Countries of South Africa: list, capitals, interesting facts. South African countries

South Africa- how many are there? And what interesting facts can you tell about them? This will be discussed in the article.

South African countries: list, regionalization approaches

By name, it is easy to guess that this region is located in the southern part of the "black continent". All countries have approximately the same natural and climatic conditions, as well as similar features of historical development.

Geographically, South Africa begins south of the watershed plateau of the Zambezi and Congo rivers. According to the UN zoning of our planet, the countries of South Africa are only five states (South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Lesotho and Swaziland). According to another classification, this historical and geographical region also includes Angola, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Mozambique, as well as the exotic island state of Madagascar.

All countries in South Africa are listed below with their capitals (according to the UN version). The list of states is submitted in order of decreasing area of the territory:

South Africa (Pretoria).
Namibia (Windhoek).
Botswana (Gaborone).
Lesotho (Maseru).
Swaziland (Mbabane).

The largest state in the region

Multicultural and multinational state, one of the most developed on the mainland in economic terms. Often this republic is called the "rainbow country".

Most Interesting Facts about South Africa:

every third diamond mined on Earth is extracted from the bowels of this particular country;
in South Africa, the world's first human heart transplant operation took place (in 1967);
citizens of the republic are endowed with broad rights in the field of the use of weapons for the purpose of protection, up to a flamethrower;
South Africa ranks third in the world in terms of drinking water quality;
one of the traditional South African dishes - monkey meat steaks;
wife (the eighth president of South Africa) was the "first lady" twice (previously she was the wife of the president of Mozambique).

Swaziland - South Africa

Swaziland is a small state in the south of the continent, which borders only two countries - South Africa and Mozambique.

The most interesting facts about Swaziland:

the head of this state is the real king, who is very loved and revered in Swaziland (his portraits can be seen here even on the clothes of local residents);
Swaziland is a very poor country, but the roads here are of excellent quality;
the oldest mathematical work was discovered in this country;
the state leads the world in terms of the spread of HIV, every fourth adult resident here is a carrier of the virus;
in Swaziland, husband and wife (or wives) live in separate houses.

The countries of South Africa are extremely interesting and colorful. There really is something to be surprised and amazed!

The article tells about the richest region of the black continent. Contains clarifying information about which states are part of South Africa.

South Africa

This is a region that has a palette of all kinds natural resources. The mining industry is developed here. The extraction of precious metals, diamonds, chromites, iron ore, polymetals and coal. These extractive industries are common in South Africa and Zimbabwe. In these states, the main enterprises are concentrated that are focused on the processing of fossil raw materials.

In the main part of the countries of southern Africa, consumer and export crops of the agricultural sector are the same as in all other countries of the continent. main feature countries of the region lies in the fact that some countries (Zimbabwe, Botswana, Lesotho, Swaziland) are focused on the production and export of livestock products. Despite the efforts made developing countries, Africa is the periphery of the global economy. The structure of the colonial industrial and territorial economy still operates in this region. Strengthening economic and political cooperation — the main task states of the continent.

The area of this region is 6605628.1 sq. km. km.

South African countries

South African countries include:

Zimbabwe;
Namibia;
Swaziland;
Botswana;
Lesotho;
Mozambique;
Madagascar;
Reunion;
Mauritius;
Seychelles and Comoros.

Rice. 1 Plants Of South Africa

The memory of the period of colonization is still alive in the history of the region. However, this fact did not have a significant impact on the culture and customs of the indigenous people of the region. The phenomenon of colonization the highest degree affected economic growth individual countries. the biggest and developed country this region is considered to be South Africa.

General characteristics of the region

The area of South Africa exceeds 6 million km 2. Five states of South Africa are part of the South African Customs Union. South Africa is located on the African Platform, most of territory is a plateau.

The climate of South Africa is trade wind tropical. Major rivers this region - Zambezi and Limpopo, they flow into the Indian Ocean. South Africa is famous for its flora and fauna.

This is where they live rare species such large animals as hippos and giraffes. The island of Madagascar belongs to the countries of South Africa - the largest island in the world.

South Africa

The Republic of South Africa is a large state located in the very south of the African continent. The population of South Africa reaches 52 million people. The total area of the territory is 1.2 million km2.

South Africa is one of the most developed world powers. The basis of the economy is the extraction of oil, diamonds and gold. Despite the arid climate, agriculture is quite well developed in South Africa.

The state is a major importer of Angora goat wool. The level of GDP in the state ranks 24th in the world. For twenty years, the population has not changed, despite the fact that AIDS is progressing in South Africa.

