South Africa profile
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The Republic of South
Africa |
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The Republic of South
Africa
South Africa is a country located at the southern tip
of the continent of Africa. The South African coast stretches 2,798 kilometres
and borders both the Atlantic and
Indian oceans. To the north of South Africa lie Namibia, Botswana and Zimbabwe,
to the east are Mozambique and Swaziland, while the Kingdom of Lesotho is an
independent enclave surrounded by South African territory.
South Africa is known for its
diversity in cultures, languages, and religious beliefs, and eleven official
languages are recognised in its constitution. English is the most commonly
spoken language in official and commercial public life, however it is only the
fifth most spoken home language. South Africa is ethnically diverse, with the
largest Caucasian, Indian, and racially mixed communities in Africa. Although
79.6% of the South African population is Black, this category is neither
culturally nor linguistically homogeneous, as people within this classification
speak a number of different Bantu languages, nine of which have official
status.
Geography and
climate
South Africa is located at the
southernmost region of Africa, with a long coastline that stretches more than
2,500 kilometres and across two
oceans (the South Atlantic and the Indian).
South Africa has a generally
temperate climate, due in part to it being surrounded by the Atlantic and Indian
Oceans.
The climate varies, from the
desert of the southern Namib in the farthest northwest to the lush subtropical
climate in the east along the Mozambique border and the Indian ocean. From the
east, the land quickly rises over a mountainous escarpment towards the interior
plateau known as the Highveld..
The interior of South Africa is
vast and rather flat in contrast to the eastern coastline which is lush and well-watered with a semi
tropical climate. The extreme southwest has a climate remarkably similar to that
of the Mediterranean with wet winters and hot, dry summers, hosting the famous
Fynbos Biome. This area also produces much of the wine in South Africa. This
region is also particularly known for its wind, which blows intermittently
almost all year. The severity of this wind made passing around the Cape of Good
Hope particularly treacherous for sailors, causing many shipwrecks. Further east
on the south coast, rainfall is distributed more evenly throughout the year,
producing a green landscape. This area is popularly known as the Garden
Route.
To the north of Johannesburg, the
altitude drops beyond the escarpment of the Highveld, and turns into the lower
lying Bushveld, an area of mixed dry forest and an abundance of wildlife. East
of the Highveld, beyond the eastern escarpment, the Lowveld stretches towards
the Indian ocean. It has particularly high temperatures, and is also the
location of extended subtropical agriculture.
The high Drakensberg mountains,
which form the south-eastern escarpment of the Highveld, offer limited skiing
opportunities in winter.
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Population: 48.8 million (UN,
2008)
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Capitals: Pretoria (executive
capital); Cape Town (legislative capital); Bloemfontein (judicial capital)
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Largest city: Johannesburg
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Area: 1.22 million sq km
(470,693 sq miles)
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Major languages: 11 official
languages including English, Afrikaans, Sesotho, Setswana, Xhosa and Zulu
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Major religion: Christianity,
Islam, indigenous beliefs
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Monetary unit: 1 Rand = 100
cents
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Internet domain: .za
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International dialling code:
+27
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Voltage 230V
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Plug type: South African three
pin plug.
(sources: Oxford History
of the British Empire, Wikipedia, BBC,)
Call
0845 345 0065 or email: info@visionsofafrica.co.uk
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