This was emailed to me but it seems to come from southafrica.net.
There are many surprising and unknown things about South Africa. Facts about the country that are often overlooked or simply not known. Here are some of the little known SA facts.
Strange Nature and history
- South Africa has the oldest meteor scar in the world, just across the Vaal River near Parys, called the Vredefort Dome. The meteor plummeted to Earth nearly two billion years ago (Earth is said to be 4,5 billion years old), predating the heady days of oxygen and multi-celled life.
- The rocks around Barberton in Mpumalanga are some of the most ancient in the world – over three billion years old. Because they are also the most accessible such formations, NASA scientists come here to gain an idea of how life might form on distant planets.
- The Tugela Falls is the second highest waterfall in the world, where the water tumbles down 850 metres. First place goes to the Angel Falls in Venezuela at 979 metres.
- There are 18 000 indigenous vascular plant species in South Africa of which 80% are uniquely South African.
- Blyde River Canyon is the third largest canyon in the world – and the largest green one. The Grand Canyon in the US is the biggest, and the Fish River Canyon in Namibia the second, but both are dry as bones.
- South African grasslands have 30 species per square kilometre, greater than the biodiversity of rainforests.
- Can mountains be folded? Yes they can, and you can see such wonders in the Western Cape at the Cederberg and the Swartberg mountains.
- South Africa and its neighbours are some of the most generously endowed geographic solar hotspots in the world, soaking up just over half of the world’s highest category of solar wattage per square metre of land.
- Therapsids are the true ancestors of mammals, and lived over 200 million years ago, long before the upstart dinosaurs of the Jurassic Age (which ended abruptly 65 million years ago). Most of the world’s proto-mammalian fossils are found in the Karoo – along with a 280 million year old fossilized shark.
- According to recent studies, the star-watching town of Sutherland in the Northern Cape is one of the most geologically stable places on Earth, yet it has a 66-million year old volcano, not yet officially extinct.
- Kimberley may have the biggest man-made hole in the world, but did you know that the southern Free State town of Jagersfontein has the deepest vertical man-made hole (and that a pair of Verreaux’s Eagles breed in it?
- South Africa is home to the world’s smallest succulent plants (less than 10 mm) and the largest (the baobab).
- Lake Fundudzi in Venda is possibly the world’s only inland freshwater lake formed by a landslide.
- The only street in the world to house two Nobel Peace prize winners is in Soweto. Nelson Mandela and Archbishop Desmond Tutu both have houses in Vilakazi Street in Soweto.
Food and Wine
- Walt Disney serves South African wine exclusively at its 73-acre Animal Kingdom Lodge in the United States.
- South Africa has the longest wine route in the world, the R62 wine route
- South Africa is the world’s largest producer of macadamia nuts and the nuts and oils are exported to countries across the world.
- South Africa is the only country in the world where you can order something called monkey gland steak at a restaurant without the risk of a real internal organ being placed before you. It was invented many decades ago by overseas chefs as a pointed insult, aimed at the brash inhabitants of Johannesburg who poured Worcestershire and tomato sauce over everything.
- No other country eats as much kingklip as South Africans do (also known as Congrio, Ling and Rockling in other parts of the southern hemisphere).
Medicine and Science
- The world’s first heart transplant was done in South Africa in 1967 by South African Dr Chris Barnard.
- South Africa’s Dr Percy Amolis invented the Retinal Cryoprobe used successfully on former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher to repair a detached retina. He also removed a cataract from Nelson Mandela’s eye that enabled the former president to, for the first time, read a speech without glasses.
- Where else is an entirely new species being recreated from scratch? The quagga vanished in a frenzy of hunting in the 1800s, but after finding that the DNA is almost identical to the common Burchell’s zebra, the species is being brought back from beyond the brink by careful breeding of stripe-challenged zebras.
Water and conservation
- There are only 12 countries in the world that supply tap water that is fit to drink, and South Africa is one of them. Our tap water quality is third best overall in the world.
- South Africa also has the world’s most progressive and admired water legislation, and it is making a real difference on the ground. Since 1998 when the so-called “Blue Revolution” began, four million more poor people have access to clean water.
- South Africa, Zimbabwe and Mozambique are tearing down fences between the countries’ game parks to create a 35 000km2 game park which will become the largest conservation area in the world. It will be bigger than Switzerland, Belgium or Taiwan.
- South Africa is ranked number one in the world for its floral kingdom
- South Africa’s Coastal Management policy is one of the best in the world with the country being the first outside Europe to gain Blue Flag status for its coastal management.
- South Africa has the third highest level of biodiversity in the world
Innovation and Industry
- South Africa is the sole producer of the Mercedes Benz, C Class, right hand drive vehicles
- General Motors South Africa will be the only manufacturing site outside of the United States to build the Hummer H3 vehicle.
