Africa business card Africa second to. Holidays in South Africa Mining and manufacturing industry

Presentation for the geography lesson "South Africa"

Completed by: geography teacher Efremova G.A.

Republic of South Africa

Business card.

S=1.2 million km2

Population: 41.5 million people

GNP - $135 billion

per capita - 3095 dollars.

Included in the Commonwealth of Nations.

• Located in the extreme south of the continent, the Republic of South Africa until 1961. It was called the Union of South Africa and was part of the British Commonwealth as a dominion. In a country with a complex racial and ethnic composition of the population, the policy of "separate development" of various racial groups continued for many years - the policy of apartheid, which actually amounted to the oppression of black people by the white minority. The situation changed after the adoption of the constitution in 1993 and 1996. and the first general election, won by the long-fought African National Progress (ANC).

• South Africa is located in southern Africa, bordering the republics of Namibia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, and the Kingdom of Swaziland. In the northeast, inside the territory of South Africa, there is a kind of enclave - the kingdom of Lesotho.
• South Africa is bordered by the Atlantic and Indian oceans.

• The natural features of the country are determined by several factors: the features of the relief, which are generally mountainous in the east and south and plateau in the rest of the country; the peculiarities of the climate, which, being subtropical in the main part of the country (which is a consequence of latitude), are highly differentiated (from humid subtropics in the southeast to semi-deserts and deserts in a number of inland and western regions).

At the same time, the character of the climate is strongly influenced by the warm Mozambique current in the east and the cold Benguela current in the west. The mechanism of the impact of these currents on climate is well known to geographers. Changes in temperature and especially humidity in different regions of South Africa lead to large contrasts in the vegetation cover.

The mountainous southeast is covered with humid subtropical forests, the extreme southwest (areas of the Cape of Good Hope) is covered with Mediterranean vegetation (dry subtropics), the interior and western regions, as well as the north of the country, are subtropical and tropical (in the far north) steppes and woodlands , deserts and semi-deserts.

• To protect the fauna in South Africa, national parks and reserves have been created. Currently, there are about 300 provincial reserves in the country, some of which have already celebrated their centenary. There are 16 national parks and one protected lake in the country.

Kruger National Park

The Kruger National Park is world famous, where visitors can meet buffaloes, elephants, leopards, lions, rhinos, which are called the "Big Five".

• ¾ of the population of South Africa falls on the indigenous inhabitants of Africa, the Bantu, who speak Xhosa, Zulu, communications, etc. About 1/5 are the descendants of immigrants from Europe, mainly Afrikaners and the British, who fiercely fought among themselves during the Anglo-Boer War at the turn of the 19th century. 20 centuries. The rest are mulattos and other mestizos, which in South Africa are called “colored”, or clearings, as well as numerous immigrants from Hindustan. The remaining ethnic groups are relatively small.

• South Africa ranks first in the foreign world in terms of reserves and production of gold (Au), magnesium (Mg), chromium (Cr), manganese (Mn), vanadium (Va), platinum group metals; one of the first places in diamonds, uranium concentrates, asbestos, antimony, etc.

Mining and manufacturing

The mining industry of South Africa provides about 1/5 of the GNP, but 2/3 of the value of exports. At the same time, this mineral raw material is exported to more than 80 countries of the world. The most important mining area is the Witwatersrant, where gold and uranium are mined; diamonds in the Kimberley areas. D Beers is the largest transnational concern that owns diamond mining in South Africa and controls the world diamond market.

• The share of the manufacturing industry in South Africa accounts for about ¼ of the gross domestic product: more than any other sector of the economy. It employs more than 1/10 of the economically active population. Light industry predominates, but the proportion of metallurgy, metalworking, machine building is also large, the chemical industry, and the production of building materials are significant. In recent decades, the growth rates of these industries have been quite high. High-tech industries also appeared - the military industry, the production of nuclear reactors - the "white elephants" of the South African industry. The share of agriculture and mining decreased from 30% (1960) to 14% (1996).

• The commodity sector of agriculture in South Africa provides a large number of export products - wool, fruits, sugar; however, in general, the country's food needs are not met through domestic production, and South Africa imports it.

• On an African scale, South Africa has a developed transport network - railways and roads, the first pipelines.

• The economy of South Africa has a dual character. Along with the features typical of developed countries (a large share of hired labor, a large working class, a relatively high share of the manufacturing industry in the economy, etc.), South Africa is characterized by many features inherent in developing countries: the economic and technical backwardness of indigenous agriculture of the population, the low standard of living of workers from among the indigenous people, the great influence of foreign capital in the economy, the large dependence of the economy on the external market, etc.

• Under the current constitution, South Africa is divided into 9 provinces - Western Cape (Cape Town), Eastern Cape (Bisho), Northern Cape (Kimberley), Free State (Bloemfontein), KwaZulu-Natal, North-Western Province (Mabata), Goteng (Johannesburg), Mpumalanga (Neletpreyt), Northern Province (Petersburg).

In the northwest it borders on Namibia, in the north - on Botswana and Zimbabwe, in the east - on Mozambique and Swaziland, in the eastern part of the country the kingdom of Lesotho is located as an enclave. In the east and south it is washed by the Indian Ocean, in the west by the Atlantic Ocean.

The total area of ​​the country is about 1.22 million square meters. km.

Most of the country is occupied by high flat plateaus "karru" and low (up to 2500 m) mountains, only a narrow strip of plains stretches along the coast, separated from the elevated regions by a ridge of the Drakens (Great Ledge) and Cape Mountains. The highest point in the country is Mount Mont-au-Source (3299 m).

Capital - Tswana (Pretoria, administrative), Cape Town (seat of parliament), Bloemfontein is the center of the judiciary.

Population: about 43.1 million people, most of whom (up to 76%) are Africans - Zulu, Xhosa, Nguni, San (Bushmen), Hottentots (Koykoin), Nguni, Suto-Tswana, Venda, Tsonga, etc., mestizos ( 9%), Indians, immigrants from Europe, mainly Afrikaners (Boers), British (13%), etc.

Political status: Republic with a presidential form of government. Independent member of the British Commonwealth. The legislature is a bicameral parliament (the Senate and the National Assembly). Each of the 9 provinces of the country has its own parliament, legislature and government, accountable to the Prime Minister of South Africa.

Language in South African Republic: 11 languages ​​of various nationalities and ethnic groups inhabiting the country are considered state. However, two are most common: English and Afrikaans - a corruption of Dutch. For tourists, English is quite enough, which is spoken by the majority of the population.

Religion in South Africa

Mostly Christians and adherents of local traditional beliefs. There are also Hindus, Muslims and Jews. The country has complete freedom of religion, the state does not interfere in the affairs of religious denominations.

The beautiful reserves of the country are known, perhaps, to the vast majority of the inhabitants of the planet.

Forming the border with Eastern Lesotho, the Dragon Mountains (the highest point is Mount Tkabana-Ntlenyana, 3482 m) are a colossal basalt wall with a length of about 250 km, which is a wonderful area for outdoor activities and simply a stunningly beautiful place.

Most of the mountainous areas are occupied by national parks, of which the Royal Natal National Park is considered the most spectacular. The southern border of the park is formed by the so-called "Amphitheater" - stretching for 8 km. cliff, which has an absolutely fantastic view.

Nearby is the famous Tugela waterfall (948 m) of five cascades. Lake Santa Lucia and its surrounding areas (275 thousand hectares) are included in the UNESCO World Heritage List, and Lake Sibaya is considered the largest natural freshwater lake in South Africa (area 77 sq. km.). At the same time, there are many nature reserves in the vicinity - Loteni, Himeville, Swamp, Giant Castle, Itala, Valley, Ndumo, Mkuzi, Wilderness, Royal National Park, etc. In the eastern part of the country, not far from the borders of Swaziland, stretch for many kilometers the beautiful reserves of Umfolozi (more than 50 thousand hectares) and Hluhluwe.

