south african republic population economy economy

Physiographic location

The Republic of South Africa (RSA) is located south of 22° S, in the tropical and subtropical latitudes of the Southern Hemisphere. The territory of South Africa makes up 4.2% of the continent's area (1,223,410 sq. km). In the west the country is washed by the waters of the Atlantic, and in the south and east by the Indian Ocean. The coastline is 2798 km. The highest point of South Africa is Mount Njesuthi - 3408 m

This location of the country determines the presence of various natural landscapes. Its structure resembles a giant amphitheater. Its highest rows are formed in the east and south by the ledge of the Drakensberg and Cape Mountains. To the north, the surface descends in steps - a plateau to a vast arena - the Kalahari and the Limpopo River valley.

The relief of South Africa is characterized by a predominance of high-lying plain plateaus; about half of the territory has an altitude of 1000 to 1600 m, more? located above 600 m above sea level, only a narrow strip of coastal lowlands in the west, south and east has an altitude of up to 500 m. In general, the relief is determined by the internal elevated plateaus and coastal plains of the Atlantic and Indian Oceans.

Almost all of South Africa is located within the southern margin of the African Platform, the foundation of which consists of folds of Precambrian rocks (metamorphic schists, gneisses, etc.) and clastic rocks, penetrated and metamorphosed by intrusions of so-called ancient granites. In the coastal regions of the country, foundation rocks often come to the surface; in the central regions they are covered by a thick layer of younger rocks.

North of the middle reaches of the river. Orange, within the southern edge of the vast trough of the African Platform, are the Kalahari plains (800-900 m), covered with a thick cloak of Cenozoic sands and sandstones.

Currently, almost everywhere the surface of the Kalahari is occupied by herbaceous vegetation and shrubs; the typical desert landscape can only be found in the driest southwestern part, along the borders with Namibia.

The West Coast provides a sharp contrast. To the north, beyond the Ulifants River, the Namib Desert begins. There are few bays and convenient bays on the coast; it is distinguished by a slightly indented, seemingly leveled coastline. The coast, composed mainly of slate shales and quartzites, has a rocky character, rising 7-20 m above sea level. Its stern, unapproachable appearance frightened European sailors for a long time.

The coastline in the southwest and south of South Africa to Cape Recife is more indented. A number of convenient natural bays and bays on the southern coast were appreciated by medieval sailors. These are Saldanha Bay (with a port of the same name), Dining Bay (with the port of Cape Town), False Bay (with the port of Simon's Town), Mosselbay and Algoa Bay. The narrow, rocky Cape Agulhas in front of Mosselbay Bay is the southernmost point of Africa. In the east, in the shallow Natal Bay, is located one of the mainland's largest ports - Durban. To the north of it stretches a low-lying accumulative coast. "All countries of the world" - encyclopedic reference book

1. General information. 3

2. Natural resources… 4

3. Population. 6

4. Agriculture. 8

References... 9

1. General information

REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA, South Africa. State in southern Africa. Capital– Pretoria (1.9 million people – 2004). Territory– 1.219 million sq. km. Administrative division– 9 provinces. Population– 46.3 million people. (2005). official languages– Afrikaans, English, isiZulu, isiXhosa, isindebele, sesotho sa leboa, sesotho, setswana, siwati, tshivenda and hitsonga. Religions– Christianity, etc. Currency unit– rand National holiday– April 27 – Freedom Day (1994). South Africa is a member of more than 50 international organizations, incl. The UN since 1946, the Non-Aligned Movement, the Organization of African Unity (OAU) since 1994, and since 2002 its successor - the African Union (AU), the Southern African Development Community (SADC) since 1994, a member of the Commonwealth (an association of countries that were part of the British Empire) and etc.

2. Natural resources

The central plateau is saucer-shaped and mainly composed of almost horizontal sedimentary rocks. Its central part is at altitudes of approx. 600 m above sea level, and the edges are raised by more than 1500 m. The surface of the plateau is predominantly gently undulating, above it in many places rise flat-topped hills with steep slopes, called table mountains, and bizarre outcrops strewn with boulders, called kopjes (in translation - “heads”). The plateau is almost entirely drained by two rivers. The Orange River (with its tributary Vaal) flows west through the Northern Cape Province and then along the border with Namibia into the Atlantic Ocean. The Limpopo River flows northeast along the borders with Botswana and Zimbabwe and then through Mozambique into the Indian Ocean. With the exception of these rivers and some of their tributaries, most rivers in the plateau only flow during the wet season. In the west and northwest, some rivers are lost in shallow basins that remain dry for most of the year and only fill with water during the rainy season. The problem of rivers drying up is acute (out of 120 rivers, about 100 are drying up).

