Roughly the size of Spain and France combined, South Africa is situated at the very southern tip of Africa. The Atlantic and the Indian Oceans wash its shores and meet at Cape Agulhas – one of the only places in the world where you can watch two oceans meet. South Africa may be at the bottom of Africa, but it’s widely regarded as being top in terms of its superb infrastructure, its legendary sunny climate, and its incredible geographic diversity – expect superb beaches, dramatic mountain ranges, sophisticated cities, quaint villages, historic battlefields, oceans, valleys, bushveld teeming with game, hundreds of species of birds, great and small semi-deserts. To get some more, let us know some interesting facts about this Rainbow Nation, South Africa:
image: cashkows.com
1. “Cape Of Good Hope”
The first Europeans were the Portuguese to reach South Africa who named the end of the country as “Cape of Good Hope” in the year 1488.
source: wikitravel.org
2. The only Country To…
South Africa is the only country in the World to have hosted the Soccer, Cricket and Rugby World Cup.
source: 1stcontact.com, image: cdn3-i.hitc-s.com
3. Highest Number Of Official Languages
South Africa is known to have 11 official languages of its own. This fact is among the highest number of any country in the world. Languages are Afrikaans, Northern Sotho, English, Southern Ndebele, Southern Sotho, Swazi, Tsonga, Tswana, Venda, Xhosa, and Zulu.
source: Wikipedia
4. “The Rainbow Nation”
The country is often termed as the “Rainbow Nation” to explain its developing multicultural diversity in the wake of segregationist apartheid ideology. Rainbow nation is a term coined by Archbishop Desmond Tutu to describe post-apartheid South Africa.
source: Wikipedia, image: catracalivre.com.br
5. What About Beer?
South Africa is the country that has the largest brewing company in the world. SABMiller brewery ranks the highest in the world.
source: 1stcontact.com, image: bebidaslatam.com
6. Coal To Oil Technology
South Africa became the first country to develop coal to oil technology. It has large coal reserves where the production process takes place. It is also a leading exporter of oil in the world.
source: answersafrica.com
7. Breathtaking Palace Of The Lost City Hotel
It is the biggest theme resort hotel in the entire world. Apart from this, the building of this Hotel is the largest project undertaken in the Southern hemisphere of the world.
source: viralbru.com, image: tablethotels.com
8. Fly In The Air!
South Africa has the highest Bungee jumping in the world reaching up to 216 meters. It is known as Bloukrans Bridge Bungee.
source: viralbru.com, image: downhilladventures.com
9. Moving Away A Little More Each Year
Every year, South Africa is moving around two inches far from South America. This shifting is regarded as a subtle continuation of continental drift.
source: buzzsouthafrica.com
10. Visit The Iconic Table Mountain
South Africa is home to one of the oldest mountains in the world; the iconic Table Mountain. The mountain is a prominent natural beauty standing tall in the heart of the country.
source: expatica.com, image: i.ytimg.com
11. Witness The Longest Wine Route
In South Africa, an 850km road through Cape Wine lands is world’s longest wine route.
source: expatica.com, image: tourguy365.com
12. Rich In Platinum Reserves
South Africa is the largest producer of platinum in the world. In the year 2014, the country produced 110,000kg which was more than four times the amount of the next biggest producer, Russia.
source: expatica.com
13. The Only Country To Have Three Capitals
South Africa has three capital cities, Cape Town, Bloemfontein and Pretoria in which Pretoria is the Administrative and Executive Capital, Cape Town is the Legislative Capital, and Bloemfontein is the Judicial Capital of the country.
source: sciencekids.co.nz
14. Do You Want to Run The Right Hand Mercedes Cars?
South Africa is the only place in the world where Mercedes-Benz manufactures right-hand drive cars.
source: traveller24.news24.com, image: automotivemanufacturingsolutions.com, image: roa.h-cdn.co
15. Fossils Of Early Dinosaurs
The Karoo region in the country is home to some of the best fossils of early dinosaurs. It is estimated that about 80% of mammal fossils are found in the Karoo region.
source: 1stcontact.com, image: dinosaur-island.com
16. Nobel Prize Winners On The Same Street!
This country is the only one in the world to have two famous Nobel Prize winners in the same street. We are talking about Nelson Mandela and Archbishop Tutu, who lived in the same street of Soweto.
source: answersafrica.com, image: cp91279.biography.com
17. Enjoy The Most Luxurious Train!
South Africa has the world’s most luxurious train, the Rovos Rail. Experience the best royal feeling by taking a ride in it.
source: traveller24.news24.com, image: irtsociety.com, image: safariguideafrica.com
18. The Swimming Pool Vacuum Cleaner
The swimming pool vacuum cleaner is a South African invention. It was invented by the hydraulic engineer Ferdinand Chauvier in the year 1974.
source: expatica.com, image: intexcorp.com
19. Record Breaking Fauna
The largest land mammal (elephant), the largest bird (ostrich), the tallest animal (giraffe), the largest fish (whale shark), the largest reptile (leatherback turtle), the fastest land mammal (cheetah) and the largest antelope (eland) are found here in South Africa.
source: expatica.com, image: nmfs.noaa.gov, image: awf.org, image: dinoanimals.com
More from OhFact!
11 Interesting Facts About Katherine Heigl
16 Interesting Facts About The Moon
25 Interesting Facts About Mumbai
19 Interesting Facts About Korean Language
27 Amazing Facts About Tokyo Tower
17 Interesting Facts About White House
16 Interesting Facts About Mont Blanc
8 Interesting Facts About Victoria Falls