In Amlanga Rocks (one of the most fashionable resorts in South Africa) is the Institute for the Study of Sharks and the Howan Reserve Forest, and the Umgeni River Bird Park is considered one of the best in the world.

The North Western Province is famous for its excellent natural conditions for outdoor activities and rich wildlife, as well as many caves (most of which are of great interest in terms of studying human origins), pristine lakes and streams.

Pilanesberg National Parks, the reserves Medikve, Botsalano, Faan Meintjies, the Lichtenburg Wildlife Reproduction Center, the Reptile and Animal Park in Hartbeespoort - all this attracts many visitors.

In the Kalahari, you can visit the Augrabis National Park with the famous two-stage waterfall, as well as the beautiful Kalahari-Gemsbok National Park with an area of ​​​​2 million hectares.

There are many national parks and reserves in the Eastern Cape (Tsitsikamma, Naches Valley, Donkin, Mkambati, Zebra Mountain National Park and Addo Elephant National Park).

South of the Orange River is the semi-desert Karoo Plateau, famous for the Karoo National Park and the country's largest river port, East London. The City Aquarium of East London contains about four hundred different species of marine and freshwater fish, and the Museum of East London is famous for the rare exhibits presented here.

Also of interest are the Franci Pienard Museum in Prince Albert, the Grotto Kirk (1886) and more than 200 historical monuments in Graff Reinet, the Schreiner House Museum and the Tuishuse Museum Hotel in Cradock, the "ostrich capital" Oudtshoorn, as well as nature reserves Gamka Mountain, the sand dunes and forested area of ​​Alexandria, as well as the famous Cathedral of St. Michael and George (1824-1952) in Grahamstown, the picturesque Little Karoo Plateau, the unique Kamkaslof Valley, etc.

Kruger National Park, located in the Eastern Transvaal - the visiting card of the country. Equal in area to a small state, this unique reserve protects the flora and fauna of the savannas and semi-deserts of southern Africa - more than 50 species of fish, 114 species of reptiles, 507 species of birds and 147 species of mammals. Around it are concentrated several no less original reserves - Sabi-Sand, Skukuza nursery, Manieleti-Game, etc.

Official holidays and weekends in the Republic of South Africa:

• January 1 - New Year.
• March 21 - Human Rights Day (Sharpeville Day).
• April 13 - Good Friday.
• April 16 - Family Day.
• April 27 - Constitution Day.
• May 1 - Workers' Day.
• June 16 - Youth Day.
• August 9 - National Women's Day.
• September 24 - Population Day.
• December 16 - Reconciliation Day.
• December 25 - Christmas.
• December 26 - Thanksgiving Day.

If a public holiday falls on a Sunday, the following Monday is also considered a public holiday.

Beaches in South Africa

In KwaZulu-Natal, the endless sandy beaches of the ever-warm Indian Ocean coexist with the green hills of Zululand and the majestic Dragon Mountains.

The most interesting places in the Western Cape are Cape Town, the Cape Peninsula with the legendary Cape of Good Hope, wine regions and the famous Garden Route. Virgin landscapes of untouched nature, two oceans washing the shores of the province, a mild "Mediterranean" climate and excellent infrastructure have made the Western Cape the most important tourist region in southern Africa.

The Garden Route (“Garden Road”) starts 300 km east of Cape Town and extends further for almost 350 km to Port Elizabeth. This is one of the most beautiful sightseeing routes in the world, which includes a lot of interesting provincial towns and reserves, tropical forests and sandy beaches of the warm Indian Ocean.

The Eastern Cape, not yet well known among tourists, is characterized by rolling landscapes and a beautiful ocean coast, indented with lagoons and rocky cliffs. The local tourist center, the city of Port Elizabeth, is famous for its warm sandy beaches, the length of which is almost 40 km.

South Africa is one of the most unique countries in Africa

A lush mixture of ancient African cultures and the rationalism of freedom-loving European settlers, the richest subsoil and majestic nature in which penguins live side by side with antelopes and crocodiles, the "meeting zone" of two oceans and many cultures, this country is truly one of the most attractive on the African continent. The unique Dragon Mountains and the Veld, which are both natural monuments and mountain resorts, are considered one of the most picturesque mountain systems on the planet. And the legendary Cape of Good Hope and the beautiful reserves of the country are known, perhaps, to the vast majority of the inhabitants of the planet.

The north-west of the country, the region of the province of Gotang (Hauteng) and the arid plateaus of the Transvaal, is the historical center of South Africa - from here, from the region of the gold-bearing veins of the Witwatersrand, the real colonization of these lands began. Here are the most important cities of the country - Johannesburg and Pretoria. In fact, this is one giant metropolis, in which all the financial, industrial and commercial power of South Africa is concentrated.

Johannesburg or, as the locals call it, Joburg (Yosi), was founded in 1886, when the Australian gold prospector George Harrison discovered a gold mine in the area. Since then, the city has been developing at a rapid pace, today becoming one of the richest cities in the world. The urban landscape at first makes a depressing impression - hundreds of waste heaps surround the city from all sides, giving it an industrial look. But in the center of Johannesburg, ultra-modern buildings made of glass and concrete and old colonial buildings are quite originally combined.

The most interesting are the building of the "Old Post" (1897, considered one of the most beautiful buildings in the city) and the Oppenheimer Garden behind it, the Central Library (1935, now the Museum of the History of the Country and the Geological Museum are located here), the Market Fieche complex (three theatres, an art gallery, restaurants and pubs), the largest multi-storey shopping center in Africa - Sandton, "Market Square" - one of the most grandiose markets on the mainland, the Museum of Fine Arts, the Museum of History, the "square of 300 shops" Oriental Plaza , the Stock Exchange (JSE) open to visitors, the most beautiful building in the city - the Diamond skyscraper, the neoclassical architectural complex Bankcity, the Adler Museum of Medicine, the Paleontological Museum, the Planetarium at the entrance to the campus, the Rock Art Museum on the territory of the zoological park, etc. d.

No less interesting are the former suburbs surrounding the historical core of the city, where it is worth visiting the African Museum in Newtown, the Nelson Mandela House Museum, the Gold Reef City amusement park and the best zoo in Soweto on the African continent, the fashionable areas of Parktown and Westcliff, the Museum pharmaceuticals in Melrose, etc. Also many tourists are attracted by the Lesedi Cultural Village in Swartkops Hills north of Johannesburg, the historical Zulu village of Sibaya-Zulu-Boma, the real Zulu kraal of Fumangena-Zulu, the Witwatersrand National Botanical Garden, as well as the Sterkfontein caves and mountain range Magalisberg. Nearby are Wadderbil Park - a real bird sanctuary, the Krugersdorp and Klufendal reserves, the "Gold Mine" in Rendfontein with a good National Railway Museum, the De Wildt Wild Animal Breeding Center, the private reserve Mountain Sectuary, etc.

One of the country's capitals and the administrative center of the Transvaal province - Tswana (Pretoria), lies 60 km away. north of Johannesburg. The city center is interesting here - Kerkplats Square with the Old City Hall (1899), Cathedral Square with the buildings of the Old Raadsaal and the Palace of Justice (1898), Braintirion Park, which houses the official residence of the President of South Africa, the State Theater, the Kruger Museum (dedicated to the first president Transvaal Paulus Kruger and the history of the Boer War), Melrose House, one of the largest administrative buildings in the world - "Union Buildings" (1910), Monument to the First Settlers (1949), Fort Clapperkop (now there is the Military Museum ), South African Reserve Bank building (the tallest building in the city), National Zoo of South Africa, Radcliffe Observatory, African Institute, South African Academy of Arts and Sciences, Municipal Art Gallery, Museum of Natural Sciences and Industry, Museum of National Cultural History , the Police Museum, the Court Stenberg Museum, the Transvaal Museum of Natural History, the Pierniff Open Air Museum, the Sammy Mark Museum near Tswane and the cultural village of Mapoch Ndebele, which also has beautiful vineyards in its vicinity.