The Great Escarpment is a 2,250 km arc of mountains that rises above the coastal lowlands of South Africa. Each part here has its own name. Prominent are the Kamiesberh and Bokkefeldberge mountains in Namaqualand; the Rochhefeldberge and Komsberge mountains near Sutherland; Nuwefeldberge Range near Beaufort West; the Kouefeldberge (2130 m) and Sneuberge (2504 m) mountains above Hraff Reinet and the Stormberge mountains north of Queenstown. The Great Escarpment reaches its greatest heights in the Drakensberg Mountains near the eastern border of Lesotho, where several places have elevations above 3350 m. South Africa's highest peak, Mount Engesuti (3446 m), is located on the very border with Lesotho, and the top of the Drakensberg Mountains, Thabana Ntlenyana (3482 m) located in Lesotho. In this area, the Great Escarpment is a system of crenellated buttresses and deep amphitheaters that form one of South Africa's most picturesque landscapes.

Namaqualand is a very dry area in the west of the Northern Cape and Western Cape provinces. This flat platform descends from the Great Escarpment towards the Atlantic Ocean. Granite outcrops and isolated low but dissected mountain ranges often rise above its surface. In the coastal parts the platform is covered with a thick cover of pebbles. Cape and Southern Coastal Regions. As noted above, these areas are similar in relief. Here, linear mountain ranges are distinguished, composed predominantly of sedimentary rocks and extending in a latitudinal direction across the Western Cape and Eastern Cape provinces, with the ridges interspersed with longitudinal valleys. The ridges themselves are narrow and highly dissected, with numerous peaks rising above 1830 m above sea level. The flat bottoms of many valleys are lined with thick layers of alluvium, formed as a result of the destruction of the surrounding mountains. Between the mountains and the foot of the Great Escarpment there is an area called the Great Karoo, which is a series of wide, flat-bottomed, interconnected basins confined to altitudes of 600–900 m above sea level. and having flow through narrow gorges towards the ocean.

The southeastern coastal region is located between the Great Escarpment and the Indian Ocean. Its surface is a complex combination of rounded hills. In many places the hills come directly to the coast, where steep ledges and small beaches alternate. The coastal plain is developed only in the far north, near the border with Mozambique.

Transvaal Low Veldt. The hills of the south-east coast continue north into the Transvaal Low Veldt. Low undulating hills dominate, covered with sparse trees and shrubs, as well as grass. The vast bottoms of the valleys of large rivers are leveled.

3. Population

The average population density is 36.8 people. per 1 sq. km (2001). The most densely populated areas are the cities of Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban. From the end Since the 1990s, average annual population growth has dropped sharply due to the high incidence of AIDS. In 2002 it was approx. 1%, in 2005 had a negative indicator (-0.31%). Birth rate – 18.48 per 1000 people, mortality – 21.32 per 1000 people. Infant mortality is 61.8 per 1000 births. The fertility rate (average number of children born per woman) is 2.2 children. 30.3% of the population are children under 14 years of age. Residents over 65 years of age – 5.2%. The average age of the population is 23.98 years. Life expectancy is 43.27 years (men – 43.47, women – 43.06). (All indicators are given in estimates for 2005).

South Africa is a multiracial and multiethnic state. Racially, the population consists of representatives of African peoples (79%), “whites” (9.6%), Asians (2.5%) and Khoi (Bushmen (Khoi-Sans) and Hottentots), numbering several thousand people . 8.9% of the residents of South Africa are mestizos (the so-called “colored” - descendants of mixed marriages of Europeans with Africans) - 2001. Among the African population, the most numerous ethnic groups are Zulu (23.8%), Xhosa (17.6) , Pedi (9.4%), Tswana (8.2%), Sotho (7.9%), Tsonga (4.4%), Ndebele (approx. 2%), Venda (1.3%) and Swazi (approx. 1%) – 2001. The European population consists of Afrikaners (descendants of Dutch, German, French settlers) and the British. Among the Asian population, Indians predominate; there are also Chinese, Malays, etc. There is still a certain hostility between different racial groups in society. Afrikaans (the lingua franca) is spoken by 13.3% of the country's population, and English by 8.2%. Of the African official languages, isiZulu is the most widely spoken.

