Here are some really interesting facts anout Mexico...
The three colors of Mexico’s flag hold deep significance for the country and its citizens: green represents hope and victory, white stands for the purity of Mexican ideals and red brings to mind the blood shed by the nation’s heroes.
The flag’s dramatic emblem is based on the legend of how the Mexicas (or Aztecs) traveled from Aztlán to find the place where they could establish their empire. The god Huitzilopochtli advised them that a sign—an eagle devouring a serpent atop a Nopal cactus—would appear to them at the exact spot where they should begin construction. On a small island in the middle of a lake, the Mexicas came upon the scene exactly as Huitzilopochtli had described it. They immediately settled there and founded the city of Tenochtitlán, which is now Mexico City, the country’s capital.
Mexico is the third-largest country in Latin America after Brazil and Argentina.
At the beginning of the 21st century, Mexico's population surpassed 100 million.
Mexico has the largest population of Spanish speakers in the world.
With almost 25 million residents, Mexico City is one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world.
Mexico has the world’s second-highest number of Catholics after Brazil.
At nearly 2,000 miles, the border between Mexico and the United States is the second-longest in the world, after the border between the United States and Canada.
Mexicans comprise the largest group of legal immigrants in the United States.
Mexico is located in an area known as the Pacific “Ring of Fire.” This region, one of Earth’s most dynamic tectonic areas, is characterized by active volcanoes and frequent seismic activity. The highest point in the country, Citlaltépetl (also called Orizaba) and the active volcano Popocatépetl are among the many volcanic peaks in Mexico.
The Great Ball Court at Chichén Itzá Mexico, which was used for ritualistic sports by the ancient Mayans, is the largest such court the world, measuring 166 by 68 meters (545 by 232 feet). The game, which involved elements similar to those of soccer and basketball, was played by two teams whose number varied according to region.
Tequila, a liquor for which Mexico is famous, is made from the native blue agave plant. Named after the city where it originated, Tequila is primarily manufactured near Jalisco, which is 65 kilometers (40 miles) northwest of Guadalajara.
Mexico is the world’s leading producer of silver. An area called the Silver Belt—which encompasses Guanajuato and Zacatecas in the Mesa Central, Chihuahua in the Mesa del Norte and San Luis Potosi farther east—saw significant mining activity during the colonial period.
Mexico hosted the Summer Olympics in 1968 and the FIFA World Cup soccer championship in 1970 and 1986.
The Mexico City Arena—one of the largest bullfighting arenas in the world—seats 50,000. Another 35 arenas are located throughout the country.
Source: history.com , factsnfacts.com
Showing posts with label countries. Show all posts
Showing posts with label countries. Show all posts
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Facts about Australia
These are some really interesting facts about Australia. I found these quite different from the normal ones available on the internet...
The UK fits into Australia thirty-three and a third times.
The platypus is only found in Australia.
The World’s longest mail run in a single day is the flying postman’s route. From Cairns to Cape York the postie covers 1450km over nine hours with ten stops.
Tasmania has the cleanest air in the world and its rainwater is so pure 5.5 tonnes of it was shipped to Seoul to quench the thirsts of Australia’s Olympic athletes.
Hyams Beach in Jervis Bay, NSW, has the whitest sand on Earth according to the Guinness Book of Records.
Sydney has the deepest natural harbour in the world with 504,00 mega litres of water.
Australians drive on the left-hand side of the road like us.
Australians celebrate the Queens birthday with a public holiday. Alright for some!
Perth has more cafes per capita than any other city in the world.
South Australia is the driest state on the World’s driest continent.
Half of Australia’s total wine production comes from South Australia.
Western Australia is Australia’s largest State. At 2,525,500 sq km, Western Australia is about the same size as Western Europe, and possesses cattle stations (ranches) the size of England.
Approximately 200,000 camels roam Australia’s deserts representing the largest herd of wild camels on earth.
There are over 60 national parks and reserves in the Northern Territory including Kakadu National Park, Litchfield National Park, Uluru - Kata Tjuta National Park (Ayers Rock), West MacDonnell National Park, Nitmiluk National Park (Katherine Gorge), and Davenport Ranges National Park (Tennant Creek).
Melbourne has been twice voted the most liveable city in the world by the London based Economist Intelligence Unit.
Australia’s longest running soap, Neighbours, celebrated its 20th anniversary last year (2005) having broadcast 4,635 episodes. Visitors to Melbourne can take an official Neighbours tour to Ramsay street (real name Pin Oak Court) in Vermont South, you can also see an authentic Neighbours set in the Melbourne Museum. Look closely and you will see that cast members of the soap have signed the back of the set. Check out the Neighbours Trivia Night, held every Monday evening at the Elephant and Wheelbarrow pub in trendy St Kilda, where you can mingle with the stars and get your photos taken with the likes of Dr. Karl Kennedy and Toadie.
The Australian Surf Life Savers set up beach life guarding in the UK with the RNLI in 1953.
Fraser Island in Queensland is the largest sand island in the World.
Australia is the only continent on Earth occupied by only one nation.