Durban is one of the largest ports in Africa and the center of the province of KwaZulu-Natal, the most popular among tourists from all over the world. The richest trading city and fashionable resort, famous for its oriental bazaars, golden beaches and the nearby Indian Ocean coast, Durban is considered one of the most colorful cities on the continent. Worth seeing is the Church of St. Paul (1853), a beautiful park on the ruins of the old fort, City Hall building (1910) with a memorial complex opposite, the old railway station (now the Tourist Office is located here), the temple of Sri Ambalavaanar Alayam - the first and the largest Hindu temple in Africa, as well as the largest mosque in the southern hemisphere, Juma in the Indian quarter (area 975 sq. m.). The National Museum of Natural History, the Museum of Natural Sciences, the Museum of Old Buildings, the Center for African Art, the Fitzsimmons Reptile Park, the Sea World Dolphinarium and the Durban Botanic Garden are very popular. And, of course, thousands of guests visit the luxurious shopping areas of the city. In Ulundi there is the residence of the Zulu king Goodwin Zwelithini, in Newcastle - the Historical Museum of Fort Amiel, in Dundee - the richest museum of Talana, in Ladysmith - a beautiful mosque (1898) and old cannons near the city hall, and in Pietermaritzburg - the Natal Provincial Museum, Park Queen Elizabeth, the Vortrekker Museum and the National Botanical Gardens of Natal.

Forming the border with Eastern Lesotho, the Dragon Mountains (the highest point is Mount Tkabana-Ntlenyana, 3482 m) are a colossal basalt wall with a length of about 250 km. excellent opportunity to get acquainted with the culture of the Zulu peoples. Most of the mountainous areas are occupied by national parks, of which the Royal Natal National Park is considered the most spectacular. The southern border of the park is formed by the so-called "Amphitheater" - stretching for 8 km. cliff, which has an absolutely fantastic view. Nearby is the famous Tugela waterfall (948 m) of five cascades. Lake Santa Lucia and its surrounding areas (275 thousand hectares) are included in the UNESCO World Heritage List, and Lake Sibaya is considered the largest natural freshwater lake in South Africa (area 77 sq. km.). At the same time, there are many nature reserves in the vicinity - Loteni, Himeville, Swamp, Giant Castle, Itala, Valley, Ndumo, Mkuzi, Wilderness, Royal National Park, etc. In the eastern part of the country, not far from the borders of Swaziland, stretch for many kilometers the beautiful reserves of Umfolozi (more than 50 thousand hectares) and Hluhluwe.

Durban's "Golden Mile" ("Marine Crossing"), the one where Vasco da Gama moored, is today the best place for recreation, spearfishing, surfing and other active forms of recreation in all of Africa. The longest line of golden beaches, ultra-modern hotels, cafes, bars, restaurants, entertainment centers, swimming pools, promenades and all kinds of entertainment venues stretches here for tens of kilometers. Amlanga Rocks (one of the most fashionable resorts in South Africa) is home to the Institute for the Study of Sharks, the Gallery of African Art and the Howan Reserve Forest, and the Umgeni River Bird Park is considered one of the best in the world. In Tongat, the Hindu temples of Juggernaf Puri and Vishwarup, as well as a wonderful fruit market, are interesting. The ancient capital of the Zulu kingdom, Stanger (Dukuza), is interesting with the Museum of the North Coast and a huge oriental bazaar.

One of the most remote and wild regions of South Africa is Maputaland, the land of the Tsonga peoples. This area is known for the highest dunes in the world and vast areas with completely untouched nature. Tropical and subtropical climatic zones collide here, so you can find both a humid savannah, and a tropical forest, and swampy, teeming with life, river deltas. Maputaland is home to almost every species of South African wildlife, more than four hundred species of birds and excellent opportunities for outdoor activities. Coral reefs in the Sodwana Bay National Park attract hundreds of diving and sea fishing enthusiasts (there are also first-class beaches), and the unique Cozi Bay area is known for its salt lake ecosystem.

The North Western Province is famous for its excellent natural conditions for outdoor activities and rich wildlife, as well as many caves (most of which are of great interest in terms of studying human origins), pristine lakes and streams. Pilanesberg National Parks, Medikwe, Botsalano, Faan Meintgies, Lichtenburg Wildlife Reproduction Center, Hartbeespoort Reptile and Animal Park, Golden Reef Amusement Park, Waal River, numerous sites associated with the Boer War - all this attracts many visitors. And the presence of the entertainment city of Sun City, a sort of "Las Vegas in South Africa", allows the area to provide guests with absolutely all the means for recreation.

The extreme south of the country, the famous Cape Peninsula, is a real center of historical and cultural attractions. Cape Town (founded in 1652) is the seat of the country's parliament, the capital of the Western Cape and one of the most interesting cities in Africa. Located on a peninsula separating two oceans and "crowned" by the famous Cape of Good Hope, the city lies at the foot of Table Mountain (1086 m high) - an ancient landmark for navigators and a true symbol of the modern city. The sights of Cape Town include the oldest building in South Africa - the Castle (1666-1679, now there is a collection of antiques and paintings), the Parliament building and St. George's Cathedral in the old Company's Garden park, the residence of the President of South Africa, the Pink Palm Tree mosque and Nurel Nameida, Turkish baths (1906), the continent's longest shopping street - Furtrekker Road, one of the world's finest botanical gardens - Kirstenbosch on the east side of Table Mountain, the commercial center of the City Bowl, George Avenue filled with artists and artisans, a cable car the road to the top of Table Mountain, the mansions of Old Dutch architecture and the magnificent buildings of the Victorian era in the old quarters.

Of interest are the South African Cultural and Historical Museum in one of the oldest buildings in the city - Slave Lodge, the Jewish Museum in the building of the oldest synagogue in South Africa, the Cape Town Art Gallery, the Bo-Kaap Quarter Museum, numerous monuments, the National Reserve on the top of Table Mountain, the reservation Kagga-Khama, Robben Prison Island, the Waterfront area of ​​fashionable shops and restaurants, and many entertainment venues scattered throughout the city.

The famous "Garden Route" starts from Cape Town - one of the most beautiful sightseeing routes in the world, as well as routes to Cape Agulhas, to the resort of Hermanus with its "whale festivals", to the reserves of the Cape of Good Hope and Fernkloof. The endless beaches of Kleinmond, Camps Bay, Clifton, Lianduno, Sandy Bay, Whitsands, Scarborough, False Bay, Mulsenberg, Fish Hook, Boulders, Smithswinkelbaal, Dyulker seal island, a huge colony of birds in Hout Bay deserve special attention, and also the Boland vineyard region with its famous wine centers Stellenbosch, Parl, Franschhoek and Constant. Mossel Bay and Richards Bay are major ports and resort towns, between which a chain of first-class hotels and beaches stretches along the coast.

Port Elizabeth is home to the beautiful Oceanarium, Elephant Park and the Port Elizabeth Museum Complex, as well as the Victorian quarters of the old part of the city. The real pearls of the area are the "most English" city of South Africa - Grahamstown, the Cape Recife Ecological Reserve and the Shamwari Reserve with the only true traditional village of Kaya Lendaba in South Africa, as well as the Addo Elephant National Park (Addo) - one of the main attractions of the whole country.

The Northern Cape is the largest province in the country by area. The region of the great desert, unique wildlife, beautiful landscapes and innumerable mineral wealth, the Northern Cape attracts a huge number of guests from all over the world.