The urban population is 64% (2004). The cities are inhabited by approx. 80% "white" population. Large cities - Cape Town (approx. 4 million people - 2005), Durban, Johannesburg, Port Elizabeth, Pietermaritzburg and Bloemfontein.

Among those who came to the country for permanent residence in con. 1990s - early In the 2000s, there were many citizens of Zimbabwe, which in turn accepted refugees from South Africa during the years of the apartheid regime (in 2004 there were 2 million Zimbabweans in South Africa), Nigeria, China and Great Britain. According to established tradition, labor migrants from Swaziland, Lesotho and Botswana come to work in the mines and on farms in South Africa (12 thousand people officially immigrate from Botswana to work in the mines annually, and about 30 thousand people work illegally in the manufacturing industry and on farms).

There is a Russian diaspora, which includes both the descendants of Russian gold and diamond miners who came to South Africa in the 1870s, and emigrants who left Russia after the 1917 revolution. There are also Russian entrepreneurs who immigrated to the country in 1990–2000.

Emigrants from South Africa live in Namibia and other African countries. There is a problem with the so-called "brain drain" In 2003, more than 10 thousand people emigrated from South Africa to the USA, European countries, Australia and New Zealand, among whom were many medical workers (including about 200 experienced doctors), accountants, teachers (about 700 people). ), as well as specialists in the field of information technology. Since the 2000s, the gap between the numbers of emigrants and immigrants has been slowly narrowing.

4. Agriculture

South Africa is the most economically developed country on the African continent. By world standards, it belongs to the group of states with a middle income level (GDP per capita is 11.9 thousand US dollars - 2005).

It is a modern, highly developed sector of the South African economy. The share of the agricultural sector in GDP is 3.4% (2005). Agriculture fully supplies the population with basic food products. 12.08% of land is cultivated (2001). Avocados, peanuts, legumes, corn, mangoes, sunflowers, wheat, sugar cane, plums, sorghum, soybeans, tobacco, cotton, citrus fruits, and barley are grown. South Africa exports vegetables and fruits (pineapples, oranges, grapes, apples). Harvest volumes are significantly affected by frequent droughts. Livestock farming is developed (breeding cattle, horses, sheep, goats and pigs), and poultry farming is developing (mainly breeding ostriches and chickens). South Africa is the world's largest producer of mohair from the wool of Angora goats (South African mohair is considered the best in the world, 3.5 million kg were produced in 2004). Pork production in 2005 was reduced due to the outbreak of swine fever. Timber harvesting is carried out, incl. valuable tree species. The annual catch of river and ocean fish, as well as crustaceans and molluscs is approx. 700 thousand tons (allowable volume – 1 million tons). Crocodiles are caught in rivers.

Bibliography

1. Davidson A.B. South Africa. M., “Main Editorial Board of Eastern Literature”, 1972

2. Davidson Basil. New discovery of ancient Africa. M., "Publishing House of Oriental Literature", 1962

3. Contemporary history of Africa. M., “Science”, 1968

4. South Africa on the threshold of the third millennium. M., Publishing House of the Institute of African Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 2002

5. South Africa. Essays on socio-economic and political development. M., Publishing company "Oriental Literature" RAS, 1999

South Africa is located on the continent of Africa, in its southern part. In the northeast it borders with Mozambique and Swaziland, in the north with Botswana and Zimbabwe, and in the northwest with Namibia. Lesotho is an enclave. The length of the sea borders is 3 thousand km (Atlantic and Indian oceans).

In a country with a complex racial and ethnic composition of the population, the policy of “separate development” of different racial groups (apartheid policy) continued for many years, which actually amounted to the oppression of people of a different skin color by the white minority. This led to destabilization of the internal political structure of the state. The situation changed after the adoption of the 1993 and 1996 constitutions and the first general elections, which were won by the African National Congress (ANC), which had long fought for the rights of the black majority.

Natural conditions and resources.

Most of the country is occupied by flat plateaus and the Cape Mountains. Low-lying areas run in a narrow strip along the coastal areas.

The country is rich in a variety of mineral resources. However, there are no oil and gas deposits in the country.

South Africa lies within the tropical and subtropical zones.

Inland waters are insufficient.

More than 1% of the territory is occupied by forests. The share of industrial forest plantations is significant.

