South Africa:
South Africa, Africa's southernmost nation, is also Africa's largest and most developed economy. Today South Africa produces high-tech equipment and is a world leader in the output of gold and diamonds. Also home to SALT, the Southern Hemisphere’s largest single optical telescope, which was completed in 2005. On South Africa's high grassland plateau, lies Johannesburg (usually shortened to Jo'burg). Johannesburg and its satellite cities are home to more than 8 million people—generating 9 percent of all economic activity in Africa. This city is also the site where the discovery of the three and a half million year old Australopithecus africanus was found. It was among the oldest human skeletons ever uncovered. Pretoria is a city located in the northern part of South Africa. It is one of the country's three capital cities, serving as the executive and official de facto capital; the others being Cape Town, the legislative capital, and Bloemfontein, the judicial capital. With a spectacular setting on Table Bay at the southern end of Africa, Cape Town is the legislative capital, a major port, manufacturing hub, and tourist destination. Here you’ll find Table Mountain. A flat-topped mountain forming a prominent landmark overlooking the city of Cape Town in South Africa. Take a cableway up to the top! If by chance you venture over to Namibia, a country that borders South Africa, there lies an english speaking country where you can find swirling brick-red dunes and views of the world’s most captivating desert regions called the Namib desert. Namib runs along the coast of Namibia. |