South Africa is a country of social contrasts: about 15% of the population belong to the upper class, while 40% are below the poverty line. In the state high level urbanization.

The rural population is moving en masse to large centers - Cape Town, Pretoria, Johannesburg. Cape Town is the cultural and industrial capital of the state. It is here that the main cultural, entertainment and industrial centers of South Africa are concentrated.

Mozambique

Mozambique is an African state located on the coast indian ocean. The territory of Mozambique is 0.8 million km2. reigns in Mozambique tropical climate- Heavy rains are rare here. The agricultural sector of production suffers from this.

More fertile soils located in the north of the state. Mozambique exports products such as nickel, aluminium, citrus fruits and cotton. close economic ties established with South Africa, Holland and Zimbabwe.

Mozambique has a rather low level of urbanization - the urban population is only 30%. Because of low level economy, in the state, famine and epidemics are very common.

More than 13% of the population are HIV carriers. Mozambique ranks 6th in the world in terms of child mortality. More than 50% of the population is illiterate.

There are five states in the South Africa region: Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa and Swaziland. This is a rather specific part of Africa with a very strong influence on all aspects of life, especially on the economy, European settlers. Although political power here belongs to the indigenous people, the economy and finances are in the hands of the Europeans. The regional leader is Republic of South Africa(South Africa), the most economically developed country in Africa.

Republic of South Africa

General information. Official name- Republic of South Africa (in some sources South Africa). The capital is Pretoria (administrative) (700 thousand people) and Cape Town (legislative) (900 thousand people). Population - 46 million people (27th place in the world). Area - 1,200,000 km 2 (24th in the world). State languages- Afrikaans (based on Old Dutch) and English. Monetary unit - rand.

Geographical position. South Africa is located in the extreme south of Africa. From the south, east and west it is washed by the waters of the Indian and Atlantic Oceans. It borders with Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe in the north. It borders Mozambique and Swaziland in the northeast. Within South Africa is the state of Lesotho. Access to two oceans on the main sea routes quite favorable for socio-economic development.

History of origin and development. It has long been inhabited by tribes of Bushmen and Hottentots. In the XVI century. mass migration from the north of the Bantu peoples. Since the 17th century the first European settlers arrived. First it was the Dutch (Boers), then the French, and even later - the British. The Boers created several republics in southern Africa. AT late XIX in. the British began to annex territories that the Boers considered their own, and established their own laws there. This led to the Anglo-Boer Wars. At first, the Boers won, but at the beginning of the 20th century. Great Britain won the war. She united her colonies in South Africa with the Boer states and formed the Union of South Africa. Since 1948, the beginning of the policy of apartheid. In 1949 annexed Namibia. Since 1961. Withdrew from British Commonwealth Nations. At this time, South Africa was proclaimed. An increase in race riots and international isolation resulted in 1991. Until the end of apartheid. In 1994, free general elections were held, where the victory was won by indigenous Africans, led by N. Mandela. South Africa joined the UAE and the British Commonwealth of Nations.

State structure and form of government. South Africa is a unitary state, a presidential republic. The head of state and government is the president. Legislative power is vested in a bicameral parliament. It consists of a national assembly and a national council of provinces. The term of office of deputies is five years. them total- 400. The country has 9 provinces.

natural conditions and resources. The relief of South Africa is quite diverse. Low-lying areas are found only near the border with Mozambique. The hinterland is an elevated plateau whose edges are uplifted. In the east, the bizarre folded Dragon Mountains rise. Here is the most high peak countries - Mount Katkin Peak (3660 m). southern part South Africa ends with the Cape Mountains.

The extreme location of the country in the south of the mainland and the weariness of the territory determine the climatic diversity. South Africa is in the tropical and subtropical climatic zones. January (summer) southern hemisphere) average temperatures range from 18 ° C to +27 ° C. In winter (July) - they vary from + 7 ° C to + 10 ° C. Very big difference in terms of rainfall, overall rainfall varies from 30 mm per year in the Kalahari Desert to 2000 mm on the slopes of the Drakensberg Mountains, which are returned to the ocean. In the central part of the country falls 600-700 mm.

There are many rivers in South Africa, but only Orange can be called big. It and its full-flowing tributaries originate from the Drakensberg Mountains and flow west.

vegetable and animal world, where they were preserved, and this National parks, mountains and deserts where people do not live, quite rich and diverse. in the east typical savannah and light forests with animals inherent in it in Africa. In the dry subtropics, short-leaved evergreen bushes predominate. wet in the east monsoon forests. Desert and semi-desert vegetation dominates in the interior and southwestern part of South Africa.