Population – 45.3 million people. (2003). The population growth rate is 1.9%. (in 2015 – 2.5%: 49.3 million people). More than 3/4 of the population of South Africa is made up of the multinational composition of the indigenous inhabitants of Africa - Zulus (38.5%), Sotho (27.5%), Xhosa (11.6%) and others. 13.6% are descendants of immigrants from Europe, predominantly (57.5%) Afrikaners (Boers) and the British, who fought fiercely among themselves during the Anglo-Boer War at the turn of the 19th–20th centuries. Today they own about 80% of the national wealth. The rest are mulattoes and mestizos (which in South Africa are called colored, or clearings) (3.4 million), as well as numerous immigrants from Hindustan (about 1 million people). The remaining ethnic groups are relatively small. Religious composition: 68% of the population are Protestant Christians, 18% profess traditional cults, more than 2% are Muslims, Buddhists - 1.5%. There are 11 official languages, but the main ones are English and Afrikaans. The country has three capitals. Pretoria is the administrative capital, Cape Town is the legislative capital, and Bloemfontein is the judicial capital. Urbanization coefficient – ​​60%.

The population across the country is distributed extremely unevenly.

The territory of the South African Republic located in the extreme south of the continent in the 17th–18th centuries. developed by the Dutch, then by the British, from 1910 to 1961 it was called the Union of South Africa and was part of the British Commonwealth with dominion rights. Modern South Africa is a presidential unitary republic with elements of federalism (9 provinces).

The South African economy is a dual economy. Along with features typical of developed countries (a large share of the hired labor force, a relatively high share of the manufacturing industry in the economy, etc.), South Africa is characterized by many features inherent in developing countries: the economic and technical backwardness of agriculture in the African sector (unlike highly productive European), low standard of living of indigenous residents (50% of the population lives below the poverty line), large influence of foreign capital in the economy, dependence of the economy on the foreign market, etc. The rate of economic growth is 2.6%.

South Africa, as the most economically developed industrial-agrarian country in Africa, occupies a leading position in the economy of the entire continent. It accounts for 27% of GDP, 40% of industrial and 30% of agricultural products. It occupies first place in terms of the cost of mined mineral raw materials, electricity generation, and steel production. South Africa ranks first in the foreign world in reserves and production of gold, magnesium, chromium, manganese, vanadium ores, platinum group metals, and one of the leaders in the production of diamonds, uranium ores, asbestos, coal, iron ore, etc.

South Africa's commercial agricultural sector (5% of GDP) produces a large amount of export products (almost exclusively from European farms) - wool, fruit, sugar; However, in general, the country's food needs are not met by domestic production, and South Africa imports it.

In terms of industrial production, South Africa is one of the twenty leading countries in the world.

The basis for the development of the country's economy is the mining industry. It provides about 12% of GDP, at the same time 2/3 of the value of exports. Mineral raw materials are exported to more than 80 countries.

The most important mining region is the Witwatersrand (Rand) in the small province of Gauteng (part of the former historical Transvaal region), where gold (more than 20% of world production) and uranium are mined. Here is the largest city and industrial center of the country, Johannesburg. Not far from the official capital of South Africa, Pretoria, diamonds are mined (in the same province). They are also mined in some other areas (Kimberley). De Beers is the largest transnational concern that owns diamond mining in South Africa and controls the world diamond market.

South Africa's manufacturing industry accounts for about 19% of GDP - more. It employs 16% of the economically active population. The main industries are the chemical, food, engineering and metallurgical industries. In recent decades, the growth rates of these industries have been quite high. Light industry and electric power industry are developed. The country produces almost half of the region's electricity. The most powerful thermal power plants in the world were built in South Africa (85% run on coal). There is a nuclear power plant in Kuberg. High-tech industries also appeared - the military industry, the production of nuclear reactors, electronics - the “white elephants” of the South African industry.

The development of water resources of the Orange River is being carried out over several decades. It provides for the solution of energy, irrigation and water supply problems (which is very relevant for a country with developed industry and a large area of ​​arid and semi-arid regions). Electricity in South Africa is used mainly in industry, while its consumption in the domestic sphere is small across the country. Suffice it to say that significantly more than half of the dwellings are not electrified, and this is one of the socio-economic paradoxes of South Africa. Electricity production is highly monopolized - more than 90% of it is in the hands of Eskom.

