Travel the World - South Africa

I started a 50-week series in 2019 that I called Travel the World. Each week of the series I visited a randomly-selected country, sharing bits of information about that country. I then chose one tidbit of information about that week's country as inspiration for a card. As I explored those 50 countries in 2019, I knew I would continue on until I've visited every one of the 195 countries in the world. By the end of 2021, I'd virtually traveled to 145 countries and plan to complete my journey to all 195 countries by visiting the last 50 this year.

This week's country is...

South Africa

I thoroughly enjoyed researching South Africa, since I have visited the country in real life but only the Johannesburg area. This virtual visit allowed me to learn so much more about this amazing country.

South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the southernmost country in Africa.

The six countries that share land borders with South Africa are Botswana, Mozambique, Namibia, Swaziland, Lesotho and Zimbabwe. Lesotho actually lies within the borders of South Africa.

Part of the border between South Africa and Namibia is formed by the Orange River, the longest river in the country.

South Africa in size is three times the size of Texas.

South Africa has wetlands, deserts, bush, grasslands, mountains, escarpments, and subtropical forests.

There are 11 official languages, each with equal status, in South Africa.

South Africa is the only country in the world with three capital cities.

It’s also the only country in the world where two Nobel Prize winners lived on the same street.

South Africa is the largest producer of macadamia nuts in the world.

The most luxurious train in the world is in South Africa. It is called the Rovos Rail. Up to 72 passengers can travel in lavish wood-panelled Rovos trains; the Royal Suites occupy half a carriage and have full-sized bathrooms, separate shower, permanent double bed and two armchairs.

South Africa hosts the world’s largest bicycle race. The 35,000 riders taking part in the 68 mile long Cape Town Cycle Tour race across Cape Town’s south peninsula and along the spectacular, mountainous coastal road called Chapman’s Peak Drive.

Tap water in South Africa is considered to be the third best and safest water in the world that is ready to drink.

The world’s largest reptile, the Leatherback Turtle, is found in South African waters.

The world's largest bird - the Ostrich - is found in South Africa.

The Least Dwarf Shrew, the smallest mammal in the world, lives in South Africa.

The Lion, the cheetah and the wildebeest are three of the five fastest animals in the world and they all live in South Africa.

The African Elephant is the largest land mammal in the world. African bush elephants can weigh up to eleven tons and live up to 70 years.

South Africa is full of record-breaking animals. It’s where you’ll find the largest land mammal (elephant), the largest bird (ostrich), the tallest animal (giraffe), the largest fish (whale shark), the largest reptile (leatherback turtle), the fastest land mammal (cheetah) and the largest antelope (eland).

Table Mountain is one of the oldest mountains in the world. It has more than 2,200 species of plants, 70 percent of which are endemic.

The variety of flower species found on Table Mountain number more than those found in the entire United Kingdom.

The world's largest visible crater is in South Africa.

The Atlantic and Indian Oceans meet at Cape Agulhas, the place where the official dividing line between the Atlantic and Indian Oceans passes. This is the place where the warm-water Agulhas current of the Indian Ocean meets the cold water Benguela current of the Atlantic Ocean and turns back on itself. 

The first heart transplant in the world took place in South Africa in 1967. It was performed by Dr Christiaan Barnard at Groote Schuur Hospital in Cape Town.

There are more than 2000 shipwrecks in and around the South Africa coast.

South Africa is the second largest fruit producer in the entire world.

The highest commercial bungy jump in the world is situated along the Garden Route. It is 710 feet high and is called the Bloukrans Bridge Bungy.

The South African fish migration is so huge you can see it from space.

South Africa is the largest producer of platinum in the world.

The world’s largest diamond was found in the Premier Mine in Pretoria, South Africa on 25 January 1905.

South Africa is the only country in the world where right-hand drive cars are produced by Mercedes Benz.

With more than 6 million trees in Johannesburg, it is believed to be the site of the largest man-made forest on earth.

Redbush tea is naturally caffeine-free and is only found in the Cederberg, Western Cape.

Two-thirds of Africa's electricity is generated in South Africa.

One in five adults in South Africa attends a gym or health club at least once a month.

South Africa is now the only country in the world to have hosted the Soccer, Cricket and Rugby World Cup!

The world’s largest themed resort hotel in the world – The Palace of the Lost City – is found in South Africa. Surrounding the Palace is a 25 hectare manmade botanical jungle with almost 2 million plants, trees and shrubs.

My inspiration for this week's card is based on this fact about South Africa... People can swim with colonies of penguins at Boulders Beach in Cape Town, South Africa.

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

Stamp Set: Cat's Pajamas Friendship stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black Ink and colored with Copic Markers

Paper: Accent Opaque 120# White, Recollections Black, and SU Mango Melody CS

Dies: MFT Stitched Rectangles and MFT Stitched Tag-Corner Squares