The Listing Hop
Bish Denham is celebrating 8 years of blogging with this delightful bloghop! Congratulations Bish!
As Bish says: this fest will be so easy and fun it should probably be a crime. So I’ve hopped on board at the last minute…
The rules are simple. All you have to do is sign up, grab the banner, and make a list. I suggest you keep your list to between 5 and 25 items long.
My List: 8 Interesting Facts About South Africa
There were hundreds of facts to choose from, but I decided on eight.
- South Africa has the oldest wine industry outside of Europe and the Mediterranean, featuring Chardonnays, Pinot Noir, Merlot, Cinsault, Riesling, Shiraz, Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Pinotage varietals. South Africa also has the longest wine route in the world.
2. South Africa is rated 3rd in the world in supplying safe, drinkable tap water. Yep, simply turn on the tap (faucet for the Americans) and drink the clean water. I do it every day!
3. South Africa has the cheapest electricity in the world.
4. South Africa has deserts, mountains, escarpments, plateaus, grasslands, bush, wetlands and subtropical forests.
5. The world’s largest diamond was the Cullinan Diamond, found in South Africa in 1905. It weighed 3,106.75 carats uncut.
6. Three of the five fastest land animals live in South Africa – the cheetah (63 miles per hour), the wildebeest, and the lion.
7. There are more than 2,000 shipwrecks, dating back at least 500 years, off the South African coast. More than one of these, including the Waratah, simply vanished without a trace.
8. Two of the world’s most profoundly compassionate philosophies originated in South Africa – Ubuntu (the belief in a universal bond of sharing that connects all humanity) and Gandhi’s notion of “Passive resistance” (Satyagraha), which he developed while living in South Africa.
How many of the above facts did you know? Anything that interests you that I haven’t mentioned here? Ask away… I’ll try my best to answer your questions.
Are you interested in visiting South Africa? Remember that 1USD (US dollar) = 13.649ZAR (South African rand) so tourists really score… big time!
Now I’m off to visit some of the other participants!
Your water is probably safer than ours.
Wildebeests are that fast? I didn’t know that.
Thanks for participating in the blog hop!
Our water is clear and very safe. We drink it directly from the faucet.
That is one big diamond! I didn’t know wildebeests were fast? Those are some cool facts.
Wildebeest have a maximum running speed of around 80 km/h (50 mph).
Very informative and interesting list. #2 & #7 were my favorites facts to learn,
Juneta Writer’s Gambit
Those shipwrecks are intriguing… lots of stories waiting to be told…
Cool facts. I sorta knew the bit about Ubuntu because I’ve used the operating system and hubby told me there was a reason behind the name and icon they used.
I don’t know much about that operating system… did it originate here?
Very informative! These are all interesting facts that I didn’t know…
Yvonne
Glad you could learn something new!
Wow, these are fascinating facts, Michelle. Didn’t know most of these.
Maybe I need to post more of these educational/informative posts…
Thanks for listing with me! The only fact I knew for sure was about Ghandi. I was somewhat aware of universal bond of sharing but didn’t know the name of the tribe. I also was somewhat aware of the ship wrecks, but not the number. Very interesting all of it!
The term is linked to the Nguni Bantu people.
Thank you for hosting this wonderul bloghop!
I bet a lot of people come there looking for those sunken ships.
All sorts of people… for different reasons…
Fast Wildebeests!! My friend uses Ubuntu so I knew that one. Could I borrow that diamond? 🙂
I’m wondering, what will you do with the diamond? 🙂
Pardon my ignorance, Michelle, but if I had have known that about the wine I would have high-tailed it over there before now! I know about the diamonds (mainly thanks to The Power of One). I’m not surprised about the shipwrecks. Many a tale has been told of losing ships in the Cape of Good Hope. Now thanks for reminding me of Ubuntu, which I find fascinating. When’s the next Ubuntu hop?
Thanks for a very interesting share.
Denise 🙂
Well, you are a seasoned traveller… always on the go… be sure to let me know when you’re in my neck of the woods, Denise! 🙂
I’m surprised wildebeests are so fast! I’m also now curious where the #1 and #2 safe clean water joints are. Cool facts. Thanks for sharing. I’d love to see more info on South Africa. My knowledge is fairly limited.
My city rates high for quality water!
There are challenges, but our tap water quality still remains among the best in the world.
Really interesting! My nephew’s favorite animal is the cheetah, and that fact about the shipwrecks is fascinating.
