A big strong nation

Continuing my journey around my quality map. Today is the wonderful country of South Africa. We spent three weeks there in 2010/11 and visited JoBurg (well we flew in and out), Pretoria, the spectacular Cape Town, Durban and Kruger National

Some interesting facts about the country are

1. Table Mountain in Cape Town is believed to be one of the oldest mountains in the world. (I saw a horrible snake at the top)

2. The world is divided into six floral kingdoms. All these kingdoms encompass several countries, and in some cases, several continents. South Africa, which has a floral kingdom wholly contained within the country, is the one exception. The Cape Floral Kingdom has 9,600 plant species, 70% of which are not found anywhere else in the world.

3. Table Mountain alone has over 1,500 species of plants, more than the entire United Kingdom.

4. South Africa is the second largest exporter of fruit in the world.

5. South Africa has the longest wine route in the world.

6. Kruger National Park supports the greatest variety of wildlife species on the African continent.

7. South Africa is rated 3rd in the world in supplying safe, drinkable tap water.

8. South Africa has the cheapest electricity in the world.

9. The deepest mine is a gold mine in South Africa. in 1977 the Western Deep Levels Mine reached a depth of 11,749 feet. Most mines descend to about 3,300 feet.

10. South Africa is the only country in the world to voluntarily abandon its nuclear weapons program.

11. South Africa has 19,004 miles of railway track - 80% of Africa's rail infrastructure.

12. Blyde River Canyon is the third largest canyon in the world - and the largest green one. The Grand Canyon in the U.S. is the biggest, and the Fish River Canyon in Namibia the second, but both are very dry.

13. Robben Island is the 4th visited tourist attraction in the World.

14. They love meat. Their steaks are incredible

15. I want to live there