Facts about South Africa

1. 09

   Wine production in South Africa dates to 1659 when the first vineyard was planted in the Cape, making it the second-oldest wine-producing country outside Europe after the Americas.

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2. 08

   Approximately 3,000 species of fish inhabit South Africa's waters, with the cold Atlantic currents along the western coast creating one of Earth's most productive marine ecosystems.

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3. 07

   At 3,482 meters, Thabana Ntlenyana mountain in the Drakensberg range marks South Africa's highest peak along its border with Lesotho.

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4. 06

   South Africa's apartheid system of institutionalized racial segregation lasted from 1948 until the early 1990s, affecting millions of people across the nation.

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5. 05

   In 1867, the discovery of diamonds near Kimberley transformed South Africa's economy and triggered massive immigration, establishing it as a global mining powerhouse.

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6. 04

   Over 11 languages hold official status in South Africa's constitution, making it one of the most linguistically diverse countries in the world.

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7. 03

   Kruger National Park covers approximately 19,485 square kilometers across northeastern South Africa and protects nearly 150 mammal species including the Big Five.

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8. 02

   Nelson Mandela spent 27 years imprisoned on Robben Island before his release in 1990 and subsequent election as South Africa's first Black president in 1994.

   South AfricaMay 14sharehistorypoliticsbiography
9. 01

   The Table Mountain in South Africa stands 1,086 meters tall and is one of the New Seven Wonders of Nature designated in 2011.

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