South Africa has highly commercial agriculture. The country provides itself with all basic food products. The country has both irrigated and (mainly) rain-fed agriculture. In European farms, the most important grain crop is corn, in African farms it is sorghum. In the southeast (in the provinces of the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal) sugarcane is grown. Wheat, potatoes, peanuts, and fruits play an important role in agricultural production. Among African countries, South Africa ranks 1st in terms of marine fish production.

Livestock products account for about 40% of agricultural production. The industry is characterized by a high number of cattle, meat and dairy breeds, sheep and goats, and pigs.

The country's transport network is one of the most developed and extensive in the region. All traditional modes of transport are represented. The share (50%) of electrified roads is high. In wind farms, the leading place belongs to sea and air transport. Cape Town and Durban have both major seaports and airports.

Wind farm. The country pursues a protectionist policy aimed at protecting its producers. The volume of exports in 2003 amounted to 36.5 billion dollars, and imports - 38.1 billion dollars. The main export items are gold, diamonds, chrome, platinum, machinery and equipment. Imports include machinery and equipment, petroleum products, chemicals, and food. South Africa's main trading partners are the G7 countries. The country trades with China, Iran, and Saudi Arabia.

The country attracts foreign capital. The country has great potential for tourism development.

Presentation on the topic: South African Republic. Economic and geographical characteristics

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South Africa State of South Africa. Area - 1223 thousand square meters. km.Capital - Pretoria. The seat of parliament is located in Cape Town. Administrative division: 9 provinces. The head of state is the president. The legislative body is a bicameral parliament (Senate and National Assembly). The currency is the South African rand.

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The original population was Bushmen and Hottentots, as well as Bantu. In 1652, the Dutch East India Company founded the Cape Colony on the territory of modern South Africa, in which the Dutch colonists, the Boers, occupied a dominant position. After the capture of the Cape Colony by Great Britain (finally in 1806), most of the Boers left it, founding the Transvaal Republic and the Orange Free State on the lands seized from the African population. As a result of the Anglo-Boer War of 1899-1902, the Boer republics were captured by Great Britain. In 1910, the British colony and the former Boer republics were united into the dominion of the Union of South Africa (SA). The country established a regime of racial discrimination and segregation of the non-European population. In 1959, the creation of Bantustans began. In 1960-90 The African National Congress (ANC; founded in 1912) was illegal.

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History of South Africa In 1961, the South African government announced South Africa's withdrawal from the Commonwealth and proclaimed the country the Republic of South Africa (RSA). In the 1980s Anti-apartheid protests intensified. The government of the ruling Nationalist Party moved to repeal racist legislation; Political parties were legalized, including the ANC and the South African Communist Party (founded in 1921). In 1991, Parliament abolished segregation by place of residence and land ownership, and in 1993 the government took steps to desegregate education. In April 1994, an interim constitution came into force. The first multiracial elections to the National Assembly took place in April 1994; South Africa's membership in the Commonwealth was restored in June. The leader of the ANC (the majority party in parliament), N. Mandela, was elected president of South Africa.

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Geographical location The country is located in the south of the continent of Africa. South Africa occupies the southern edge of the South African Plateau, elevated at the edges (the Drakensberg Mountains in the east, individual peaks over 3000 m) and limited by the steep slopes of the Great Escarpment. In the south are the Cape Mountains. South Africa is the only economically developed state on the continent. It borders on developing countries: Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Swaziland. The enclave of Lesotho is located in South Africa. South Africa is washed by the waters of the Atlantic and Indian oceans, located at the intersection of sea routes from Asia, Australia to Europe and America, which is extremely advantageous.

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Natural conditions In the east – savannah, south of 30°S. – subtropical forests and hard-leaved evergreen shrubs, on the mountain slopes – subtropical and monsoon forests; in the interior there is desert savannah, steppes, shrubby semi-deserts and the Karoo Desert. Relief: Caen and Drakensberg Mountains, plains in the north. The climate is tropical and subtropical. The average temperature in January is +18-27°C, in July +7-10°C. Precipitation is 1000-100 mm. The main rivers are Orange, Limpopo, Vaal. Soils are brown, gray-brown, yellow soil, red soil, reddish-brown.

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Mineral resources are very rich and diverse - reserves of coal, copper ore, gold, diamonds, uranium, manganese, chromium ores, platinum. Agroclimatic resources are favorable for growing cotton, corn, tobacco, grapes, sugar cane. Water resources: unevenly distributed, availability total river flow resources per capita are small - 0.5-2.5 thousand cubic meters per year. Land resources: most of the land is occupied by pastures, only in the south and east of the country there are cultivated lands. Forest resources: forests occupy a very small area and heavily cut down, i.e. the country is poorly supplied.