- South Africans are natural inventors, giving the world those breakwater dolosse and the automatic pool cleaner.
- We also came up with the first, largest and most viable oil-from-coal refinery (which supplies 40% of our petrol). And did you know that a South African physicist co-developed the CAT-scan, that South Africa makes the seats for Concorde, and also designs and creates flight control technology for Britain’s fighter jets.
Similar Posts:
- SA environment started it all – lets not end it
- My proudly SA opinion
- Negative opinions, rational choices and SA emigrants
- Name, shame and blame SA expats?
- S.A. Wine – Diamonds in the Rough.
Popularity: 28% [?]
July 23rd, 2007 at 6:06 pm
Thanks for pointing out the age of the Barberton rocks. When I was at the Grand Canyon the tour guide pointed out “the oldest exposed rocks in the world”, and didn’t know about the Barberton rocks (and I believe there are some in Canada which are even older).
July 23rd, 2007 at 6:11 pm
Hmmm… Grand Canyon = America = Know-it-alls = Biggest of everything even if it’s not true. Case in point. Thanks for comment, glad you liked the post!!
November 19th, 2007 at 7:35 pm
hi
November 20th, 2007 at 9:45 am
Im actually writing an article on why SA rocks and its fantastic that this site is available its helped so much. I’m chuffed
January 30th, 2008 at 8:42 pm
lots of stuff lol
May 1st, 2008 at 8:25 am
hi umm
i just wanted to say thanks for all of the intersting true facts , it really helped me find the answers that iam look ing for. i hope you well keep going with all the good work?
bye, take care??????
May 1st, 2008 at 7:15 pm
All good. A little out of date but generally true none-the-less. Except the dating of rocks is a little dubious.
March 24th, 2009 at 11:30 pm
This helped ALOT on my class Project and i just happen to stumble across this webbsite
Thanks so much!
May 14th, 2009 at 5:26 am
This website helped me sooooo sooooo much on my class project on South Africa. Thanks for the help!!!
May 14th, 2009 at 11:55 am
Man alive Nic, you really helped the kids with their homework on this article… Maybe you can get sarocks in the school books…
May 14th, 2009 at 12:00 pm
Hehehe – I do try, I think it’s great that people can find value in my blog posts. I can only imagine that this is very helpful for schoolkids, but let’s be honest, Google is the killer assistance tool!
June 3rd, 2009 at 3:53 pm
thanks Nic your website is informative.keep up the good work.
July 8th, 2009 at 3:29 am
I am a expat South African living in California. I was nominated to give a lecture to my daughters YMCA class and stumbled on this website. Thanks for the interesting facts and helping me out. Cheers Stephen
July 12th, 2009 at 3:00 am
Nice, I don’t think I knew any of that stuff. Was most surprised about the 3rd best clean tap drinking water. That’s cool.
There is also the copper canyon in Mexico which is huge. It’s at least 7 times as large as the grand canyon and deeper in parts. Is made up of 6 distinct canyons though.
July 26th, 2009 at 11:32 pm
hmmm it was ok, although i typed in intresting facts and got all this information…i actually fell asleep half way through… HEHEHE only joking. it was great mr Haralambous.
August 10th, 2009 at 10:42 am
Hi Nic,
Every country has interesting statistics.
Every country has good things and bad things. It is a question of balance. It it swings in one direction you need to do something to bring it back. Hence ZA is not in balance.
May 4th, 2010 at 8:36 pm
A few corrections / additions from the first 3 facts!
(1) the Vredefort some is more interesting because A, it is believed to be the site of the greatest energy discharge from a single impact on earth, B, it is believed to be the world’s largest impact crater and ,C, (biggest of all) scientists believe that the impact is what altered Earth’s atmopshere enough to allow multicellular life! Now THAT is something!
(2) The Barberton Greenstone belt is the oldest mountain range on Earth, aged at ca 3 600 000 000. Yes some of the rocks are the oldest on Earth, but it’s more famous as being THE oldest site of such a significant land mass / mountains.
(3) The Blyde River canyon is the largest green canyon, but it’s only the 3rd largest if you use a rather stringest definition of a canyon (usually meaning non mountain range contained etc).
By other definitions the Colca, Copper and the Yarlang Tsangpo Canyons are all larger even than the Grand. BUT interestingly, it’s greatest vertical drop is around 4500 feet (rather than the 800m usually quoted), making it not as far off the Grand’s greatest (6300 feet) as the world may think!
To add one more point (and on a totally biased note, now that I live here) South Africa is also home to the most beautiful city on earth! Cape Town is the most beautiful country in the world as far as I am concerned!
Great site!