Like other African countries, and this is determined by the characteristics geological structure mainland, South Africa has such mineral resources: oil, natural gas, coal and uranium (energy carriers), ores of ferrous and non-ferrous metals (iron and manganese, copper, zinc, titanium, lead, nickel, zirconium, tungsten, gold, silver, platinum, etc.), chemical and construction raw materials, diamonds and corundum .

population. The population density in the country is low - more than 37 people per 1 km 2. Natural conditions determine the uneven settlement of the territory. People mainly settle on the coast and in elevated inland areas with a climate favorable for life. The natural increase in population compared to other African states is small. The share of the urban population is about 50%. As in other African countries, very colorful National composition population. Almost 18% of the country's inhabitants are descendants of European settlers, mainly from the Netherlands and Great Britain.

Economy. South Africa has a high level of economic development in Africa. The most developed diversified mining industry. The country occupies a leading place in the world in the extraction of diamonds and uranium. Up to 20% of the world's gold is mined here every year. Among other industries, ferrous and non-ferrous metallurgy, mechanical engineering, chemical, light, food, and construction industries are developed. The country has a powerful military-industrial complex, producing products from pistols to tanks.

basis Agriculture is a highly commercial animal husbandry, in particular, the largest is the number of sheep. According to this indicator, South Africa belongs to the tenth place in the world, a large cattle and pigs, as well as goats (up to 7 million heads). In crop production, the main agricultural crops are corn, wheat, barley, cotton, and sugar cane. A lot of grapes, citrus fruits, peanuts, tobacco are grown. Fishing provides up to 600 thousand tons of seafood per year.

South Africa has better transportation in Africa. Length railways exceeds 30 thousand km, highways - 60 thousand km. In external transportation, maritime (freight) and air (passenger) transport dominate. The largest seaports are Durban, Cape Town, East London, Port Elizabeth. International airports in Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban.

culture and social development. The living standards of Europeans and Africans in South Africa differ significantly. Averages mean little. So, only 70% are literate, but among European settlers this figure is close to 100%. The same can be said about the rather high average mortality of children under one year old (50% o), the number of doctors, and the like. It should be noted that these differences, although very slowly, are leveled.

The Republic of South Africa recognized the independence of Ukraine on February 14, 1992. Diplomatic relations between the two countries were established on March 16, 1992 through the exchange of notes. Several declarations, memorandums and protocols regulating bilateral relations have been signed.

Questions and tasks

1. In what year did the apartheid policy begin in South Africa?

2. Describe the natural resource potential of South Africa.

3. What factors determine the placement of the population in South Africa?

4. Name and show on the map the largest seaports in South Africa.

findings

Africa is still the poorest and least stable in the world. This is a region of political contradictions, wars, genocides, socio-economic crises. From the era of colonialism, Africa inherited artificial borders without regard to the boundaries of ethnic territories. Thus, a huge "time bomb" was laid, which could explode in the 21st century.

In general, African countries have large and not yet fully exploited natural and human resources. If the "green revolution" for the first time made it possible for most of humanity to provide themselves with food, then African continent did not belong to this majority. Food shortages began to be felt here already in the 80s of the XX century. Its main causes are wars, droughts and high population growth rates.

African countries are getting to know Ukraine more and more. Foreign trade relations are expanding. The trade balance of Ukraine with African countries is generally positive. Most of the states of the continent (31) maintain permanent trade, economic, scientific and technical ties with our state.

Test control

1. Egypt directly borders on the following countries:

a) Algeria

b) Israel;

c) Sudan;

d) Nigeria;

d) Libya;

d) Saudi Arabia.

2. The capital of Egypt is:

a) Tripoli

3. The main industries of Egypt are:

a) mechanical engineering;

b) chemical industry;

c) mining industry.

4. In terms of population, Nigeria occupies the following place in Africa:

a) second;

b) the first;

c) third.

5. Which statements are true:

a) the monetary unit of Nigeria is the pound;

b) Nigeria is a federal republic;

c) the birth rate in Nigeria is one of the highest in the world?

6. To countries Central Africa relate:

b) Morocco;

d) Cameroon; d) Zimbabwe;

e) Namibia.

7. In 1960 Democratic Republic Congo was a colony

a) France

b) Germany;

c) Belgium;

d) Spain.

8. In Kenya, the total number of adherents of such a religion:

a) Muslim;

b) Hindu;

c) Christian.

9. The following climate reigns throughout Kenya:

a) equatorial;

b) subtropical;

c) subequatorial.

10. Which countries directly border South Africa:

a) Namibia;

b) Egypt;

c) Somalia;

d) Mozambique; d) Libya;

e) Zimbabwe.

11. Diplomatic relations between South Africa and Ukraine have been established: