South Africa FUN FACTS
- South Africa’s mines are some of the wealthiest in the world, over 90% of the world's platinum supply comes from here and over 40% of the world's gold supply. The world's largest gem-quality rough diamond was found in South Africa in 1905 weighing a whopping 3,106.75 carats (621.35 grams) its named The Cullinan diamond after the mine's chairman Thomas Cullinan.
- South Africa Rovos Rail is considered to be the most luxurious train in the world
- Christianity is the largest religion in South Africa, 80% of South Africans are Christian
- South Africa is the first country in the world to have built nuclear weapons and to disassemble them and discontinue the program
- Afrikaans is the world’s youngest language (link this blog to the relevant part in 11 official languages blog)
- The Republic of South Africa has 11 listed official languages:
- South African Floral Kingdom is one of 6 in the world, it is the only one where you can find the entire variety in one country – South African Fynbos floral kingdom
- South Africa’s Scenic Route 62 is the longest wine route in the world and has 4400 vineyards
- Local SABMiller Brewing company is the world second largest beer brewery
- South Africa is the first country in Africa, and one of the first five in the world to legalese same-sex marriage
- Along the coast of South Africa there are roughly 2000 shipwrecks most of which are over 500 years old
- Eves Footprints, found in South Africa are the oldest known footprints of an anatomically-modern human and have been dated to approximately 117,000 years ago.
- The World's first successful heart transplant procedure was done in South Africa
- Table Mountain is considered to be the world's oldest mountain
- Searching for dinosaurs
- South Africa is the only country in the world to have three capital cities
- In the garden route you will find the worlds highest bungee jump off a bridge, 216m high
- Kirstenbosch botanical gardens is the best in the world of its kind
- West Coast seasonal flowering