The cheetah is such a beautiful animal to look at… 🙂
VERY cool list, Michelle! I had no idea about the clean tap water… We’re very proud of that here in Curaçao, but it’s darn expensive—and, by the way, so is electricity. I’m another surprised camper about the wildebeest, too… somehow I always envisioned them as kind of stodgy, somewhat wild and not very friendly cows 😀 Yes, I’d absolutely LOOOOVE to visit SA one day. I came close when I was in the corporate world (the company I worked for had an office there), but, alas, I quit. Now I’ll need to do some very serious writing to afford it, haha 🙂
UBUNTU! My very favoritests of all philosophies… Yeah, when’s the next Ubuntu hop? I want in! 🙂
Thanks Guilie!
Will keep you posted with regards to the next Ubuntu hop! 🙂
These were interesting facts! I’m embarrassed to say I didn’t really know any of them.
I am fascinated by the shipwreck that vanished – seems like there could be a great story there. I also never would have guessed that wildebeests are one of the fastest animals.
We learn something new… every day… 🙂
I could imagine you writing a great story based on a shipwreck… involving a ghost, maybe?
Cool facts! I admit, I didn’t know many of them and I didn’t know the wildebeest is fast. That last one feels especially bad since I used to take my kids for near-weekly visits at a nearby zoo and aquarium and we used to read a lot of animal fact books.
And those shipwrecks – that just sounds like awesome story fodder. 🙂
I need to look into the shipwreck stories… do some investigation… you never know what it may trigger… 🙂
I didn’t know most of these. South Africa sounds like a pretty interesting place to visit. I’d be nervous about visiting in a ship.
Arlee Bird
A to Z Challenge Co-host
Tossing It Out
Flying would be the best option… all those shipwrecks are scary… 🙂
Ohh! That shipwreck detail makes me want to take a scuba trip.
I wonder how many people go scuba diving at the site of these shipwrecks? And what have they discovered? I’ll have to do a bit of research…
I would love to visit South Africa… It sounds like an amazing place and would’ve quite the adventure! One day when I can afford the camera I want, I will hop on a plan and visit… I so want to go on a photographic safari!
You would LOVE the safari adventure, Michael!
I can picture you with your camera… 🙂
It seems like it’d be a neat place to live. I’d love to visit someday. 🙂
The South African Astronomical Observatory would interest you, Mary. It promotes astronomy and astrophysics in Southern Africa, by sharing research findings and discoveries. 🙂
Hmm . . . I don’t believe that diamond exists. Have someone send it over to me for inspection, I’ll charge them a dollar per carat and I’ll make up a certificate of authenticity if it passes my tests.
That’s crazy about the ships!
You don’t believe it exists? Read Hilary’s comment below… 🙂
I love all the info about SA. I didn’t know any of that. I really like the fact that it has such variety of land, sea, and climate. That makes it great for vacations. Happy Halloween weekend! 🙂
Good to see your comment here, Lexa!
SA is a prime holiday destination! With the gorgeous weather and the exchange rate which favors visitors, it’s a win-win! 🙂
I loved learning about the facts about South Africa. I think I knew the diamond fact. It sounds familiar. That’s so cool you have cheetahs there. They’re my favorite wild cat.
They’re really beautiful up close——
Great list, I love learning about places I’ve never been. So many ships, how mysterious.
We have a well, but still drink bottled water, it’s safer. Would love to come across a diamond that big. 🙂
Thanks for popping in, Yolanda Renee! 🙂
Hi Michelle – the Ubuntu philosophy has come round once again … and you’ve some extra interested participants on offer here. I love SA as you know – the Skeleton Coast of Namibia has always intrigued – and I’ve been lucky enough to visit … I also read a very good book recently on it … I’d better write up about it —- sometime!
I’m glad the water is working, I gather electricity is spasmodic, while the postal system is zero or thereabouts … depressing really … I know the Cullinan is in our Crown Jewels … hence the locking of the Tower of London so effectively each night!! Huge safe like metal box, within the Tower … which gets a lock-down … cheers Hilary
I’m sure that diamond is well guarded. As you said, lock-down each night!
Electricity is “up and down” but at least the water is okay… for now… who knows what the new year will bring… but we’ll remain positive… 🙂
Fascinating list. I only knew a few of those things. Thank you for sharing! 🙂
My pleasure. Thank you, Christine. 🙂
Love that bit about the cheap electricity, and the safe water. Wish we had those all over the world.
And thanks for all your support in the last few days, Michelle!
Electricity and water – two basic commodities that every country should have in place. Our electricity is the cheapest BUT we still have the load-shedding system… not on a continuous basis though… it comes and goes *sigh*
You’re welcome, Damyanti!
Sorry I’m late, Michelle. I’m borrowing internet from my neighbour and trying not to overwhelm their usage. This is a very interesting list. I knew about the diamond, but not about the electricity.
I understand. No worries. 🙂
That’s an amazing rate for the dollar. I didn’t know any of these facts.