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Population – 44 million people (2007); Population density – average 36 people/sq. km (in the south - up to 100) people/sq. km; Reproduction type - II; birth rate - 30-35, mortality - 5-10, natural increase - 25 people per 1000 inhabitants; Large number of mature (middle) ages, but a large proportion of children; More women than men; National composition - Africans (79%; Zulu , Xhosa, etc.), mulattoes and mestizos (11.2%), immigrants from Europe (14.6%), mainly Afrikaners (Boers) and the British. Urban population 55.4% (1996). The official language is Afrikaans and English. Religions are Protestantism, adherents of local traditional beliefs; Level of urbanization - up to 60%; Level of qualifications of labor resources - high (among the white population) and low (among indigenous residents).

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South Africa occupies one of the first places in the world in the production of gold, platinum, chromite, manganese ore, antimony, and diamonds. They mine uranium, iron ore, copper, asbestos, etc. Electricity production is 240 billion kWh (2005). The economic appearance of the country is determined by: the mining industry, the products of which are intensively exported to the world market; 4th place in the world in the production of non-fuel minerals, first place in the world in gold production (295 tons per year); ferrous metallurgy, working on its own raw materials; mechanical engineering - production of mining equipment, transport and agricultural engineering; chemical industry.

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In agriculture, marketable products are provided by large farms. The basis of agriculture is animal husbandry; sheep (30 million) and goats, cattle (12 million), pigs about 1.5 million. Main crops: corn (9.9 million tons), wheat (2.5 million tons), sugar cane (2 million tons of raw sugar per year). Peanuts (100 thousand tons), sunflowers (600 thousand tons), tobacco, sorghum, citrus fruits, etc. are also cultivated.

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External economic relations Since 1994, South Africa has been a member of the OAU (Organization of African Unity). The country actively cooperates not only with developing countries in Africa, but also has strong contacts with the countries of Europe, Asia and America. South Africa supplies the world market with: gold, diamonds , platinum, agricultural and food products, non-ferrous metal ores, ferrous metallurgy products. Foreign trade turnover in 2007 amounted to 148.11 billion US dollars. Export composition: gold – 20%, minerals and minerals – 20-25%, food – 5%, chemical products – 3%. Imports are dominated by machinery and equipment, petroleum products, and finished industrial products. The main trading partners for exports are Japan, the USA and Great Britain, and for imports - Germany, the USA and China.

Square: 1.2 million km2
Population: 49 million people
Capital: Pretoria

Geographical position

The Republic of South Africa (RSA) is located in the extreme south of Africa, south of the Southern Tropic and is washed by two oceans. The cold Benguela Current in the west and the warm Cape Agulhas Current in the east determine the climate and nature of the country. The slightly indented coastline and desert areas of the western coast are not conducive to its intensive development. The southern coast has a more favorable geographical location for development. On the territory of South Africa there are two small independent states - Lesotho and. (Use the map to determine which countries South Africa borders with.)

Natural conditions and resources

South Africa has the most powerful economic potential in the world and is the only African country classified as a developed country. The Republic of South Africa was proclaimed in 1961.

Most of the country's territory lies above 1000 m above sea level. The geological structure of the territory determined the richness of South Africa in ore and the absence of deposits. The country's subsoil is extremely rich in manganese ores, chromites, platinum, diamonds, gold, coal, iron, etc.

The territory of South Africa is located in the subtropical and tropical zones. The climate is arid, but cooler than in the north of the mainland. Average annual temperatures are +20…+23 °C. The difference in temperatures between the hottest and coldest seasons is only about 10 °C. Annual rainfall ranges from 100 mm on the west coast to 2000 mm on the slopes of the Drakensberg Mountains.

The territory of South Africa is crossed by several large rivers: Orange, Tugela. The largest river in South Africa is the Orange, whose length is almost 2 thousand km. Its basin contains the most important industrial and agricultural areas of the country. Large hydraulic structures were built on the river, including reservoirs and hydroelectric power stations. The Drakensberg Mountains are crossed by the Tugela River, which is home to Africa's highest waterfall, the Tugela (933 m).