Australia has a tradition of building giant, quirky structures that can often be spotted by the road side. New South Wales is home to the Big Banana, Queensland has the Big Apple, the Big Tasmanian Devil can be found in Tasmania, you can find the Big Scotsman in South Australia, the Big Koala in Victoria, the Big Crocodile in Western Australia and the Big Stubby in The Northern Territory.
Source: embraceaustralia.com , Interesting Facts
The UK fits into Australia thirty-three and a third times.
The platypus is only found in Australia.
The World’s longest mail run in a single day is the flying postman’s route. From Cairns to Cape York the postie covers 1450km over nine hours with ten stops.
Tasmania has the cleanest air in the world and its rainwater is so pure 5.5 tonnes of it was shipped to Seoul to quench the thirsts of Australia’s Olympic athletes.
Hyams Beach in Jervis Bay, NSW, has the whitest sand on Earth according to the Guinness Book of Records.
Sydney has the deepest natural harbour in the world with 504,00 mega litres of water.
Australians drive on the left-hand side of the road like us.
Australians celebrate the Queens birthday with a public holiday. Alright for some!
Perth has more cafes per capita than any other city in the world.
South Australia is the driest state on the World’s driest continent.
Half of Australia’s total wine production comes from South Australia.
Western Australia is Australia’s largest State. At 2,525,500 sq km, Western Australia is about the same size as Western Europe, and possesses cattle stations (ranches) the size of England.
Approximately 200,000 camels roam Australia’s deserts representing the largest herd of wild camels on earth.
There are over 60 national parks and reserves in the Northern Territory including Kakadu National Park, Litchfield National Park, Uluru - Kata Tjuta National Park (Ayers Rock), West MacDonnell National Park, Nitmiluk National Park (Katherine Gorge), and Davenport Ranges National Park (Tennant Creek).
Melbourne has been twice voted the most liveable city in the world by the London based Economist Intelligence Unit.
Australia’s longest running soap, Neighbours, celebrated its 20th anniversary last year (2005) having broadcast 4,635 episodes. Visitors to Melbourne can take an official Neighbours tour to Ramsay street (real name Pin Oak Court) in Vermont South, you can also see an authentic Neighbours set in the Melbourne Museum. Look closely and you will see that cast members of the soap have signed the back of the set. Check out the Neighbours Trivia Night, held every Monday evening at the Elephant and Wheelbarrow pub in trendy St Kilda, where you can mingle with the stars and get your photos taken with the likes of Dr. Karl Kennedy and Toadie.
The Australian Surf Life Savers set up beach life guarding in the UK with the RNLI in 1953.
Fraser Island in Queensland is the largest sand island in the World.
Australia is the only continent on Earth occupied by only one nation.
Australia has a tradition of building giant, quirky structures that can often be spotted by the road side. New South Wales is home to the Big Banana, Queensland has the Big Apple, the Big Tasmanian Devil can be found in Tasmania, you can find the Big Scotsman in South Australia, the Big Koala in Victoria, the Big Crocodile in Western Australia and the Big Stubby in The Northern Territory.
Source: embraceaustralia.com , Interesting Facts
Friday, May 29, 2009
Spain: Food & Drink
Here are some really interesting facts about food and drink in Spain. See how Spain is such an important place when you talk about food...
Spain makes 44% of the world's olive oil, more than twice that of Italy and four times that of Greece. More than a quarter of Spain's oil (10% of the total world production) comes from Jaen.
Nearly three-quarters of the world's saffron is grown in Spain.
The original paella was not considered a seafood dish but had chicken, rabbit and pork (and sometimes snails). There is some debate over the origin of the word.
Tapas is not a type of food but a way of eating it. Tapa means cover and was traditionally a slice of cheese or ham placed over a drink.
The Spanish (in particular, the people of Cadiz) claim to have invented fried fish. Great Britain had links to Cadiz in the eighteenth century and it is thought that the British imported the idea of fish 'n' chips from there.
'Dominations of Origin', common in wine labeling, is also used in Spain to guarantee the quality of ham, olive oil and even paprika.
Though Spain is more famous for its red wine than white, the majority of its vineyards have white grapes.
The fortified wine sherry comes from the city of Jerez in Andalusia. 'Sherry' is a corruption of Shariz, the Persian name for the city. In Spanish, sherry is simply called 'vino de Jerez' (Jerez wine).
Tomatoes, potatoes, avocadoes, tobacco, and cacao (for chocolate) were all imported into Europe by Spain.
Spain is one of the top five importers of Scotch whiskey in the world.
Source: gospain.about.com
Spain makes 44% of the world's olive oil, more than twice that of Italy and four times that of Greece. More than a quarter of Spain's oil (10% of the total world production) comes from Jaen.
Nearly three-quarters of the world's saffron is grown in Spain.
The original paella was not considered a seafood dish but had chicken, rabbit and pork (and sometimes snails). There is some debate over the origin of the word.
Tapas is not a type of food but a way of eating it. Tapa means cover and was traditionally a slice of cheese or ham placed over a drink.
The Spanish (in particular, the people of Cadiz) claim to have invented fried fish. Great Britain had links to Cadiz in the eighteenth century and it is thought that the British imported the idea of fish 'n' chips from there.