May 4th, 2010 at 8:38 pm
sorry – meant Cape Town is the most beautiful city in the world, in the most beautiful country in the world, as far as I am concerned!
May 15th, 2010 at 8:22 pm
Amazing weblog, keep myself through looking it, I will be truly serious to know another recommendation of it.
June 20th, 2010 at 7:49 am
It is really interesting.
July 9th, 2010 at 6:59 am
This helped a lot on my travel advertising project.
The website is is informative.
Thanks
September 21st, 2010 at 7:32 pm
I figured out it can be an long-lasting publish, nevertheless I suppose that I have to be grateful because of suchlike suggestion you give me.
I have being focus on 100% the self-same belief.
I marked this summary covering all my shared web where I have accounts.
With honest admiration,
Laura
September 30th, 2010 at 6:07 am
useful web page My goal is to observe one to the zynga ! i’m hoping
October 2nd, 2010 at 2:27 pm
BEST WEBSITE EVER!! (for SA) ;p
January 29th, 2011 at 12:10 am
-~’ I am really thankful to this topic because it really gives up to date information ,-.
February 16th, 2011 at 11:29 am
Nice read. I found your blog on google and i have your article bookmarked on my favorite read list!
I’m a fan of your Website. Keep up the good work
March 1st, 2011 at 1:31 pm
It was a excitement coming across your site the other day. I came here now hoping to find out interesting things. And I was not let down. Your ideas about new approaches on this topic were helpful and a great help to us. Thank you for leaving out time to create these things plus for sharing your notions.
March 7th, 2011 at 9:53 am
Wow, Its times tike these I am so proud to be a South African, even more so that I am living between the USA and SA, Im just wondering, what would it take to convince you to do a documentary on South Africa, I mean, as it seems, it has some of the worlds most important geologicle finds ever,
March 10th, 2011 at 10:24 pm
Thank you for sharing excellent informations. Your website is very cool. I am impressed by major that you have on this blog. It reveals how properly you understand this subject. Bookmarked this website page, will come back for more articles. You, my friend, ROCK! I found simply the information I already searched all over the place and simply could not come across. What a great website.
April 9th, 2011 at 10:09 am
To be sure with your thoughts here and I really love your blog! I’ve bookmarked it in order that I will return & read more in the future.
June 13th, 2011 at 3:39 pm
What I have continually told folks is that when you are evaluating a good on the net electronics shop, there are a few variables that you have to take into account. First and foremost, you should really make sure to locate a reputable and in addition, reliable store that has picked up great evaluations and classification from other customers and marketplace advisors. This will ensure that you are handling a well-known store that provides good service and support to its patrons. Thank you for sharing your ideas on this blog.
June 21st, 2011 at 9:25 pm
Have you given any kind of thought at all with translating your current blog into Chinese? I know a several of translaters right here that might help you do it for free if you wanna contact me.
July 5th, 2011 at 2:07 am
Heey this is Taa speaking today uhm this is cool and get some information about it LOL
August 14th, 2011 at 10:29 am
That’s consequently powerful… congrats from Dave Annable… and the other cast
August 19th, 2011 at 1:42 pm
I certainly enjoy reading all that is posted on your site.Keep the aarticles coming. I liked it! I have been surfing on-line more than three hours as of late, but I never found any interesting article like yours. It is pretty price sufficient for me.
October 7th, 2011 at 2:07 pm
Interesting too that SA has some of the most beautiful people in the world! I mean, look at my wife!
It’s refreshing to read positive and interesting things about SA. I’m so fed up with the negative you find on the various news sites that I stopped reading them. If an outsider only read that, they would NEVER come to SA. Thank goodness for things like this to keep up sane and to spread the good word that SA rocks!
November 19th, 2011 at 9:18 pm
Fantastic publish, very informative. I ponder why the opposite experts of this sector don’t understand this. You should proceed your writing. I’m confident, you have a huge readers’ base already!|What’s Happening i’m new to this, I stumbled upon this I’ve found It absolutely helpful and it has aided me out loads. I’m hoping to contribute & aid different customers like its helped me. Great job.
November 24th, 2011 at 12:19 am
Thank you a lot for sharing this with all people you really recognise what you’re speaking approximately! Bookmarked. Please also visit my website =). We could have a link exchange arrangement among us
November 24th, 2011 at 11:01 am
�Faith is taking the first step even when you don�t see the whole staircase.� � Martin Luther King, Jr.
November 30th, 2011 at 4:19 pm
It’s really a nice and useful piece of information. I’m glad that you shared this helpful info with us. Please stay us informed like this. Thanks for sharing.
November 30th, 2011 at 5:26 pm
You recognize therefore considerably when it comes to this topic, produced me in my view imagine it from so many varied angles. Its like men and women are not interested until it is one thing to accomplish with Lady gaga! Your own stuffs outstanding. Always care for it up!
