South Africa - a Mysterious Country for Europe
About South Africa The European republic knows little, except that 1) has for many years apartheid - discrimination against the blacks of indigenous and white their operations, 2) the country's president 1994-1999, became Nelson Mandela (1918- 2013), who spent 27 years in prison for fighting apartheid and released in 1990 and 3) in 2010 host country's World Cup.
And, in the meantime, this country appeals to us in many ways. It is located in the most southern part of Africa, where along the Meridian Cape Agulhous exists beyond the boundary of two oceans - to the west Atlantic, and to the east - the Indian Ocean. In the north it borders Namibia, Botswana and Zimbabwe, and in the northeast with Mozambique and Swaziland. The interesting fact is that in the central part of South Africa there is a pocket - Lesotho (independent landlocked country and fully surrounded by the territory of other countries), and the second - Swaziland - located on the border with Mozambique.
Country covers more than 1.2 million km 2. The population in 2010 was 51.8 million people, the capital of Pretoria (2.4 million people in 2016). The human development index (0.666) is among the average countries.
The natural conditions, climate and resources are diverse, due to the vast area and terrain. In the western and central part are Namib and Kalahari deserts with hot and dry climates. varied flora and food supply from many animal species, such as African elephant, rhino, lion, hyena, antelope, zebra, giraffe, warthogs, crocodiles, monkeys, ostriches, penguins, many grasslands, forests and seabirds.
Climatic conditions vary in different parts of the country, depending on the latitude and altitude of the terrain above sea level. Up to 30 degrees south latitude, grasslands and galleries along the river dominate due to the abundant rain, to the south of the border with Mozambique is a subtropical zone. In the east, the lowlands rise sharply into the Drakensberg Mountains, where the natural conditions depend on the altitude: the higher, the harder the climate. Keep in mind that since South Africa is in the southern hemisphere, the summer fits our winter (December, January, February), spring - autumn (September, October, November), autumn to spring (April, May , June), and winter - summer (June, July, August).
Tropical and subtropical latitudes determine the temperature regime. From October to April, there is heavy rain on the beach, storms often occur in the middle. For the rest of the year, the comfortable temperature rises from 18-27 degrees, and by noon to 35. In winter, in July, average temperatures are stored at a level of 7-10 degrees heat. Throughout the year are sunny days. The summers are warm and dry, and the winters are mild and warm.
Agricultural land resources cover 15% of the total area. Forest-covered areas occupy only 180 thousand hectares or about 1% of the total area. The basic breeds are pine (50), eucalyptus (40%), mimosa (10%). There is an insignificant planting area of other valuable endemic tree species. Logging begins with commercial logging, which, within 20 years, has the time to produce marketable products in accordance with the 80-100 years old wood forest products.
There are more than 240 timber processing companies in the country that fully meet the needs of other sectors of the economy. The country has unique resources - rich copper, manganese and iron ore reserves, ore containing nonferrous metals, chromium materials, platinum group metals, coal, uranium, asbestos, nickel, lead, gold, diamonds and other minerals. On the basis of natural resources, the mining industry is growing.
coal mining country is one of the first places not only in Africa (90%), but in the world (fourth place). The 80% power of energy produces 20 stations that operate on carbon, and they are the world's most inexpensive electric energy, which promotes shallow coal and advanced production technologies.
In the production of non-ferrous metals, gold and diamonds of South Africa hold a leading position in the world, although in recent years due to increased production capacity of products in other countries (China, Canada, Australia, Russia, Zaire, Malaysia and others) South Africa's share of world production has declined significantly, but the country still ranks first in raw material reserves.
The industry is represented by branches such as engine buildings (cars, where the leading position is occupied by foreign manufacturers from the United States, Japan, Germany and other countries producing motor vehicles for different purposes), ferrous and nonferrous metals, providing products for export and domestic consumption, production of marine and river boats, railway cars and locomotives, aircraft flying, production equipment and telecommunication facilities, light industry and food and other industries.
Agriculture specializes in livestock and agriculture, which not only provides for domestic needs, but also functions for export. The country focuses on the cultivation of beef cattle, sheep for the production of wool for export, goats from Angora descent to mohair production (70% of world production for export), ostrich breeding for meat.
The plant stands out for the cultivation of sugarcane, cereals (wheat, corn, barley, wheat), beans, vegetables (onions, carrots, cabbage, tomatoes), sunflower, pepper), tobacco, fruits (apples, pears), bananas, pineapple, citrus fruits, grapes, peaches and many other fruits and fruits from tropical and subtropical belts, cultivated for export. Getting increasingly the importance of wine maintenance for wine production, from which 80% is white wine, is not inferior in French quality. The portion of the country in world wine production reaches 3%.
Development has received fishing and fishing for seafood. Annual catch is a million tons, especially species such as hake, mackerel, sardines, salmon. teri, cod, and lobster seafood, shellfish, squid, shrimp and other marine life. The transportation system is well developed and in accordance with national economic needs, especially the important role played by the export and import of sea transportation services.
Foreign trade accounts for up to 50% of total GDP, which in 2017 amounts to $ 350 billion at nominal cost, and at a purchasing power parity of $ 742 billion Export of mining products (more than half of output goes to other countries), Machinery and equipment, coal, manganese, ferrous and non-ferrous metals, gold, diamonds, platinum group metals, nickel, lead, uranium, vanadium, zirconium, food, canned fruits, grapes, sugar, tobacco, beverages and others. Products purchased by China, US, Japan, Germany, UK, India, Netherlands, Switzerland, Zimbabwe. Oil, vehicles, machinery and equipment, chemical goods, foodstuffs are imported. Major shipments are made from EU, USA, Japan, China,
In 1948, the apartheid regime was established, which existed until 1990 and was removed only under the influence of black armed resistance against racial discrimination and international pressure on the South African government with the UN demands to end the humiliating phenomenon of human degradation.
Population structure is dominated by black people (80%), followed by Caucasian race (about 9%) and others (11%). The number of white populations gradually declined due to emigration to North America, Europe, Australia and New Zealand. For 1985-2005, nearly 1 million people left. At the same time the country immigrates blacks from other African countries. More than 70% of the population lives in urban areas, of which 4 cities out of 37 cities in Africa with more than one million inhabitants, located in South Africa (Johannesburg - 6.4 million, Cape Town - 3.5 million, Durban - Pretoria 3.5 million and - 2.4 million people.).
South Africa is honored to be one of three world leaders in a number of official languages of the state, enshrined in the Constitution. There are 11 state languages (eleven!). In this indicator, only India and Bolivia are ahead. Thus the Wali's initiative on the purity of the nation and consolidation in the Constitution is only one language, called the title, is not resistant to criticism in countries where there are many others who are entitled to speak their native language.
In South Africa, the average life expectancy of men is 50 years, women - 48, which do not fit the general pattern of many countries in the world, when women live longer than men (within 7-10 years). The massive spread of HIV disease (especially among blacks). The number of HIV cases, according to the United Nations, reached 5.7 million people in 2007, or about 12%, and in 2016 increased to 7.1 million people. or about 14% of the country's total population. Of course, this has been an epidemic, but, nevertheless, the World Cup was decided to be held in South Africa.
The country has 40% of the unemployed, making it the country's first ranked crime in Africa (31.8 press killing per 100 thousand people), but much smaller than in El Salvador, where the figure is over 104. or Venezuela - 90 people. These factors, of course, significantly impede the development of the state, but, nevertheless, it is considered only a very advanced country, not only in Africa (produces one-third of the gross output of the continent, 40% of industrial output and one-third of agricultural products), but also world, occupies a respectable place in the twenty most advanced countries.
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