'Dominations of Origin', common in wine labeling, is also used in Spain to guarantee the quality of ham, olive oil and even paprika.
Though Spain is more famous for its red wine than white, the majority of its vineyards have white grapes.
The fortified wine sherry comes from the city of Jerez in Andalusia. 'Sherry' is a corruption of Shariz, the Persian name for the city. In Spanish, sherry is simply called 'vino de Jerez' (Jerez wine).
Tomatoes, potatoes, avocadoes, tobacco, and cacao (for chocolate) were all imported into Europe by Spain.
Spain is one of the top five importers of Scotch whiskey in the world.
Source: gospain.about.com
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Interesting Facts about Japan
In mainland of Japan and in Okinawa there are approximately 90 US military bases, 37 which are in Okinawa, occupying 20% of the landsize.
Japan does not have atomic weapon. USA, France, China, India, Russia, United Kingdom, Pakistan, Israel and North Korea has atomic weapon.
Japan is the only country in the world ever attacked by atomic weapon.
Okinawans have more people over 100 years old per 100,000 population than anywhere else in the world.
Japanese food is considered most healthiest in the world.
Crime is lower in Japan than in many other first world countries.
Firearms are almost non-existent in the hands of civilians in Japan. The process of obtaining licence of firearm is lengthy. Crimes committed by using firearms are very rare.
Japan is exercising death penalty.
Japan's literacy rate is almost 100%.
Officially the first novel of Japan, The Tale of Genji in 1007 was written by a Japanese woman Murasaki Shikibu.
Vandalism is almost non-existent in Japan.
Japanese constitution has Article 9 which defines renunciation of war.
It is very hard for usual Japanese to obtain Japanese historical item, katana. Special permission is needed, and it is only granted for special individuals.
Japanese is the only language in the world which has a word for "death from overwork", Karoshi.
Japanese still rarely use seatbelt while riding backseat of a car.
Although Tokyo was destroyed in firebombing during the World War two, there are no popular movies about bombing of Japan. The Grave of Fireflies is only film depicting realistically a firebombing of Japanese city. New York has been frozen, destroyed, bombed, meteoritized several times in American films.
Compulsory English lessons start from the first grade of elementary school in Japan.
"Korede iinoda" is a popular Japanese phrase. It means in English "Everything is going to be all right". It was written by manga artist Akatsuka, in "Tensai Bakabon". It is usually respected as a phrase of peace.
Source: hanamiweb.com
Japan does not have atomic weapon. USA, France, China, India, Russia, United Kingdom, Pakistan, Israel and North Korea has atomic weapon.
Japan is the only country in the world ever attacked by atomic weapon.
Okinawans have more people over 100 years old per 100,000 population than anywhere else in the world.
Japanese food is considered most healthiest in the world.
Crime is lower in Japan than in many other first world countries.
Firearms are almost non-existent in the hands of civilians in Japan. The process of obtaining licence of firearm is lengthy. Crimes committed by using firearms are very rare.
Japan is exercising death penalty.
Japan's literacy rate is almost 100%.
Officially the first novel of Japan, The Tale of Genji in 1007 was written by a Japanese woman Murasaki Shikibu.
Vandalism is almost non-existent in Japan.
Japanese constitution has Article 9 which defines renunciation of war.
It is very hard for usual Japanese to obtain Japanese historical item, katana. Special permission is needed, and it is only granted for special individuals.
Japanese is the only language in the world which has a word for "death from overwork", Karoshi.
Japanese still rarely use seatbelt while riding backseat of a car.
Although Tokyo was destroyed in firebombing during the World War two, there are no popular movies about bombing of Japan. The Grave of Fireflies is only film depicting realistically a firebombing of Japanese city. New York has been frozen, destroyed, bombed, meteoritized several times in American films.
Compulsory English lessons start from the first grade of elementary school in Japan.
"Korede iinoda" is a popular Japanese phrase. It means in English "Everything is going to be all right". It was written by manga artist Akatsuka, in "Tensai Bakabon". It is usually respected as a phrase of peace.
Source: hanamiweb.com
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Interesting Facts about Canada
Some interesting facts about the second biggest country i.e. Canada.
Canada is the second largest country in the world, with 9,971,000 square kilometres of land.
The baseball glove was invented in Canada in 1883.
With only three people per square kilometer, Canada has the fourth lowest population density in the world.
Vancouver Canada is tied with Zurich Switzerland for the highest quality of life of any city in the world.
The world's smallest jail is believed to be in Rodney, Ontario, Canada. It is only 24.3 square meters (about 270 square feet).
Canada has the ninth biggest economy of the world
According to the United Nations Human Development Index, Canada has the highest quality of life in the world.
Contrary to popular opinion, Canada does not own the North Pole. In fact, the North Pole is not owned by any country. It is believed, however, that Santa Claus is from Canada.
Canada is the world's eighth biggest trader.
Of all of the world's producers of natural gas, copper, zinc, nickel, aluminum, and gold, Canada is in the top five.
Canada is the home of many great inventions, including: basketball, the electric light bulb, the electric range, the electron microscope, standard time, the television, the telephone, and the zipper.
Canada is the fifth largest energy producer.
Canada has the world's highest tertiary education enrolment.