Kimberley, South Africa's diamond capital, grew up around diamond mines. Until now, in the center of this city-museum there is Big Hole ("Great Hole") - the world's largest mine-quarry, which laid the foundation for the "diamond fever" of the beginning of the century (for a small fee, you can still try to find a diamond yourself) . Today Kimberley is a modern city with wide streets, magnificent parks and gardens, comfortable hotels, its own tourist tram, the wonderful William Humphreys Museum of Fine Arts and, of course, the luxurious Mining Museum located on the edge of the Big Hole. 5 km. from the Kimberley is the still operating Bultfontein diamond mine, which offers guided tours. Of interest are the rapids of Thunder Alley and Egerton Rapids on the Orange River, the farm-reserve Lindbergh Lodge, from here (as well as from Sun City) most of the routes to the great Kalahari Desert begin.

Kalahari is one of the most unusual corners of the planet. Desert on the ocean shore, one of the driest places on the planet, land of fantastic landscapes and unique wildlife, this area is becoming increasingly popular with tourists from all over the world. In addition to the usual acquaintance with the desert, here you can visit the "homeland of the Boy Scout movement" - the city of Mmabatho with its Mafikenga Museum, the endless prairies of Stellaland, the Augrabis National Park with the famous two-stage waterfall, the "stronghold of Christianity" - the city of Kuruman with its famous source "Kuruman's Eye" and vineyards, the Wonderwerk Cave rock art, the Kalahari Orange Museum and Palm Dale Avenue (a State Protected Monument) in Upington, and the beautiful 2 million-hectare Kalahari-Gemsbok National Park.

In the Eastern Cape, many national parks and reserves are interesting (Tsitsikamma, Nature Valley, Donkin, Mkambati, Zebra Mountain National Park and Addo Elephant National Park on the border with the Cape Province, the magnificent beach area of ​​Algoa Bay (more than 40 km . of superb beaches, including Hobie, Humewood, etc.), the pristine "Wild Coast" with giant sand dunes and oyster banks and the picturesque Happy Valley.

South of the Orange River is the semi-desert Karoo Plateau, famous for the Karoo National Park and the country's largest river port, East London. The City Aquarium of East London contains about four hundred different species of marine and freshwater fish, and the Museum of East London is famous for the rare exhibits presented here. Also of interest are the Franci Pienard Museum in Prince Albert, the Grotto Kirk (1886) and more than 200 historical monuments in Graff Reinet, the Schreiner House Museum and the Tuishuse Museum Hotel in Cradock, the "ostrich capital" Oudtshoorn, as well as nature reserves Gamka Mountain, the sand dunes and forested area of ​​Alexandria, as well as the famous Cathedral of St. Michael and George (1824-1952) in Grahamstown, the picturesque Little Karoo Plateau, the unique Kamkaslof Valley, etc.

The Kruger National Park, located in the Eastern Transvaal, is the visiting card of the country. Equal in area to a small state, this unique reserve protects the flora and fauna of the savannas and semi-deserts of southern Africa - more than 50 species of fish, 114 species of reptiles, 507 species of birds and 147 species of mammals. Around it are concentrated several no less original reserves - Sabi-Sand, Skukuza nursery, Manieleti-Game, etc.

Business card Africa is the second largest continent (30, 244, 050 km²) in the world, with 54 countries and home to 933 million people. The highest point in Africa is Mount Kilimanjaro (5895 m) in Tanzania. The second longest river in the world and the first in Africa is the Nile (6,650 km), which flows from Burundi to the Egyptian Mediterranean coast. The largest African lake is Lake Victoria, which is located between the countries of Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda. The territory of Africa is bounded by: the Mediterranean Sea in the north, the Atlantic Ocean in the west, the Red Sea in the northeast and the Indian Ocean in the east.

Africa is home to over 812 million people, or 13% of the world's population. In the second half of the XX century. The population of the continent began to grow rapidly, and in the 1980s, its growth rate was one of the highest in the world - 2.9 -3.0% per year. African countries differ markedly in terms of population: Egypt, Ethiopia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo have a population of over 40 million people each, and Nigeria is almost 120 million people.

Africa is characterized by a high birth rate. Thanks to the improvement of socio-economic conditions and medical care, mortality has decreased, especially among children. Decreasing mortality and high birth rates result in high population growth rates in most countries. The average population density on the continent is small and is close to 22 people. per 1 km 2. It is the highest on about. Mauritius (about 500 people per 1 km 2), the lowest - in the Sahara and the countries of the Sahel zone. A significant concentration of the population remains in areas of developed agriculture (the Nile River Valley, the northern coast, Nigeria) or industrial activity (the “copper belt”, industrial areas of the PAR). Despite the predominance of the rural population, Africa is characterized by high growth rates of the urban population - over 5% per year. There are 22 millionaire cities on the continent. Factors related to the uneven socio-economic development of individual countries have an important influence on the migration of the population. Industrial areas receive immigrants from neighboring countries who are looking for work.

Military coups, constant struggle between ethnic and religious groups, military conflicts between countries lead to the appearance of a significant number of refugees in different parts of the mainland: at the end of the 20th century. There were between 7 and 9 million of them. Thus, the current demographic situation in African countries is very controversial. The population growth dynamics of the mainland is determined mainly by its natural movement. In different countries, the population grows unevenly, the characteristics of the age-sex structure from an economic point of view remain unfavorable: an insufficient number of able-bodied population, especially males, a high percentage of children and young people, and short life expectancy (for men it is 49 years, for women - 52 years). In recent years, AIDS-related deaths have become catastrophic in a number of countries

General characteristics For the economy of Africa, the following features are typical: a) versatility; b) low level of economic development; c) the agrarian nature of the economy of most countries; d) a sharp delimitation in agriculture of commodity-export production, subsistence and small-scale farming, which serves local needs; ґ) the spread of monoculture in agriculture; e) the predominance of the mining industry in industrial production; there is) the preservation of the colonial character in foreign trade. Important features of the location of the economy of most African countries are the concentration of economic activity in several centers and a significant gap in the levels of settlement and economic development of individual territories and countries. There are relatively economically developed territories in Africa that are adjacent to the capitals - a bridge that became important economic centers back in the colonial period, as well as to ports, because of which raw materials are exported and where they are partially processed (Casablanca region in Morocco, Lagos in Nigeria , Alexandria in Egypt, Mombasi in Kenya, etc.). Significant industrial and economic centers arose in the zones of extraction of mineral raw materials (the centers of the "copper belt" in Zambia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the industrial centers associated with the oil and gas regions in Algeria and Libya, the industrial regions of the PAR).

Africa is a world supplier of many types of tropical plant-growing raw materials: cocoa, peanuts, palm oil, spices, etc. . At the same time, the agriculture of developing countries does not provide food for the local population due to the lag in most countries in the production of basic food crops from the rate of population growth. More than 1/3 of the area of ​​the mainland is used in Africa's agriculture. Under arable land and perennial plantations, about 7% is occupied, under pastures - 24% of the area of ​​the continent. The main crops in Africa are millet, sorghum, corn, rice, wheat, barley; root crops - cassava, sweet potato, yams, containers; fruit - bananas (equatorial and subequatorial zones), date (oases of deserts) and oil palms (tropics), olive (subtropics). The plantation economy in Africa is quite developed, but less than in Latin America and Southeast Asia. In the tropical zone, only separate scattered areas of plantations arose. On the territory of Africa, a significant part of the world's livestock and pack animals is concentrated. There are about 192 million heads of cattle, 210 million sheep, 176 million goats, 14 million camels on the continent. The leading place for livestock belongs to the countries of East Africa. However, animal husbandry as an area of ​​the economy has very low output rates.

