southern Africa extending along the South Atlantic and Indian Oceans toward the north by the neighboring nations of Namibia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, and toward the east and upper east by Mozambique and Eswatini (Swaziland) and it encompasses the enclaved nation of Lesotho. South Africa is the biggest country in Southern Africa. It is the southernmost nation on the territory of the Old World or the Eastern Hemisphere. Around 80 percent of South Africans are of Bantu ancestry, separated among an assortment of ethnic gatherings communicating in various African dialects, The rest of the populace comprises of Africa's biggest communities of European, Asian (mostly Indian) and others. If you searching for amazing South Africa facts? You have come to the right place. Check out the following interesting facts about South Africa.
Interesting Facts About South Africa
1. South Africa officially called the Republic of South Africa (RSA).
2. South Africa has three capital cities, namely the Executive Capital of Pretoria, the Judicial Capital of Bloemfontein, and the Legislative Capital of Cape Town.
3. The government system of South Africa is a Unitary dominant-party parliamentary constitutional republic.
4. South Africa has 11 official languages, most official languages countries in the world.
5. When it all started way back in 1913, three years after gaining its independence, the notorious Land Act was passed in South Africa before apartheid, forcing black South Africans to live only in certain areas.
6. South Africa is the 24th largest country by land area in the world.
7. Johannesburg is the largest city in South Africa and the second-largest city in Africa, after Lagos city in Nigeria. Johannesburg city was founded in 1886.
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| Johannesburg is the largest city in South Africa |
8. South Africa is the world's 24th most populous country, with over 58 million people.
9. Nelson Mandela was the first black president elected in South Africa.
10. South Africa is the only African nation that’s a member of the G20.
11. Gauteng is the smallest province of South Africa but produces 34% of country GDP.
12. South Africa is the longest continuous wine route on the earth.
13. The variety of bloom species found on Table Mountain number more than those found in the whole United Kingdom.
14. Racial segregation was first implemented under the Dutch Empire. It continued through British rule until it was finally abolished in 1991.
15. Around 80% of South Africans practice Christianity.
16. The world's largest man-made forest with more than 6 million trees in Johannesburg, South Africa.
17. In South Africa, Durban is the world's 9th and the African largest port.
South Africa has one of the highest rates of HIV in the world, with nearly 1 in 5 carrying the virus.
18. Around 1/5 of the world’s gold comes from mines in South Africa.
19. 80% of Africa’s railway infrastructure is found in South Africa.
20. No other nation in the world abandoned its nuclear arms program voluntarily like South Africa did.
21. South Africa’s tap water is considered to be the third-best and safest water in the world that is ready to drink.
22. The oldest human remains were discovered in South Africa, more than 160,000 years old.
23. Apartheid is made a law of the country with apartheid becoming a law around 1950, marriage and sexual acts between whites and people of other races were banned by the government. People were classified by color, and pass laws were brought into being, requiring people other than whites, to carry documents giving them permission to be in restricted areas.
24. Cape Town Victoria & Alfred Waterfront is the most visited destination in South Africa.
25. South Africa is the first country on the earth to succeed in turning coal into oil.
26. SABMiller is a brewery that supplies much of the alcohol consumed in Africa, and it is the second-largest brewery in the world.
27. According to the UK’s National Physical Laboratory, the fifth in line for having the best blue sky on earth is Cape Town, South Africa.
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| The best blue sky on earth is Cape Town |
Amazing Facts About South Africa
28. Table Mountain is one of the oldest mountains on the earth located in South Africa.
29. South Africa is the only right-hand drive car producer country in the world and produced by Mercedes Benz.
30. The Baobab is the world's largest tree is found in South Africa.
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| The Baobab is the world's largest tree |
31. South Africa has wetlands, bush, deserts, grasslands, escarpments, mountains and subtropical forests.
32. The Bloukrans Bridge is the highest bridge for bungee jumping in the world.
33. Two-thirds of Africa’s electricity is generated in South Africa.
34. Rovos Rail in South Africa is the world's most lavish train.
35. South Africa has over 11 million visitors annually.
36. The Palace of the Lost City is one of the largest themed hotels in the world. It is surrounded by a 25-hectare man-made jungle.
38. The Tugela Falls in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa is the second highest in the world.
39. It has been estimated that there are about 3,000 shipwrecks off the coast of South Africa. They are all protected by South African laws.
40. There are only 6 floral kingdoms in the world, South Africa is home to one of them, namely Fynbos.
41. South Africa was only one of two other nations outside of the United States, where the Hummer was manufactured by General Motors.
42. One out of five grown-ups in South Africa goes to an exercise center or gym at any rate once per month.
43. Table Mountain is considered to be one of 12 main energy centers on the planet emitting spiritual, electric, and magnetic energies.
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| Table Mountain is one of the oldest mountains in the world |
Facts About South Africa History
44. Most diverse and some of the oldest dinosaur fossils were discovered in South Africa.
45. South Africa's oldest building name is the Castle of Good Hope in Cape Town. It was built by the Dutch East India Company, between the years 1666 to 1679.
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| The Castle of Good Hope in Cape Town |
46. Two Nobel prize winners, namely Nelson Mandela and Archbishop Desmond Tutu, both lived on Vilakazi Street in Soweto.
47. South African soldiers fought in WWI and WWII.
48. Many human remains, tools, and artifacts from more than 100,000 years ago were found in South Africa, earning it the name of “The Cradle of Humankind”.
49. South African professor Chris Barnard performed the world’s first heart transplant.
50. South Africa has nine UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including Robben Island, Cape Floristic Region, and Drakensberg Park.
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| UNESCO World Heritage Sites, Robben Island |
Animal Facts About South Africa
51. About 900 different types of birds are found in South Africa, which is around 10% of the total bird species on the planet.
52. Four of the seven fastest mammals on earth are lion, wildebeest, cheetah, and springbok founded in South Africa.
53. Leatherback Turtle is the world’s largest reptile, found in South African waters.
54. The world’s biggest bird "Ostrich" is found in South Africa.
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| Ostrich, the world's biggest bird |
56. The African elephant is the biggest land mammal in the earth and weigh up to 11 tons and live up to 70 years. South Africa is one of the African nations there found this giant.
57. The world’s heaviest flying bird, the Kori Bustard home in South Africa.
South African Food Facts
58. African largest meat producer country name is South Africa.
59. Wines have been produced here since 1659, South Africa is one of the biggest wine producers countries in the world.
60. Naturally caffeine-free tea "Rooibos/Redbush" is only found in the Cederberg, Western Cape.
61. South Africa is the second-largest producer of fruit in the world.
62. The world’s most macadamia nuts come from South Africa.
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| Macadamia nuts |
South African Culture Facts
64. Around 75,00 years oldest cave paintings have been discovered in South Africa.
65. Mothers, older sisters, and grandmothers, are traditionally responsible for infant care in the colored and black communities.
66. The famous American musician, Dave Matthews was born in Johannesburg in 1967.
South African Sports Facts
68. South Africa was the first African nation to host the FIFA World Cup in 2010.
69. South Africa is the only country in the world to have played host to football, rugby, and cricket World Cups.
70. The largest and oldest one-day marathon in the world, the Comrades Marathon, is run between Durban and Pietermaritzburg, in Kwazulu Natal.
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