The soils are varied and mostly fertile: red-brown, black, gray-brown. A significant part of the territory in the center and in the east is occupied by savannas. Tropical forests have been preserved along the banks of the rivers. In the south, subtropical forests and evergreen shrubs are common. The country's flora numbers about 16 thousand species, dominated by savannah formations. In the most humid areas there are savannas with palm trees and baobabs, in the Karoo there is a deserted savannah (dry-loving trees, shrubs and succulents (aloe, spurge, etc.). In the Kalahari, the peculiar ones are of particular value - pens, in which moisture accumulates after rains and appears lush grass is good food for sheep.

In the Cape floristic region (region) there are more than 6 thousand plant species, most of which are endemic. The silver tree flower (protea) has become the national symbol of South Africa. Deserts and mountains, river valleys, and a significant length of ocean coast determine the diversity of the flora and fauna of South Africa. The most diverse fauna is in national parks, the most famous of which are Kruger and Kalahari-Gemsbok, in which all representatives of the fauna are concentrated, including endemics. About 200 species of snakes, more than 40 thousand species of insects are known in the country, and pockets of malaria mosquitoes and tsetse flies have been preserved.

South Africa is the richest country in Africa in terms of mineral resources. Climatic conditions make it possible to grow cultivated plants all year round.

Population

The ethnic composition of the South African population is very complex. About 80% of the country's citizens are black Africans who belong to various ethnic groups (Zulu, Xhosa, Suto, etc.). The population of European origin is less than 10%. The third largest group of the population of South Africa are mulattoes and mestizos. There is a significant population of Asian origin.

Population density 37 people/sq. km. The most densely populated areas are Cape Town and Durban. Over 35% of the population lives in cities. Since the late 90s. Natural population growth due to morbidity has sharply decreased and has been negative since 2005.

In terms of the employment structure of the population, South Africa is a post-industrial country (65% of the working population is employed in the service sector, more than 25% in industry).

The high level of economic development made it possible to resolve many social issues and ethnic relations. Previously, the majority of the local population was oppressed. The apartheid policy lasted 45 years in South Africa. She preached racial oppression of the colored population, the creation of reservations for blacks, the ban on mixed marriages, etc. In 1994, the apartheid political regime was overthrown as a result of general elections and the refusal of whites to renounce their monopoly on power. South Africa was restored to the world community.

Cities

The capital is the city of Pretoria (more than 800 thousand people). The urban population is 64%. South Africa is dominated by small towns with a population of up to 10 thousand people. In addition to Johannesburg (3.2 million people) and, the largest cities are port cities - Cape Town,.

Industry

The country's economy produces 2/3 of the continent's GDP. The country's economy is determined by its mining industry. About 52% of the country's exports come from mining products. The country ranks second in the world in diamond mining and third in uranium ore mining. Almost all types of minerals, excluding oil, are found in South Africa. Coal mining is developed - South Africa ranks third in the world in terms of coal use.

Closely related to the mining industry is the production of gold bars (25% of world production) and platinum. The main center of gold mining is Johannesburg, the largest city in South Africa, the “economic capital” of the country. Several dozen gold mines operate here, and an urban agglomeration has formed (about 5 million people). The country's industry of specialization is ferrous metallurgy. South African steel is the cheapest in the world. Non-ferrous metallurgy is represented by the production of most non-ferrous metals: from copper, antimony and chromium to rare earth metals.

The service sector is developing rapidly. The banking sector and trade have received the greatest development. The service sector accounts for up to 62% of GDP.

Agriculture

In agriculture, livestock breeding plays a leading role, primarily sheep breeding for wool. Sheep wool and leather form a significant part of exports. Cattle and goats are also raised. South Africa is the world's largest producer of mohair from the wool of Angora goats (South African mohair is considered the best in the world). They are also involved in breeding ostriches.

The development of agriculture is affected by droughts; 1/3 of all lands are susceptible. Cultivable lands make up about 12% of the territory. The main grain crops are corn, wheat, sorghum. South Africa provides itself with all basic food products, exports sugar, vegetables, fruits and berries, and citrus fruits. Many lands are infertile and require constant fertilization.

Transport

The main interregional mode of transport in South Africa is rail. Railways connect port cities with. The role of road transport is increasing, accounting for 80% of all transport in the country. The most important seaports are Durban, Cape Town, Port Elizabeth, etc.

South Africa is the only highly developed country in Africa. South Africa is known in the world as the leader in gold production - 25% of world production. The South African economy accounts for 2/3 of the continent's GDP.