Country profile: South Africa

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The Republic of South Africa is on the southern tip of the continent of Africa. The capital is Pretoria. It is a big country - 1,219,000 sq. km and it is the 25th biggest country in the world. It is about 3 times bigger than Japan.

It used to be the Netherland's and Britain's colony, but it became an independent country in 1948.

The languages spoken in South Africa are iZulu, Xhosa, Africaans, English and other African languages.

There are nineteen National Parks in South Africa, including Kruger N.P. & Table Mountain N.P., where you can see fur seals, buffaloes, elephants, leopards, lions, rhinoceros, and the national symbol, the Springbok.

The Republic of South Africa exports gold, chromium, antimony,coal, iron ore, managanese, nickel, phosphates, tin, uranium, gems, diamonds, platinum, copper, vanadium, salt and natural gas.

There are writers like Nadine Gardinaer & J.M. Coetzee. Of a population of 47 million, there are 5.7 million people who live in South Africa with HIV/AIDS, and the highest death rate (from HIV/AIDS) in the world.

The next FIFA World Cup will be in South Africa! Japan's first game is on June 14th, against Cameroon.

Toshiya's homework, after reading about the life (and tragic death) of Dian Fossey and the gorillas she studied, defended in Central Africa.


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