Famous for the pyramids in the north, the jungles at the central and the beaches in the south – Africa is a land that is full of surprises. A land which nurtured one of the earliest civilizations of the world, Africa is the home of an incredible variety of people, animals, climates, and spectacular places. While you can Google about Africa and know more, here are 2 most interesting facts about the continent that are worth knowing.
Scroll down to know about some fascinating facts about Africa, before you make your mind to explore the land.
1) The name ‘Africa’ came into Western use through the Romans. The word has its roots in two different languages – in Latin (“Aprica”) it means ‘Sunny’, and in Greek (“Aphrike”) it means ‘Without cold’.
2) The oldest human remains ever discovered were found in Ethiopia, which is approximately 200,000-year-old.
3) Between the period of 1881 and 1914, entire African continent went through the turmoil of invasion, occupation, division, colonization and annexation by European powers. This phase was popularly known as “Scramble of Africa”. Only Ethiopia and Liberia were out of this turmoil.
4) The Second Congo War (1998-2006), claimed the second-highest number of casualties (5.4 million lives) since World War II. The conflict involved eight African countries.
5) Between 1525 and 1866, 12.5 million Africans were kidnaped and sold into slavery in the Americas.
6) Africa has the world’s longest river, the Nile (4,132 miles). The Nile runs through 11 countries in Africa.
7)Africa also has the world’s largest desert, Sahara, which is nearly as big as the USA!
8) Not just that, but the largest waterfalls, the Victoria falls is also in Africa. Victoria Falls is one of the 7 natural wonders of the world.
9) The Victoria Lake is the largest lake in Africa, and the second largest freshwater lake in the world.
10) There are over 3,000 protected areas in Africa, including 198 Marine Protected Areas, 50 Biosphere Reserves, and 129 UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
11) The South African Rovos Rail is considered the most luxurious train in the world.
12) Africa has the second largest population in the world, at about one billion people. The total African population is approximately 14.72% of the world’s population (as recorded in 2009).
13) Africa is the world’s poorest and most underdeveloped continent with a continental GDP that accounts for just 2.4% of global GDP.
14) The national flag of Mozambique has the image of an AK-47 assault rifle embedded into it. It is one of only two national flags of UN member states to feature a firearm. The other is Guatemala.
15) Africa has the largest-remaining populations of lion, elephant, rhinoceros, cheetah, hyena, leopard and hundreds of other species.
16) Almost 40% of adults in Africa are illiterate, and two-third of them are women.
17) About 41% of children in Africa aged between 5-10 years are actively involved in child labor.
18) It is the hottest continent, with water scarcity impacting the lives of over 300 million Africans.
19) There’s a beer brewed from bananas in Africa!
20) While people keep expecting to see tigers in Africa, there aren’t any! Wild tigers are found in Asia, and not in Africa.
21) The Serengeti (Tanzania) hosts the world’s largest wildlife migration on Earth with over 750,000 zebras marching ahead of 1.2 million wildebeest as they cross this amazing landscape.
22) Africa has 85% of the total elephant population of the world and 99% of the total lion population.
23) Africa has more than 25% of the world’s bird species.
24) In spite of extremely poor internet facilities, there are more than 100 million Facebook users in Africa.
25) While Egypt is popular all over the world for its pyramids, the Republic of Sudan actually has nearly 223 pyramids, double the number of pyramids in Egypt.
26) The Palace of the Lost City is the world’s biggest themed resort, located in South Africa.
27) There are more people speaking French in Africa than in France!
28) Most of the world’s fastest runners come from a single tribe in Kenya, Africa, called the “Kalenjins.”
29) The women of the Mursi and Surma tribes in Africa wear plates on their lips that can be as large as 5 inches (12 cm) in diameter.
30) South Africa is home to the highest commercial bungy jump in the world, called Bloukrans Bridge Bungy (216 meters).
31) The world’s oldest educational institution is still functioning in Africa. University of Al-Karaouine, located in Morocco, was originally a madrassa, founded in 859 AD by Fatima al-Fihri.
While these are just like a trailer, you’ll get to discover a lot more during your volunteer trip to Africa. So what are you waiting for? Either plan your trip for your Spring Break or go for the Summer Program – explore Africa and contribute the way you can!