Source: vec
Canada is the second largest country in the world, with 9,971,000 square kilometres of land.
The baseball glove was invented in Canada in 1883.
With only three people per square kilometer, Canada has the fourth lowest population density in the world.
Vancouver Canada is tied with Zurich Switzerland for the highest quality of life of any city in the world.
The world's smallest jail is believed to be in Rodney, Ontario, Canada. It is only 24.3 square meters (about 270 square feet).
Canada has the ninth biggest economy of the world
According to the United Nations Human Development Index, Canada has the highest quality of life in the world.
Contrary to popular opinion, Canada does not own the North Pole. In fact, the North Pole is not owned by any country. It is believed, however, that Santa Claus is from Canada.
Canada is the world's eighth biggest trader.
Of all of the world's producers of natural gas, copper, zinc, nickel, aluminum, and gold, Canada is in the top five.
Canada is the home of many great inventions, including: basketball, the electric light bulb, the electric range, the electron microscope, standard time, the television, the telephone, and the zipper.
Canada is the fifth largest energy producer.
Canada has the world's highest tertiary education enrolment.
Source: vec
Interesting Facts about Croatia
Here are some interesting facts about Croatia. These facts contain some really interesting and useful information about the country.
The Dalmatian dog from the film "101 Dalmatians" was named after Dalmatia, in which most of the Croatian Adriatic is located.
The first public theatre in Europe was opened in 1612 on the island of Hvar, in the town which "Conde Nast Traveler Magazine" entered at the fifth place on its Top Ten list of best island towns in the world.
By the end of the third century AD, the Roman emperor Diocletian decided for construction of his palace the place where the city of Split is located today. The Palace of Diocletian is one of the best known integral architectural and cultural constructions in the world, which, due to its preservation and beauty, UNESCO entered in its registry of World Cultural Heritage in 1979.
In the small town of Trogir, 30 km away from Split, founded in 3rd century BC, there is one of the best preserved Romanesque-Gothic complexes in the world. Trogir is an excellent example of a medieval town built on and conforming with the layout of a Hellenistic and Roman city and it is therefore also on the World Cultural Heritage list of UNESCO.
Before Newton's discovery, the town of Dubrovnik, which has been on the World Cultural Heritage list of UNESCO since 1979, owned a telescope which was constructed by Marin Getaldic (1568-1626), the greatest Croatian scientist of that time.
The necktie has its origin in Croatia (in Croatian: Kravata, English: Cravat, French: Cravate, German: Krawatte, Italian: Cravatta, Spanish: Corvatta) and that the word "cravat" came from the word "Croat" (Hrvat in Croatian); so called because worn by Croats in the French army during the Thirty Years' War. In their own way, with the cravat, the Croats have started conquering the world from the coasts of the Adriatic Sea from 17th century. The consequences of that conquering are today felt around the necks by 600 million businessmen worldwide.
Marco Polo (1254-1324), an adventurer, merchant and one of the best known world travelers, whose book "The Travels of Marco Polo" is the first tourist book in the world, comes from Korcula on Korcula island in Croatia.
In 1458 Benko Kotruljevic from Dubrovnik wrote one of the first books on world economic literature, "On Trading and the Perfect Merchant", and that he was the first to establish the basis of modern double-entry book-keeping.
Shakespeare's Twelfth Night was staged in Dalmatia.
The writer Vladimir Nabokov always spent his summers in Opatija as a boy.
Agatha Christie spent her second honeymoon in Dubrovnik and Split.
James Joyce was a teacher of English in Pula from 1904 and 1905, in the town that has existed for three millennia with one of the best preserved Roman amphitheatres worldwide.
The Duke of Windsor and Wallis Simpson spent their vacations in Dalmatia.
Luka's pit ("Lukina jama"), the tenth by depth in the world (1392 m), is located in Croatia on Velebit Mountain.
The founder of San Marino, a small independent republic in the northeast of Italy, was the sculptor Marin from the village Lopar from the island of Rab.
The ball-point pen was invented by a Croat, Eduard (Slavoljub) Penkala (1871-1922), that it bears his name and is in daily use.
The names of two Croats are on the map of the Moon - names of scientists J. R. Boskovic and A. Mohorovicic.
Two winners of the Nobel Prize in chemistry came from Croatia - Lavoslav Ruzicka (1939) and Vladimir Prelog (1975).
Nikola Tesla (1856-1943), the father of alternative current electricity and technology of wireless communications, after which the unit for magnetic induction is named, was born in Croatia, and that he refused to receive the Nobel prize he had to share with T. A. Edison.
Anthony Maglica, the owner of the well-known company Mag-Lite, comes from Zlarin island from Dalmatia. Mag-Lite flashlights are among the ten most famous American export products, used by astronauts and deep sea explorers, amongst others.
Source: henleyglobal
The Dalmatian dog from the film "101 Dalmatians" was named after Dalmatia, in which most of the Croatian Adriatic is located.
The first public theatre in Europe was opened in 1612 on the island of Hvar, in the town which "Conde Nast Traveler Magazine" entered at the fifth place on its Top Ten list of best island towns in the world.
By the end of the third century AD, the Roman emperor Diocletian decided for construction of his palace the place where the city of Split is located today. The Palace of Diocletian is one of the best known integral architectural and cultural constructions in the world, which, due to its preservation and beauty, UNESCO entered in its registry of World Cultural Heritage in 1979.
In the small town of Trogir, 30 km away from Split, founded in 3rd century BC, there is one of the best preserved Romanesque-Gothic complexes in the world. Trogir is an excellent example of a medieval town built on and conforming with the layout of a Hellenistic and Roman city and it is therefore also on the World Cultural Heritage list of UNESCO.
Before Newton's discovery, the town of Dubrovnik, which has been on the World Cultural Heritage list of UNESCO since 1979, owned a telescope which was constructed by Marin Getaldic (1568-1626), the greatest Croatian scientist of that time.
The necktie has its origin in Croatia (in Croatian: Kravata, English: Cravat, French: Cravate, German: Krawatte, Italian: Cravatta, Spanish: Corvatta) and that the word "cravat" came from the word "Croat" (Hrvat in Croatian); so called because worn by Croats in the French army during the Thirty Years' War. In their own way, with the cravat, the Croats have started conquering the world from the coasts of the Adriatic Sea from 17th century. The consequences of that conquering are today felt around the necks by 600 million businessmen worldwide.
Marco Polo (1254-1324), an adventurer, merchant and one of the best known world travelers, whose book "The Travels of Marco Polo" is the first tourist book in the world, comes from Korcula on Korcula island in Croatia.
In 1458 Benko Kotruljevic from Dubrovnik wrote one of the first books on world economic literature, "On Trading and the Perfect Merchant", and that he was the first to establish the basis of modern double-entry book-keeping.
Shakespeare's Twelfth Night was staged in Dalmatia.
The writer Vladimir Nabokov always spent his summers in Opatija as a boy.
Agatha Christie spent her second honeymoon in Dubrovnik and Split.
James Joyce was a teacher of English in Pula from 1904 and 1905, in the town that has existed for three millennia with one of the best preserved Roman amphitheatres worldwide.
The Duke of Windsor and Wallis Simpson spent their vacations in Dalmatia.
Luka's pit ("Lukina jama"), the tenth by depth in the world (1392 m), is located in Croatia on Velebit Mountain.
The founder of San Marino, a small independent republic in the northeast of Italy, was the sculptor Marin from the village Lopar from the island of Rab.
The ball-point pen was invented by a Croat, Eduard (Slavoljub) Penkala (1871-1922), that it bears his name and is in daily use.
The names of two Croats are on the map of the Moon - names of scientists J. R. Boskovic and A. Mohorovicic.
Two winners of the Nobel Prize in chemistry came from Croatia - Lavoslav Ruzicka (1939) and Vladimir Prelog (1975).
Nikola Tesla (1856-1943), the father of alternative current electricity and technology of wireless communications, after which the unit for magnetic induction is named, was born in Croatia, and that he refused to receive the Nobel prize he had to share with T. A. Edison.
Anthony Maglica, the owner of the well-known company Mag-Lite, comes from Zlarin island from Dalmatia. Mag-Lite flashlights are among the ten most famous American export products, used by astronauts and deep sea explorers, amongst others.
Source: henleyglobal
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Interesting Facts About South Africa
South Africa has the oldest meteor scar in the world, just across the Vaal River near Parys, called the Vredefort Dome. The meteor plummeted to Earth nearly two billion years ago (Earth is said to be 4,5 billion years old), predating the heady days of oxygen and multi-celled life.
The rocks around Barberton in Mpumalanga are some of the most ancient in the world - over three billion years old. Because they are also the most accessible such formations, NASA scientists come here to gain an idea of how life might form on distant planets.
The Tugela Falls is the second highest waterfall in the world, where the water tumbles down 850 metres. First place goes to the Angel Falls in Venezuela at 979 metres.
There are 18 000 indigenous vascular plant species in South Africa of which 80% are uniquely South African.
Blyde River Canyon is the third largest canyon in the world - and the largest green one. The Grand Canyon in the US is the biggest, and the Fish River Canyon in Namibia the second, but both are dry as bones.
South African grasslands have 30 species per square kilometre, greater than the biodiversity of rainforests.
Can mountains be folded? Yes they can, and you can see such wonders in the Western Cape at the Cederberg and the Swartberg mountains.
South Africa and its neighbours are some of the most generously endowed geographic solar hotspots in the world, soaking up just over half of the world’s highest category of solar wattage per square metre of land.
Therapsids are the true ancestors of mammals, and lived over 200 million years ago, long before the upstart dinosaurs of the Jurassic Age (which ended abruptly 65 million years ago). Most of the world’s proto-mammalian fossils are found in the Karoo - along with a 280 million year old fossilized shark.
According to recent studies, the star-watching town of Sutherland in the Northern Cape is one of the most geologically stable places on Earth, yet it has a 66-million year old volcano, not yet officially extinct.
Kimberley may have the biggest man-made hole in the world, but did you know that the southern Free State town of Jagersfontein has the deepest vertical man-made hole (and that a pair of Verreaux’s Eagles breed in it?
South Africa is home to the world’s smallest succulent plants (less than 10 mm) and the largest (the baobab).
Lake Fundudzi in Venda is possibly the world’s only inland freshwater lake formed by a landslide.
The only street in the world to house two Nobel Peace prize winners is in Soweto. Nelson Mandela and Archbishop Desmond Tutu both have houses in Vilakazi Street in Soweto.
Walt Disney serves South African wine exclusively at its 73-acre Animal Kingdom Lodge in the United States.
South Africa has the longest wine route in the world, the R62 wine route.
South Africa is the world’s largest producer of macadamia nuts and the nuts and oils are exported to countries across the world.
South Africa is the only country in the world where you can order something called monkey gland steak at a restaurant without the risk of a real internal organ being placed before you. It was invented many decades ago by overseas chefs as a pointed insult, aimed at the brash inhabitants of Johannesburg who poured Worcestershire and tomato sauce over everything.
No other country eats as much kingklip as South Africans do (also known as Congrio, Ling and Rockling in other parts of the southern hemisphere).
The world’s first heart transplant was done in South Africa in 1967 by South African Dr Chris Barnard.
South Africa’s Dr Percy Amolis invented the Retinal Cryoprobe used successfully on former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher to repair a detached retina. He also removed a cataract from Nelson Mandela’s eye that enabled the former president to, for the first time, read a speech without glasses.
Where else is an entirely new species being recreated from scratch? The quagga vanished in a frenzy of hunting in the 1800s, but after finding that the DNA is almost identical to the common Burchell’s zebra, the species is being brought back from beyond the brink by careful breeding of stripe-challenged zebras.
There are only 12 countries in the world that supply tap water that is fit to drink, and South Africa is one of them. Our tap water quality is third best overall in the world.
South Africa also has the world’s most progressive and admired water legislation, and it is making a real difference on the ground. Since 1998 when the so-called “Blue Revolution” began, four million more poor people have access to clean water.
South Africa, Zimbabwe and Mozambique are tearing down fences between the countries’ game parks to create a 35 000km2 game park which will become the largest conservation area in the world. It will be bigger than Switzerland, Belgium or Taiwan.
South Africa is ranked number one in the world for its floral kingdom.
South Africa’s Coastal Management policy is one of the best in the world with the country being the first outside Europe to gain Blue Flag status for its coastal management.
South Africa has the third highest level of biodiversity in the world.
South Africa is the sole producer of the Mercedes Benz, C Class, right hand drive vehicles.
General Motors South Africa will be the only manufacturing site outside of the United States to build the Hummer H3 vehicle.
South Africans are natural inventors, giving the world those breakwater dolosse and the automatic pool cleaner.
South Africa also came up with the first, largest and most viable oil-from-coal refinery (which supplies 40% of our petrol). And did you know that a South African physicist co-developed the CAT-scan, that South Africa makes the seats for Concorde, and also designs and creates flight control technology for Britain’s fighter jets.
Source: sarocks.co.za
The rocks around Barberton in Mpumalanga are some of the most ancient in the world - over three billion years old. Because they are also the most accessible such formations, NASA scientists come here to gain an idea of how life might form on distant planets.
The Tugela Falls is the second highest waterfall in the world, where the water tumbles down 850 metres. First place goes to the Angel Falls in Venezuela at 979 metres.
There are 18 000 indigenous vascular plant species in South Africa of which 80% are uniquely South African.
Blyde River Canyon is the third largest canyon in the world - and the largest green one. The Grand Canyon in the US is the biggest, and the Fish River Canyon in Namibia the second, but both are dry as bones.
South African grasslands have 30 species per square kilometre, greater than the biodiversity of rainforests.
Can mountains be folded? Yes they can, and you can see such wonders in the Western Cape at the Cederberg and the Swartberg mountains.
South Africa and its neighbours are some of the most generously endowed geographic solar hotspots in the world, soaking up just over half of the world’s highest category of solar wattage per square metre of land.
Therapsids are the true ancestors of mammals, and lived over 200 million years ago, long before the upstart dinosaurs of the Jurassic Age (which ended abruptly 65 million years ago). Most of the world’s proto-mammalian fossils are found in the Karoo - along with a 280 million year old fossilized shark.
According to recent studies, the star-watching town of Sutherland in the Northern Cape is one of the most geologically stable places on Earth, yet it has a 66-million year old volcano, not yet officially extinct.
Kimberley may have the biggest man-made hole in the world, but did you know that the southern Free State town of Jagersfontein has the deepest vertical man-made hole (and that a pair of Verreaux’s Eagles breed in it?
South Africa is home to the world’s smallest succulent plants (less than 10 mm) and the largest (the baobab).
Lake Fundudzi in Venda is possibly the world’s only inland freshwater lake formed by a landslide.
The only street in the world to house two Nobel Peace prize winners is in Soweto. Nelson Mandela and Archbishop Desmond Tutu both have houses in Vilakazi Street in Soweto.
Walt Disney serves South African wine exclusively at its 73-acre Animal Kingdom Lodge in the United States.
South Africa has the longest wine route in the world, the R62 wine route.
South Africa is the world’s largest producer of macadamia nuts and the nuts and oils are exported to countries across the world.