December 21st, 2011 at 7:37 am
Hello, Neat post. There is an issue together with your web site in internet explorer, may test this? IE nonetheless is the market chief and a huge portion of other people will leave out your wonderful writing because of this problem.
January 5th, 2012 at 9:00 am
The item always may seem so easy when you demonstrate the item like that. However ought to read that which you explained again. It is not the identical here’s Most of Asia. Asians possibly see it a little diversely. I usually want to try to find the Western girl’s perspective.
January 5th, 2012 at 9:04 am
Hi, i feel that i noticed you visited my web site thus i came to return the prefer?.I am attempting to find things to enhance my website!I guess its ok to use some of your ideas!!
January 7th, 2012 at 2:25 am
Magnificent goods from you, man. I’ve consider your stuff previous to and you’re simply too great. I actually like what you’ve bought right here, certainly like what you are stating and the best way during which you are saying it. You’re making it entertaining and you still take care of to keep it smart. I cant wait to read far more from you. That is really a great web site.
January 9th, 2012 at 11:52 pm
Thanks for every other wonderful article. The place else may anybody get that type of info in such a perfect means of writing? I have a presentation subsequent week, and I’m at the look for such info.
January 10th, 2012 at 11:28 am
Hello magnificent job I did not anticipate this This is a fantastic story Thanks
January 13th, 2012 at 6:06 am
I cherished up to you’ll obtain carried out proper here. The comic strip is tasteful, your authored subject matter stylish. however, you command get bought an impatience over that you wish be handing over the following. sick indubitably come further beforehand again as precisely the similar nearly a lot incessantly inside case you defend this increase.
January 13th, 2012 at 8:01 pm
We’re a group of volunteers and opening a new scheme in our community. Your website provided us with useful info to work on. You have done a formidable job and our whole neighborhood will probably be thankful to you.
January 16th, 2012 at 12:16 pm
I simply could not leave your website before suggesting that I really loved the standard info a person supply in your visitors? Is gonna be again steadily in order to inspect new posts
January 16th, 2012 at 8:49 pm
You really make it appear so easy together with your presentation but I to find this topic to be actually something that I think I’d by no means understand. It seems too complicated and very large for me. I am taking a look ahead to your next publish, I?ll attempt to get the hold of it!
January 17th, 2012 at 8:37 am
Pretty element of content. I simply stumbled upon your blog and in accession capital to say that I acquire actually enjoyed account your blog posts. Anyway I will be subscribing in your feeds and even I success you access constantly fast.
January 18th, 2012 at 8:30 pm
You’re truly a good webmaster. The site loading pace is amazing. It seems that you’re doing any unique trick. Also, The contents are masterpiece. you’ve done a fantastic task on this matter!
January 19th, 2012 at 2:06 am
I’m not sure the place you are getting your info, but great topic. I needs to spend a while learning much more or figuring out more. Thanks for great information I was in search of this info for my mission.
April 14th, 2012 at 3:05 am
I quite like reading an article that can make people think. Also, thanks for allowing for me to comment!
April 22nd, 2012 at 8:31 am
testing lolo
April 22nd, 2012 at 9:06 am
Nearly all of my friends go through news flash or simply do some chatting, if we get some minute’s respite from our work. However, thanks to Google, I have came across this site and learned a new resourceful strategy to kill my free time. So, please, do keep your posts updated!
May 28th, 2012 at 3:35 am
Strange , your post shows up with a black color to it, what shade is the primary color on your webpage?
September 25th, 2012 at 4:33 pm
Thank you for every other magnificent article. The place else could
anybody get that kind of info in such an ideal approach of writing?
I have a presentation subsequent week, and I’m at the look for such information.
November 20th, 2012 at 11:48 pm
Undeniably imagine that that you said. Your favourite justification appeared to be
on the web the easiest thing to be aware of. I say to you, I definitely get irked whilst other people consider issues that they plainly do not
recognise about. You managed to hit the nail upon the top as smartly
as outlined out the entire thing without having side-effects , other folks
could take a signal. Will likely be back to get more.
Thank you
March 22nd, 2013 at 8:29 pm
Although considered as taboo, masturbation can be enjoyed anywhere day and night, but they are not harming anybody or being offensive.
Lia19 fleshlight
is molded after her ass, her toes, ankles and the sides of her
feet too. Some would argue that Apple has been asleep at
the wheel! 3 I wanted to test and asking a few hundred
thousand dollars.
April 10th, 2013 at 5:57 am
Terrific post. Thanks.
May 9th, 2013 at 1:00 am
I have read several positive things listed here. Certainly value bookmarking regarding revisiting. I wonder exactly how a lot test you put to build this kind of great beneficial web page.