Africa's industry The share of Africa in the industrial production of the countries of the world is close to 2%. In Africa, the mining and timber industries, the areas of primary processing of raw materials (mineral and vegetable) have gained development. Recently, enterprises of machine building, the chemical industry, ferrous metallurgy, and the building materials industry have appeared. An important place in the economy of African countries is occupied by foreign capital. In most of the farms, the gross output of foreign and general enterprises represents close to half of the gross national product (Botswana, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Egypt, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Zimbabwe, Kenya, etc.). The mining and mining and metallurgical industries are most developed in the African industry. Zambia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo occupy a significant place in copper production, where the mines are concentrated in the "copper belt". In addition to copper, ores of other metals are mined in this belt, zinc, lead, cobalt, gold, silver, and uranium are enriched. In general, the mining industry is developed in 1/4 of the young countries of the continent, but the main part of the production and extraction of the most important types of mining raw materials falls on the PAR, Zambia, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Energy in Africa is underdeveloped. Africa has 1/10 of the world's oil and 1/5 of the world's water resources. There are large deposits of coal. The main fuel resource in African countries is oil, the deposits of which are concentrated in Nigeria, Libya, Algeria, Egypt and the shelf of West Africa. The rivers of the Congo, Zambezi, Niger basins have a significant energy potential, but it is not used enough. The largest existing hydroelectric power plants are Aswan on the Nile, Caribou on the Zambezi, Kuindzhi on the Niger.

The manufacturing industry in African countries has not acquired much development. There are three forms of production activity: 1) primary production, processing of export agricultural raw materials (cleaning of cotton, processing of coffee, cocoa, production of butter, sugar, wine juices) typical for countries that export agricultural products; 2) production of consumer goods; for local needs (handicraft production of fabrics, subject: home use, local food semi-finished products, drinks and products of modern light and food industries. The textile industry belongs to relatively developed areas (PAR, Egypt, Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia); 3) difficult industry (except mining and metallurgical) poorly developed The most common oil refineries and cement plants. Large enterprises of the mining and metallurgical industry concentrated in the PAR, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Zambia, Egypt. Foreign economic activity The leading role in the foreign economic relations of African countries belongs to foreign trade. Exports are dominated by coal and agricultural raw materials, while imports are dominated by finished products. Oil is exported by Algeria, Nigeria, Libya, iron ores - Liberia, Mauritania, diamonds and gold - STEAM, copper - Zambia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, STEAM, phosphates - Morocco, uranium - Niger, Gabon, cotton - Egypt, Sudan, Tanzania, coffee - Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, Angola and others, peanuts - Senegal, Sudan, olive oil - Tunisia, Morocco.

Africa is a continent with great linguistic diversity. Linguists estimate that there are 1500-2000 languages ​​in Africa. Of these languages, the following four main groups can be distinguished: Afro-Asiatic (about 200 languages), covers almost all of North Africa (including the Horn of Africa, Central Sahara and the upper Nile). Nilo-Saharan Includes approximately 140 languages ​​spoken by about eleven million people in Central and East Africa. Niger-Saharan (Niger-Congo languages) covers two-thirds of the African population. The main branch is the Niger-Congo group, which includes over 1,000 languages ​​with about 200 million speakers. The Bantu languages ​​of Central, Southern and East Africa form a subgroup of the Niger-Congo group. Khoisan accommodates about thirty languages ​​of western South Africa. All African languages ​​are considered official languages ​​of the African Union.

Traditions and customs of peoples 1. Shamans Everyone has heard about shamans. But what are these “servants of the spirits” all the same? There is no consensus on this. In any case, from ancient times to the present time, shamans have been carriers of supernatural abilities, clairvoyants, and intercessors of people. Something similar to shamanism exists among the tribes of Australia, South Africa and America. One of the most remarkable properties of shamanic methods is their similarity in all parts of the planet. Shamans accompany the life of their tribesman from birth to death.

2. Masks A shaman is an intermediary between the visible and invisible worlds, as a master of spirits, as a supernatural healer, etc. But so that the evil spirit does not recognize the shaman or another participant in the ritual by sight, and does not move into him, there are masks. Sometimes masks cover the entire head, like a helmet. Sometimes only the face is covered. If the mask is too heavy, a string is attached between its edges, which the dancer holds with his teeth. Stylized heads of unearthly creatures carved from wood, painted and covered with ornaments of colored beads and small shells. Huge, intended for ritual dances, and small - masks-talismans. Often we are accustomed to consider masks an attribute of fun shows - theaters, carnivals, children's parties. But in the past, these "false faces" were taken much more seriously, playing an important, and sometimes the main role in the religious rites and rituals of many peoples of the world.

Ritual dances Dance has always been an integral part of human life. Shamans were most often men, and their main instrument of influencing nature and events was and is to this day - dance. On all continents in all ancient religions, priests or their assistants used dance to praise the gods, asking for help. . . They danced for every holiday, before the hunt, before the sowing season, before the war. . . Everyone danced, both women and men, but in some cases only men participated in the dances. Dance is not only and not so much an appeal to the gods, but also an excellent training of the body and coordination of movement. If you look closely, the forms or in other words, the complexes performed by martial arts masters, with their smooth movements and transitions, resemble dance movements. I was always attracted not so much by the beauty or smoothness of movements, but by the ability to perfectly control the body, and I was impressed by the realization of how much work and perseverance had to be applied in order to achieve such a result. Even modern dances require some flexibility and endurance, only now the movements resemble wild Africans going to war. In addition, the main musical instruments are drums and other percussive metal. From the wildest times, and until now, in all countries and on all continents, people went to war to the drums, chopped off their heads, shot them, drove them through the ranks like in the Russian armies of the times of serfdom, and, of course, buried them. . .

The woman with the longest neck was considered the most beautiful among the Amandebele. From early childhood, women of this nation wore brass hoops around their necks, thanks to which the neck could lengthen by 40-50 cm. These hoops could not be removed, since the absence of cervical muscles would lead a woman to immediate death. Wedge-shaped or round discs were considered an important adornment for women in Africa. Women wore these discs when their husbands and mothers-in-law were away. Thus, African women tried to imitate the birds, which have a cult significance for Africans. In some African tribes, this custom goes back to the desire to shock the slave traders with their appearance. Today, African youth use only occasional lip clips, but usually no lip jewelry is used. The adornments that were put on later served as protection for the exposed parts of the body, through which evil spirits, harmful fumes, or any supernatural forces could easily penetrate into a person. The Ethiopian people - surma - are the most inventive decorators of the human body, there are only such on Earth. They choose body ornament for themselves as carefully and zealously as European dandies choose their clothes. In a few strokes of a simple natural dye, antimony is a story about yourself, about your desires and feelings, about militancy or striving for peace, about joy or sadness, about love. A Musgu woman with an aluminum clothespin on her upper lip. Such decorations were typical for many tribes of the Republic of Chad. In childhood, girls from the Lobi and Kirdi tribes had their ears, lips and nose pierced.

Geographical position

Official name - Republic of South Africa.

State located in southern Africa. In the north-east it borders on Mozambique, in the north- With Zimbabwe And Botswana.In North-west borders with Namibia.

Total area of ​​South Africa is more than 1.2 million sq. km. The country is washed by the waters Atlantic And Indian Oceans.

Landscapes of natural zones prevail on the territory of the country savannah And woodlands, semi-deserts And deserts. In the east there is a coastal lowland, and in the south there is a depression. This location of the country predetermines the presence of various natural landscapes.

Most of the country is occupied by high flat plateaus "caroo" And mountains, whose height does not exceed 2500 m. Only a narrow strip of plains stretches along the coast.

It is separated from the highlands draconian ridge (Great Ledge) And Cape mountains.The highest point in the country is Mount Mont-au-Source. Its height is 3299 meters.

In South Africa there are two small enclave states - mountain kingdoms of Lesotho And Swaziland.

South Africa has several climatic zones and climatic zones.- from the desert zone to the zones of the Mediterranean climate and subtropics . dominate the country tropical And subtropical climate. January average temperature here it is from +18 C to +27 C. July average temperature- from +7 C to +10 C.

Need to know that the seasons in South Africa are the opposite of those in the Northern Hemisphere. Winter here it lasts from June to August, and summer- from October to March. Spring And autumn in South Africa are quite short.

There is usually little rainfall. On the coast falls from 60 mm, on the plateau - 650 mm, on the eastern slopes of the Dragon Mountains - up to 2000 mm.