South Africa is the only country in the world where you can order something called monkey gland steak at a restaurant without the risk of a real internal organ being placed before you. It was invented many decades ago by overseas chefs as a pointed insult, aimed at the brash inhabitants of Johannesburg who poured Worcestershire and tomato sauce over everything.
No other country eats as much kingklip as South Africans do (also known as Congrio, Ling and Rockling in other parts of the southern hemisphere).
The world’s first heart transplant was done in South Africa in 1967 by South African Dr Chris Barnard.
South Africa’s Dr Percy Amolis invented the Retinal Cryoprobe used successfully on former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher to repair a detached retina. He also removed a cataract from Nelson Mandela’s eye that enabled the former president to, for the first time, read a speech without glasses.
Where else is an entirely new species being recreated from scratch? The quagga vanished in a frenzy of hunting in the 1800s, but after finding that the DNA is almost identical to the common Burchell’s zebra, the species is being brought back from beyond the brink by careful breeding of stripe-challenged zebras.
There are only 12 countries in the world that supply tap water that is fit to drink, and South Africa is one of them. Our tap water quality is third best overall in the world.
South Africa also has the world’s most progressive and admired water legislation, and it is making a real difference on the ground. Since 1998 when the so-called “Blue Revolution” began, four million more poor people have access to clean water.
South Africa, Zimbabwe and Mozambique are tearing down fences between the countries’ game parks to create a 35 000km2 game park which will become the largest conservation area in the world. It will be bigger than Switzerland, Belgium or Taiwan.
South Africa is ranked number one in the world for its floral kingdom.
South Africa’s Coastal Management policy is one of the best in the world with the country being the first outside Europe to gain Blue Flag status for its coastal management.
South Africa has the third highest level of biodiversity in the world.
South Africa is the sole producer of the Mercedes Benz, C Class, right hand drive vehicles.
General Motors South Africa will be the only manufacturing site outside of the United States to build the Hummer H3 vehicle.
South Africans are natural inventors, giving the world those breakwater dolosse and the automatic pool cleaner.
South Africa also came up with the first, largest and most viable oil-from-coal refinery (which supplies 40% of our petrol). And did you know that a South African physicist co-developed the CAT-scan, that South Africa makes the seats for Concorde, and also designs and creates flight control technology for Britain’s fighter jets.
Source: sarocks.co.za
Interesting Facts About Turkey
Here are some interesting facts about Turkey...
The famous Trojan Wars took place in Western Turkey, around the site where the Trojan horse rests today.
The first church built by man (St. Peter’s Church) is in Antioch (Antakya), Turkey.
The oldest known human settlement is in Catalhoyuk, Turkey (7th Millenium B.C.)
Ephesus and Halicarnasus (the place for the two of the Seven Wonders of the ancient world) are in Turkey.
St. Nicholas, also known as Santa Claus, was born in Patara and became the bishop of Demre, on Turkey’s Mediterranean Coast.
Noah’s Ark landed on Mount Ararat (Agri Dagi) in Eastern Turkey.
The last meal on Noah’s Ark, a pudding of sweet and sour taste (asure), is still served throughout Turkey.
Turks introduced coffee to Europe.
Turks gave the Dutch their famous tulips.
Istanbul is the only city in the world built on two continents.
Tradition in Turkey says that a stranger at one’s doorstep is considered "God’s guest" for at least three days.
Turkey is noted for having one of the three most famous and distinctive traditional cuisines in the world.
The First Ecumenical Council was held in Iznik, Turkey.
Writing was first used by people in ancient Anatolia. The first clay tablets in the ruins of Assyrian Karum (Merchant Colony) date back to 1950 B.C.
The oldest tin mine was found in Göltepe, 60 miles south of Tarsus.
The first Neolithic paintings found on man-made walls are in Catalhöyük, Turkey.
Anatolia is the birthplace of historic legends, such as Homer (the poet), King Midas, Herodotus (the father of history), and St. Paul the Apostle.
Julius Caesar proclaimed his celebrated words, "Veni, Vidi, Vici (I came, I saw, I conquered)" in Turkey when he defeated the Pontus, a formidable kingdom in the Black Sea region of Turkey.
Female goddesses like Cybele dominated the Central Anatolian pantheon for thousands of years before these supernatural powers were transformed to male gods.
The Hittites sold Abraham the cave where he buried his wife Sarah, when the Israelites came to Palestine.
The first church dedicated to Virgin Mary is in Ephesus.
Cherry was first introduced to Europe from Giresun (Northern Turkey)
Turkey has hundreds beaches and marinas which have the "Blue Flag" (A European award for the best clean water) on the Mediterranean and Aegean.
The first recorded international treaty in the world was the Treaty of Kadesh between the Hittite and Egyptian Empires, Hattusilis III and Ramses II, in c.1275 BC.
The oldest known shipwreck on Earth was found and excavated in Uluburun near Kas, in the Mediterranean region of Turkey.
In 640 BC, for the first time in history, coins made of electrum were used by the Lydian king Croesus in Sardis, in Aegean region of Turkey.
King Midas lived in Gordion, capital of Phrigia.
Alexander the Great cut the Gordian knot near Ankara. The double knotting technique used in Turkish rugs is also called as Gordian Knot.
