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Table of Contents
South Africa, known officially as the Republic of South Africa, is a country located in Southern Africa. It has 2,798 kilometres of coastline that stretches along the South Atlantic and Indian oceans.
See the fact file below for more information on South Africa or alternatively, you can download our 21-page South Africa worksheet pack to utilise within the classroom or home environment.
Capital
Pretoria (administrative capital)
Population
44,187,637
note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2006 est.)
Area
total: 1,219,912 sq km
land: 1,219,912 sq km
water: 0 sq km
slightly less than twice the size of Texas
Government
Republic
Money
Rand (ZAR)
Climate
mostly semiarid;
subtropical along east coast;
sunny days, cool nights
Languages
IsiZulu 23.8%
IsiXhosa 17.6%
Afrikaans 13.3%
Sepedi 9.4%
English 8.2%
Setswana 8.2%
Sesotho 7.9%
Xitsonga 4.4%
other 7.2% (2001 census)
History Of South Africa:
- South Africa contains some of the oldest archaeological sites in the world; many of which have been found in Gauteng Province, which is located in the northeast region.
- Human existence can be traced back to nearly 3 million years ago.
- South Africa was first contacted by Portuguese explorers from Europe, but later it was colonized by the Dutch.
- Great Britain occupied Cape Town between 1795 and 1803 to prevent the French from taking control.
- In the following few decades, power over South Africa switched between the British and the Dutch before finally being ceded to Great Britain and becoming part of the
British Empire. - The South African Wars occurred between 1879 and 1915. They included:
– The Anglo-Boer War
– The Anglo-Zulu War
– The Basotho Gun War
– The 9th Frontier War - These wars occurred because of tensions among European colonial powers, indigenous Africans, and settlers already in the region. All of them were trying to gain and keep control of the country, and profit from the discovery of diamonds and gold.
Geography Of South Africa:
- South Africa is located at the southernmost region of Africa.
- South Africa is the 25th-largest country in the world.
- Along the coast the land is low-lying and narrow.
- Behind it lies the Great Escarpment which separates the coast from the inland plateau.
- There are 2 major rivers in South Africa: The Limpopo and the Orange.
- South Africa is a dry country and most of its western areas are desert. Rainfall increases the further east you travel.
- The climate changes depending on what part of South Africa you are in; it is wet and warm on the eastern side, but extreme and can be harsh to the west.
- You can ski in the mountains in the winter, and the Tropic of Capricorn cuts through the extreme north of the country.
- Climate change is significantly changing South Africa each year.
- Many animals can be found in South Africa, such as giraffes, cheetahs, lions, hippos, and the national bird, the blue crane.
- South Africa is also home to numerous species of plants and fungi, including king proteas, aloe plants, acacia trees, and baobab trees.
Culture & Demography:
- South Africa has 11 official languages, with some spoken more than others. There are also several other unofficial languages.
- Nearly 80% of South Africa’s population are Christian.
- The majority of people in South Africa live in poverty.
- South African art includes the oldest art objects in the world – tribes communicated mostly through cave paintings.
- South Africa is one of Africa’s major media centres, and there is a large variety of South African music.
- Kwaito is a unique genre of music that emerged in Johannesburg in the 1990s, which is a mix of house music and the use of African sounds, at a much slower tempo than other styles of house music.
- South African cuisine is diverse, drawing on influences from many cultures. It is predominantly meat-based and often uses barbeques to cook meals.
- The country has also developed into a major wine producer.
- South Africa’s most popular sports are soccer, rugby, and cricket.
- South Africa hosted the FIFA World Cup in 2010.
- As of 2007, the South African literacy rate is nearly 88%.
- In a 2015 UNAIDS report, it was revealed that South Africa has approximately 7 million people living with HIV – more than any other country in the world.
- Black South Africans have a life expectancy of around 48, whereas a white South African can expect to live to at least 71. This highlights a racial divide within the country.
- Only 16% of the population is covered by medical schemes
South Africa Worksheets
This bundle contains 11 ready-to-use South Africa Worksheets that are perfect for students who want to learn more aboutSouth Africa, also known officially as the Republic of South Africa, which is a country located in Southern Africa. It has 2,798 kilometres of coastline that stretches along the South Atlantic and Indian oceans.
Download includes the following worksheets
- South Africa Facts.
- Archaeology in South Africa.
- South Africa Collage.
- Protecting Animals.
- Cuisine of South Africa.
- Nelson Mandela & The Apartheid.
- Languages of South Africa.
- South Africa Wordsearch.
- Design a Postcard.
- Cage Diving with Sharks.
- South Africa Crossword.
Link/cite this page
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Link will appear as South Africa Facts & Worksheets: https://kidskonnect.com - KidsKonnect, October 12, 2017
Use With Any Curriculum
These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.