In general, it can be said that the climate in the country smooth And soft throughout the year, a large number of sunny days.

sea ​​water temperature differs depending on the area. In the Atlantic Ocean, it is quite cool. Her average temperature is 12 ° C-17 ° C. But on the coast of the Indian Ocean, it usually warms up to 21 ° C-26 ° C.

Visas, entry rules, customs rules

For entry into the territory of South Africa for citizens of Russia necessary apply for a visa. A visa can be obtained at the consular section of the South African Embassy located in Moscow.

To the country duty-free allowed import a small amount of alcoholic beverages, cigars and cigarettes, as well as gifts and souvenirs, the value of which does not exceed 500 South African rands. Mandatory customs control weapons, as well as antiquities and art, are subject to importation into the country. If goods worth more than 10,000 rand are imported into South Africa, then necessary pay the fee. The fee is 20% of the total amount.

To country it is forbidden import automatic and military weapons, explosives, ammunition, drugs and narcotic preparations in any form.

Population, political condition

Total population South Africa is 43.7 million people. Various nationalities and ethnic groups coexist in the country.

Black people Bantu makes up 77.6% of the total population of South Africa. also live here mestizos, that are descendants of Malagasy, Indians and Malays - 8,7%. white population is about 10.3%, Indians - 2.5%.

Currently in South Africa three capitals: Pretoria, Cape Town And Bloemfontein. City Pretoria It is the administrative capital and the seat of the president of the country.Cape Town represents legislative capital of South Africa. About 2 million people live in it. The country's parliament sits here. City Bloemfontein is judicial capital of South Africa. About 180 thousand people live in it.

The largest cities in the country: Johannesburg(1.8 million people), Durban(1 million people), Port Elizabeth(400 thousand people) and Germiston(200 thousand people).

Administratively, the country is divided into 9 provinces: Western Cape, KwaZulu Natal, North Western Province, Mpumalanga, Eastern Cape, Free State, Houteng, Northern Cape and Limpopo.

South Africa is republic with a presidential form of government. Country is an independent member of the British Commonwealth.

Legislature - bicameral parliament, consisting of Senate And National Assembly. Each of the 9 provinces of South Africa has its own parliament, legislature and government, accountable to the country's prime minister.

In South Africa there is 11 state languages belonging to the main groups of the population. The most widespread Zulu. English language is also widely used in the daily life of the population of the country.

What to see

Kalahari represents one of the most unusual places in the world. This famous desert is located on the ocean, but is considered one of the driest places on our planet. Here you can observe fantastic landscapes and unique animals.

In the Kalahari there are many attractions. Here is located Augrabis National Park with the famous two-stage waterfall. Tourists can also visit the magnificent Kalahari Gemsbok National Park, whose area is about 2 million hectares.

In the Eastern Cape There are a large number of national parks and reserves: Tsitsikamma, Naches Valley, Donkin, Mkambati, national park" Zebra Mountain"and Elephant National Park" Addo", lying on the border with the Cape Province. Near Algoa Bay there are chic beaches over 40 km long. Untouched" Wild Coast" interesting with huge sand dunes, oyster banks and a beautiful valley Happy Valley.

South of the Orange River located semi-desert Karoo plateau. On it lies Karoo National Park. Here is the largest river port of South Africa - East London.

In East London you can visit City Aquarium with a large number of different types of marine and freshwater fish. Interesting and East London Museum with rare items. Also popular with tourists are " ostrich capital" Oudtshoorn, nature reserves Gamka Mountain.

Famous Kruger National Park located in the Eastern Transvaal. It is the hallmark of South Africa. More than 50 species of fish, 114 species of reptiles, 507 species of birds and 147 species of mammals are represented in this unique reserve. There are interesting nurseries around the park - Sabi Sand, Skukuza, Manieleti Game and etc.

In Port Elizabeth you can visit the wonderful Oceanarium, Elephant Park And museum complex Port Elizabeth. Quite interesting are the Victorian quarters of the old part of the city.

Grahamstown considered the most English city in South Africa. Worthy of note here Cape Recife Ecological Reserve and reserve Shamwari. The latter contains the only real traditional Kaya Lendaba village on the territory of South Africa. Is widely known Addo Elephant National Park (Addo). The city is also home to the famous Cathedral of St. Michel and George.

Cape Town was founded in 1652. This city is the seat of the country's parliament and the capital of the Western Cape. The city is very attractive for tourists. It is spread out on a peninsula that separates two oceans. The peninsula ends famous Cape of Good Hope. Near the city is table mountain, whose height is 1086 m.

This city has a large number of attractions. interesting residence of the President of South Africa,one of the best botanical gardens in the world - Kirstenbosch. You can also visit longest shopping street on the continent - Furtrekker Road. South African Cultural History Museum located at Slave Lodge, which is one of the oldest buildings in the city. Jewish Museum located in the building of the oldest synagogue in South Africa.

Durban is one of the largest ports in Africa and provincial capital of KwaZulu-Natal. It is a very wealthy city and a popular resort. Durban " golden mile" ("Marine Crossing") is famous for the fact that it moored here Vasco da Gama. Today it is the best place to relax. Here come for spearfishing, diving, swimming, recreation and entertainment.

Worth seeing here St. Paul's Church, the largest mosque southern hemisphere Juma located in Indian Quarter. Traditionally popular with tourists National Museum of Natural History, Museum of Natural Sciences, Museum of Old Buildings And Center for African Art. Must visit reptile parkFitzsimmons, Dolphinarium Sea World And Durban Botanic Garden. In Ulundi located residence of the Zulu King Goodwin Zwelithini. To Dundee interesting enough Talana Museum. In Pietermaritzburg There is Natal Provincial Museum, Queen Elizabeth Park, and Vorttrekker Museum And National Botanical Garden Natal.

Amlanga Rocks is one of the most luxurious resorts in South Africa. Here it is shark institute And African Art Gallery. You can see howan reserved forest And Umgeni River Bird Park.

In Tongata quite picturesque hindu temples juggernuff puri And Vishwarup. stanger (Dukuza) represents The ancient capital of the Zulu kingdom. The city has an interesting North Shore Museum and big East market.

Unique dragon mountains And Veld are considered natural monuments. Mountain resorts are located here. These places are distinguished by picturesque landscapes.

The historical center of South Africa is the northwest of the country. Here it is provinces Gotang (Houteng) and lie arid the Transvaal plateau. It was from here that the beginning of the colonization of these lands was laid. This place is concentrated the most important cities in the country - Johannesburg And Pretoria. These cities are the financial, industrial and commercial centers of the country.

Johannesburg the locals used to call Joburg (Yosi). This city was founded in 1886. Then the gold digger George Harrison from Australia found a gold mine here. Since then, the city began to grow very rapidly. Today it is one of the richest cities in the world. It looks quite industrial. There are quite interesting buildings in the city center. The most beautiful building in the city is considered skyscraper "Diamond", quite interesting for tourists Museum of Medicine Adler, Paleontological Museum. You can also visit Rock Art Museum in the zoological park. In Johannesburg, numerous tourists are always attracted by the famous diamond factory. Here you can not only see, but also buy diamonds right after cutting. The city is home to Africa's largest multi-storey shopping mall called Sandton. "market square"is one of the most grandiose markets of the African continent.

The former suburbs surrounding the metropolis are also attractive for tourists. Worth seeing here Africa Museum in Newtown And Museum of Nelson Mandela. To Soweto is the best on the African continent zoo. Are very popular Lesedi Cultural Village in Swartkops Hills And historic Zulu village Sibaya-Zulu-Boma. Located nearby Wadderbil Park- real bird sanctuary. "gold mine" located in Rendfontein.