The Garden of Eden in the Book of Genesis was said to be watered by a river which separated into four streams as it left the garden; two of them the Tigris (Dicle) and Euphrates (Firat) rise from the mountains of Eastern Turkey.
Early Christians escaping from Roman persecutions found shelter in Cappadocia.
The Seven Churches of Apocalypse are all situated in the Aegean region of Anatolia; Ephesus, Smyrna (Izmir), Pergamum, Thyatira (Nazilli), Sardis, Philadelphia (Alasehir) and Laodicea.
Sultan Beyazit II dispatched the Ottoman Navy to bring the Jewish people who were expelled from Spain in 1492 and they were brought safely to the Ottoman lands.
Istanbul has the historical building of Sirkeci Train Station. This was the last stop of the Simplon-Orient Express - "kings of trains and train of kings" - between Paris and Constantinople (Istanbul) from 1883 to 1977. Agatha Christie was one of the passengers of this famous train.
The number of species of flowers in Turkey is approximately 9,000, of which 3,000 are endemic. In Europe for instance there are 11,500 species. This shows the richness of flora and fauna in Anatolia.
Source: allaboutturkey.com
The famous Trojan Wars took place in Western Turkey, around the site where the Trojan horse rests today.
The first church built by man (St. Peter’s Church) is in Antioch (Antakya), Turkey.
The oldest known human settlement is in Catalhoyuk, Turkey (7th Millenium B.C.)
Ephesus and Halicarnasus (the place for the two of the Seven Wonders of the ancient world) are in Turkey.
St. Nicholas, also known as Santa Claus, was born in Patara and became the bishop of Demre, on Turkey’s Mediterranean Coast.
Noah’s Ark landed on Mount Ararat (Agri Dagi) in Eastern Turkey.
The last meal on Noah’s Ark, a pudding of sweet and sour taste (asure), is still served throughout Turkey.
Turks introduced coffee to Europe.
Turks gave the Dutch their famous tulips.
Istanbul is the only city in the world built on two continents.
Tradition in Turkey says that a stranger at one’s doorstep is considered "God’s guest" for at least three days.
Turkey is noted for having one of the three most famous and distinctive traditional cuisines in the world.
The First Ecumenical Council was held in Iznik, Turkey.
Writing was first used by people in ancient Anatolia. The first clay tablets in the ruins of Assyrian Karum (Merchant Colony) date back to 1950 B.C.
The oldest tin mine was found in Göltepe, 60 miles south of Tarsus.
The first Neolithic paintings found on man-made walls are in Catalhöyük, Turkey.
Anatolia is the birthplace of historic legends, such as Homer (the poet), King Midas, Herodotus (the father of history), and St. Paul the Apostle.
Julius Caesar proclaimed his celebrated words, "Veni, Vidi, Vici (I came, I saw, I conquered)" in Turkey when he defeated the Pontus, a formidable kingdom in the Black Sea region of Turkey.
Female goddesses like Cybele dominated the Central Anatolian pantheon for thousands of years before these supernatural powers were transformed to male gods.
The Hittites sold Abraham the cave where he buried his wife Sarah, when the Israelites came to Palestine.
The first church dedicated to Virgin Mary is in Ephesus.
Cherry was first introduced to Europe from Giresun (Northern Turkey)
Turkey has hundreds beaches and marinas which have the "Blue Flag" (A European award for the best clean water) on the Mediterranean and Aegean.
The first recorded international treaty in the world was the Treaty of Kadesh between the Hittite and Egyptian Empires, Hattusilis III and Ramses II, in c.1275 BC.
The oldest known shipwreck on Earth was found and excavated in Uluburun near Kas, in the Mediterranean region of Turkey.
In 640 BC, for the first time in history, coins made of electrum were used by the Lydian king Croesus in Sardis, in Aegean region of Turkey.
King Midas lived in Gordion, capital of Phrigia.
Alexander the Great cut the Gordian knot near Ankara. The double knotting technique used in Turkish rugs is also called as Gordian Knot.
The Garden of Eden in the Book of Genesis was said to be watered by a river which separated into four streams as it left the garden; two of them the Tigris (Dicle) and Euphrates (Firat) rise from the mountains of Eastern Turkey.
Early Christians escaping from Roman persecutions found shelter in Cappadocia.
The Seven Churches of Apocalypse are all situated in the Aegean region of Anatolia; Ephesus, Smyrna (Izmir), Pergamum, Thyatira (Nazilli), Sardis, Philadelphia (Alasehir) and Laodicea.
Sultan Beyazit II dispatched the Ottoman Navy to bring the Jewish people who were expelled from Spain in 1492 and they were brought safely to the Ottoman lands.
Istanbul has the historical building of Sirkeci Train Station. This was the last stop of the Simplon-Orient Express - "kings of trains and train of kings" - between Paris and Constantinople (Istanbul) from 1883 to 1977. Agatha Christie was one of the passengers of this famous train.
The number of species of flowers in Turkey is approximately 9,000, of which 3,000 are endemic. In Europe for instance there are 11,500 species. This shows the richness of flora and fauna in Anatolia.
Source: allaboutturkey.com
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)