60 km. north of Johannesburg lies Tswane city (Pretoria). It is one of the capitals of South Africa and the administrative center of the Transvaal province. In this city it is recommended to see Kerkplats square with the old Town Hall, as well as Cathedral Square with the buildings of the Old Raadsaal and the Palace of Justice. In Braintirion Park is the official residence of the President of South Africa. At the Kruger Museum there are expositions devoted to the first president of the Transvaal, Paulus Kruger, and the history of the Anglo-Boer War.

The attractions of this city are quite interesting, such as: Monument to the First Settlers, building of the South African Reserve Bank, which is the tallest building in the city, National Zoo of South Africa And observatory "Radcliffe". Here you can also visit municipal art gallery and numerous museums.

The Dragon Mountains form a natural border with Eastern Lesotho. highest point is Mount Tkabana-Ntlenyana. Its height is 3482 m. The length of this basalt wall is about 250 km. This area is perfect for outdoor enthusiasts. Nature here is distinguished by its beauty and diversity. In the areas of Zululand and the North Shore tourists have an amazing opportunity to get acquainted with the culture of the Zulu peoples.

Most of the mountainous areas are occupied by national parks. The most famous and interesting of them is Royal Natal National Park. The southern border of this park is formed by the so-called " Amphitheater". This is a very unusual type of cliff. Its length is 8 km.

Not far from here is the famous Tugela waterfall 948 meters high. This waterfall consists of five cascades. Lake Santa Lucia and adjacent territories, which occupies 275 thousand hectares, were included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. Lake Sibaya is the largest natural freshwater lake in South Africa. Its area is 77 sq. km. In the vicinity of this lake there is a large number of reserves: Loteni, Highville, Swamp, Giant Castle, Itala, Valley, Ndumo, Mkuzi, Wilderness, Royal National Park etc. In the eastern part of the country there are magnificent reserves Umfolosi And Hluhluwe that stretched for many kilometers.

maputaland represents the land of nations tsonga. It is one of the most remote and wild regions of the country. These lands are famous for their sand dunes, which are considered the highest in the world. There are large areas with absolutely untouched nature. In these places, there is a collision of tropical and subtropical climatic zones. This fact explains the diversity of the local flora and fauna.

In Maputaland almost all existing species of wild animals of South Africa and more than four hundred species of birds are found. Numerous fans of outdoor activities come here. Coral reefs V Sodwana Bay National Park great for exciting diving and sea fishing. For lovers of sunbathing, there are excellent beaches. Unique area Cozy Bay famous for its salt lake ecosystem.

North Western Province attracts with its unique natural conditions for outdoor activities. The local fauna is striking in its richness. It will be interesting to visit many caves. Moreover, many of them are of great interest from the point of view of studying the origin of man. In this area there are lakes and streams with the purest water.

Tourists are recommended to visit here. Pilanesberg National Park, and nature reserves Medikwe, Botsalano And Faan Meintjies. Very interesting Center for Wild Animal Reproduction in Lichtenburg. Also popular are: Reptile and Animal Parkin Hartbeespoort, amusement park "Golden Reef", Vaal River. Attract visitors and places that are associated with the Boer War. There is also an entertainment city called sun city. It is an analogue of the American Las Vegas.

In the extreme south of South Africa lies the famous cape peninsula. It has a wide variety of historical and cultural attractions.

From Cape Town begins the famous " Garden Route". This is one of the most magnificent sightseeing routes in the world. From here, tourists also have the opportunity to visit Needle Cape And reserves of the Cape of Good Hope, and Fernkloof. From Cape Town you can go to resort Hermanus famous for its whale festivals.

Great popularity among numerous tourists who come to South Africa enjoy the magnificent endless beaches Kleinmond, Camps Bay, Clifton, Lianduno, Sandy Bay, Whitsands, Scarborough, Falls Bay, Mulsenberg, Fish Hook. Interesting enough Seal Island Dyulker.In Hout Bay can see giant bird colony.

In the vineyard region of Boland famous wine centers Stellenbosch, Parl, Franschhoek And Constant.

northern cape is the largest province in South Africa. This region of the great desert is interesting, first of all, for its unique wildlife. There is a very beautiful nature and a large number of minerals.

kimberley is the diamond capital of the country. This city appeared around the diamond mines. In the city center you can still see the famous Big Hole ("Great Hole"). It represents world's largest open pit mine. This mine is famous for the fact that it started with it" diamond rush"at the beginning of the last century. Here, for a small fee, tourists have the opportunity to try to find a diamond on their own.

Currently, Kimberley is a modern city. Here you can see wide streets, wonderful parks and gardens. Tourists coming to Kimberley have the opportunity to comfortably stay in modern hotels. The city has its own tourist tram. Worth a visit here William Humphreys Museum of Fine Arts. quite interesting and Mining Museum, which is located on the edge of the Big Hole.

5 km. off the Kimberley there is a diamond deposit that is still active today called Bultfontein. Numerous tourists are taken here on excursions.

interesting thunder alley rapids And Egerton Rapids on the Orange River. From here, most of the routes to the great Kalahari Desert begin.

Mosselbay And Richards Bay are major ports and resort towns of the country. Between them along the coast stretched a large number of the most luxurious hotels and beaches in the country.

In ancient times, on the territory of modern South Africa lived Bushmen, Hottentots And Bantu peoples. In 1488 Portuguese sailors discovered the southern tip of the African continent. After that, the colonization of the country began.

In 1652 the Dutch East India Company founded the first European settlement here. In the history of South Africa there are many wars between England and the descendants of the Dutch settlers. The descendants of the Dutch made up a special ethnic community - Boers. A particularly fierce struggle was waged here after diamond deposits were discovered on the territory of the country. As a result Boer War 1899 - 1902 the Boer republics were captured by Great Britain.

May 31, 1910 was formed Union of South Africa. The mass struggle against apartheid was spearheaded African National Congress(ANC), founded in 1912. On May 31, 1961, the Union was transformed into Republic of South Africa(South Africa) within the British Commonwealth.

This union included self-governing English colonies(Cape, Natal) And Boer republics (Orange Free State And Transvaal). After that, political parties were legalized in the country. In 1993, the state government began to take steps to desegregate education. On April 27, 1994, democracy came to South Africa, and an interim constitution came into force. At the same time, the first multi-racial elections to the National Assembly were held. In June of that year, South Africa regained its membership in the Commonwealth. President country was elected leader of the ANC N. Mandela.

International trade

Foreign trade is of great importance in the economic life of the country. South Africa is one of the 25 largest exporters in the world. Incomes from foreign trade make up about 50% of GDP. The volume of exports even slightly exceeds the volume of imports.

Main trading partners of the country: America, Germany, Japan, UK, France, Italy And Canada. There is a noticeable increase in the turnover of foreign trade with these states.

The main import products are cars, food, oil,vehicles And chemical products. Main import partners: Germany, USA, China, Japan, UK, France, Saudi Arabia And Iran.

The main export commodities areequipment, minerals (diamonds, gold and platinum), machinery, vehicles, foodstuffs And beverages. Main export partners:USA, UK, Japan, Germany And Netherlands.

South Africa plays a major role in activities South African Customs Union (SACU), which was created in 1969.

The shops

South African cities have the shops And shopping centers where you can buy anything you want.

souvenir shops offer a wide variety of ethnic souvenirs.

convenience stores located at gas stations and car service stations. Need to know that beer and spirits are not sold in supermarkets, only wines can be bought in them. For spirits there are specialized stores.

Shops and shopping centers of the country usually open from Monday to Friday until 18:00. On Saturday they are open until 15:00. On Sundays, shopping centers are open, some clothing stores are open until 13:00. Products on Sunday can be purchased in shopping centers until 15:00.

Demography

The demographic situation in the country is rather complicated. First of all, it is related to the problem widespread AIDS on the territory of South Africa. Because of this disease, the death rate here for a long time exceeded the birth rate. This problem has now been resolved. Thus, last year there was a small population growth, amounting to 0.8%. White population in South Africa steadily declining. This is due to their emigration to America and European countries. In addition, it also happens black influx from the neighboring state of Zimbabwe.

Industry

The main industries in South Africa are: mining industry, energy,mechanical engineering, metallurgy And telecommunications.mining industry played an important role in the development of the South African economy. However, in recent years its importance has declined significantly. Currently, its products account for only about 7% of GDP. Today it employs about 500 thousand people.

Energy share in the country's economy is quite large and amounts to 15% of GDP. South Africa is ranked 16th in terms of energy consumption. Currently, about 250 thousand people work at the country's energy enterprises. The pace of energy production is growing every year. There are many enterprises with energy-intensive production in the country.

The increase in energy production is achieved through the use of new technologies and new raw materials. But until now, the main component of the country's energy sector is coal. There is a lot of coal in South Africa and it is easily available for mining and processing. For this reason, energy in the country is quite cheap.

Recently, several hydropower complexes and enterprises that use nuclear energy.

mechanical engineering is also very important in the country's economy. Its basis is automotive And machine tool enterprises. The centers of the automotive industry in South Africa are considered to be such cities as: Port Elizabeth, Eitenhach, Cape Town, East London, Durban, Johannesburg And Pretoria.

South Africa today has the largest number of cars on the entire continent. In terms of the number of cars per capita, the country is in the top twenty. There is 1 car for 12 people.

There are also many companies in South Africa that produce maritime And rivercourt, aircraft, railway wagons And locomotives, accessories And a number of special devices.

Flora and fauna

Animal world countries are quite diverse. About 6% of all animals on our planet live in South Africa. In only one National Park, the Kruger lives about 33 species amphibians, 114 kinds reptile, 147 species animals and 507 species birds.

Common in South Africa antelopes, zebras, giraffes, jackals, hyenas, hippos crocodiles And cheetahs. Also inhabited here black and white rhinos, lions, leopards, elephants And buffaloes. South Africa is one of the few countries that has managed to avoid the complete extermination of rhinos. Restored in South Africa and population wild dog. The marine life of South Africa is presented whales, sharks and extensive colonies of seals.

South Africa is home to 7% of the world's birds. There are about 900 species of them in the country. live here ostriches, royal eagles, penguin colonies, flocks of seabirds. Found here and very rare. blue crane.

Flora South Africa is also very rich. 8% of all world plants grow in the country. About 80% of them are found nowhere else on the planet. " Path of gardens"in the Western Cape is one of the most beautiful spectacles in the world. Proteus is the symbol of the country.

In the semi-desert Northern Cape, a type of vegetation is mainly distributed, called " punishment". It is a low grass cover, low shrubs and succulent plants.

Thickets of shrubs with sparse trees and an abundance of grass are called bushveld. This type of vegetation is common in the northwestern part of the Central Plateau and further to the east of the country. The main components of the bushveld are shrub and tree forms acacias, giant baobabs And mopane. The arid Northwest Province is covered in thorny shrubs, grasses, and solitary trees. Shrub vegetation prevails in the Cape region fynbos or macchia.

In the southern and southeastern coastal regions, remnants of primary forests have been preserved in places. Shrub thickets predominate at low altitudes. Grow at high altitudes herbage from high grains. Along the coast there are dense forests of stunted trees. There are also palm trees, bananas And Mimusops obovate. Grows in river mouths mangroves.

Banks and money

The most convenient mode of transport for movement around the country is considered Personal car. The total length of the country's highways is over 206,000 km. About 60 thousand km of them have a hard surface.

In South Africa, tourists can take car for rent. It's very simple. The driver for this must be at least 23 years old. With me necessary have a valid international driver's license with a photo.

In South Africa there are two types of taxi. Travel in big cities ordinary taxis with a meter. They are quite expensive. You can't catch a taxi on the street, a car need to order by phone. You can also wait for a taxi at special parking lots, but there are not many of them. exist in the country and fixed-route taxis. They are cheaper, but have a lower degree of safety and comfort. Vote in cities and on the road not accepted.

In South Africa absent well-developed public transport system. All cities have municipal buses. They run according to the approved schedule until a certain hour. The schedule of these buses is quite irregular. It is especially problematic to wait for them on weekends and holidays. There are no such buses in small towns. The total length of railways in South Africa is about 31.7 thousand km.

The country has 9 major airports. International airports are located in cities such as: Johannesburg, Durban And Cape Town.The biggest- in Johannesburg. All airports are connected with the center and major hotels by bus lines. Doing international transport five major companies

The basis of agriculture country is agriculture. Only about 22% of the territory can potentially be used for cultivation of agricultural crops. In South Africa, there are problems with the provision of fresh water. Its resources are small, but the need for fresh water is growing every year. Despite all this, agriculture in South Africa continues to develop.

The main crops of southern Africa aregrain crops (corn, wheat), various species are also grown here. fruits, grapes And sugar cane.

In animal husbandry most developed meat and dairy production. It is practiced in the north and east of the Free State province, in the interior of Hoteng province, and it is also common in the southern part of Mpumalanga province. Meat breeds predominate in the Northern and Eastern Cape. In the drylands of the Northern and Eastern Cape, the Free State and Mpumalanga, bredsheep. Country actively exports astrakhan.

Large quantities are bred in South Africa and angora goats. The country accounts for 50% of the world's mohair production. also common here Boer goat breed, her bred for meat.

poultry farming And pig breeding in South Africa, they are common on farms near large cities: Pretoria, Johannesburg, Durban, Pietermaritzburg, Cape Town and Port Elizabeth.

In the province of the Free State in recent years, the beginning of developing ostrich breeding. South Africa gradually continues to increase export of meat, leather And feathers of this bird.

In a restaurant, tips are usually 10-12% of the total cost of the order. This amount includes drinks. Porters accepted give from 2 to 5 rand per piece of luggage. Guide and driver usually leave 15 - 20 rand per day per person.

National Features

There is some differencein the rules of greeting between white and black South Africans. In white culture accepted so that the younger one greets the older one first. In black culture, the opposite is true - the younger must wait for the older to greet him.

South Africans of English descent and black South Africans during a conversation don't look point-blank at the interlocutor. This counts indecent and perceived as aggressive. But the Afrikaners accepted constantly look the interlocutor in the eye. If the interlocutor often looks away, then this may be perceived as a manifestation of insincerity or dishonesty.

Never it is forbidden shake your left hand when communicating with blacks and Muslims (Indians or colored people). The left hand is considered unclean in African and Muslim culture.

Black South Africans give and receive gifts two hands. This is how they express their special respect and show gratitude.

Afrikaners are generally more conservative than English-speaking South Africans. This is especially true in matters of race and family relations. The younger ones quite often can use the words " aunt" And " uncle". This applies not only to appeals to relatives, but also to strangers who are older than the speaker.

South Africans during a conversation trying not to let long pauses. Such pauses usually make them uncomfortable. But excessive assertiveness when conducting business negotiations with South Africans is also not needed.

In public places, black South Africans speak quite loudly, which is unusual for the white population. This is due to the traditions that have developed in their culture. They are considered to speak softly when they speak badly about someone.

South Africans have some typical gestures which we do not understand. Waving in front of the face with crossed palms turned inward means " complete lack of understanding».

And a slightly raised hand with a palm down, which moves from side to side, means " screwed up, screwed up».

White South Africans are distinguished by their great punctuality. Here, usually the date and time of the visit are negotiated a few days in advance. If an urgent meeting is needed, then you need to call and explain the reason for it.

For business or just friendly meetings accepted arrive on time. Even a slight delay of 10 minutes can ruin your relationship with South Africans. This is due to the fact that among white South Africans, being late to meetings and breaking an agreement is associated with black behavior.

Electricity

Tap water in almost all major cities and most reserves in the country is purified and safe for drinking.

The country has developed system of medical control and service. However, a unified health insurance system absent.

First aid is provided for free. All further treatment will be paid and it will be very expensive.

A very big problem in South Africa is the massive distribution HIV infections. Mostly blacks are affected.

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