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2022 Belmont Stakes dates, location, tickets and other interesting facts that you need to know this year

2 years ago
2022-belmont-stakes-dates-location-tickets-and-other-interesting-facts-that-you-need-to-know-this-year

The Belmont Stakes is a Class I American steak race that takes place at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. The race is the traditional third and final leg of the Triple Crown. Usually held on the first or second Saturday in May, five weeks after Kentucky and three weeks after Preakness Stakes. In 1973, "Belmont Stakes and Triple Crown Winner "Secretariats" held the record (which is also a track and world record on Dirt) of 2:24.


When running the miles, the Belmont Stakes covers one full lap of Belmont Park, known as "The Championship Track," because nearly every major American champion in racing history has raced. Belmont Park, with its big, wide, sweeping turns and long work, is considered one of America's finest races. Despite the distance, the race tends to favor horses with tactical speed: comparatively few approach far from the early leaders.


Attending the Belmont Stakes is among the American racing events. The 2019 Belmont Stakes garnered a television audience of 21.9 million viewers and had the highest household viewing since 1977, when Triple Crown winner Ce Slew.


American "Pharoah" won the 147th Belmont Stakes, becoming the first horse to win the Crown Cane since "Affirmed" in 1978. Hfi won the 150th, becoming the 13th Triple Crown champion.


The event will last two days: 6 and 7 may, 2022 Belmont Stakes Ticket Packages you can find here.


You can read below interesting facts by Bemorepanda.



1. The first Belmont Stakes were held at Jerome Park Ruch in the Bronx, built in 1866 by stock speculator Leonard Jerome (No. 7 - 1891) and funded by August Belmont Sr. (No. 6 - 1890 - 1890), for whom the race was named. 


2. The first race in 1867 was won by Philly Roeless, while the following year was won by General Duke. The race continued to be held at Jerome Park until 1890, when it was moved to a nearby facility, Morris Park Racecourse. 


3. The 1895 race almost never took place due to new laws that prohibited betting in New York: it was eventually rescheduled for November The race remained at Morris Park Racecourse until the new Belmont Park, 430 acres, opened in May 1904, 430 acres in Elmont, New York York on Long Island, near the New York borough of Queen. When anti-gaming legislation was passed in New York State, Belmont Race was closed and the race was canceled in 1911 and 1911.


4. The first Triple Crown winner was Sir He, in 1919, before the series was recognized as such. In 1920 Belmont won the great Man o'War, winning by 20 lengths, setting a new steak and an American record.



5. Beginning in 1926, the August Belmont Tro was awarded to the winner of the Belmont Stakes. The owner can keep Troy for one year and is also a silver miniature for permanent use.


6. The term Triple Crown was first used when Gallant won three races in 1930, but the term did not come into general use until 1935, when his son Omaha repeated the feat. Sir Sean was then honored retroactively. 


7. Beginning in 1931, the Triple Crown race order was first "Kentucky" followed by "Preakness Stakes" and then "Belmont Stakes". On May 12, 1911, and again on May 13, 192, "Preakness" and "Jy' ' were run on the same day. For ele time, the Belmont Stakes were run through to the Preakness Stakes. The date of each event is now set by Kentucky, which is always held on the first Saturday in May. 


8. The Preakness Stakes are currently held two weeks later and the Belmont Stakes are held three weeks after the Preakness (five weeks after).


9. Sturm, 1946 Triple Crown winner In 1937, War Admiral became the fourth Triple Crown winner after winning the Belmont in a new record time of 2:28 3/5. Four Triple Crowns followed in the 1940s: "Whirlaway" in 1941, "Count Fleet" in 1943, "Assault" in 1946 and "Citation" in 1948. Count Fleet won the race with a then-record margin of twenty-five lengths. He also set a steak record of 2:28 1/5, a record tied by Citation. In 1957, the steaks record was broken when the Gallant Man ran Belmont in 2:26 3/5 in a year in which the Triple Crown series was split in three ways.



10. The Belmont Stakes race was held at Aqueduct Rac from 1963 to 1967 while the track at Belmont was restored and refurbished.


11. The largest crowd of the 20th century was in 1971 with over 80,000 people, led by the city's Hispanic community, there to show off their new hero, Cañonero II, a Venezuelan Colt who had won the Kentucky and Preakness Stakes and was poised to win the Trinity crown of the USA. However, due to a leg infection that plagued the horse for several days, Cañonero II failed to win the Triple Crown as he fought for the finish line in 4th behind Pass Catcher, riesby Blum. Despite this loss, Cañonero II was named the winner of the first Eclipse Award for Outstanding Three Year Old Male Horse.


12. On June 9, 1973, the Secretariate won the Belmont Stakes by thirty-one lengths in a record time of 2:24 to become the Triple Crown champion, ending the 25-year gap between the Belmont-winning Citation and the Triple Crown in 1948. The Secretariate's record still stands today as the fastest Belmont Stakes run and the American 1 ½ mile record on Dirt. In 1977, Ce-Slew became the first horse to win the Triple Crown while undefeated. 


13. Affirmed was the last Triple Crown winner of the 20th century, taking the Belmont Stakes at 2:26 4/5 on June 10, 1978. Ri by eighteen-year-old Steve Cauthen, Affirmed defeated ri Alydar with J Velásquez in the saddle. At the time of the race, there was a third-slowest start and a third-fastest finish with a quarter at 25, half at 50, 3/4 at 1:14, at 1:37 2/5.



14. In 1988 Secretariate's son Risen Star won the Belmont in 2:26 2/5, then the second fastest in race history. The following year, Easy Goer lowered the mark for the second fastest time to 2:26. Easy Goer also has a Beyer Speed ​​Figure of 122 for the best race of any Triple Crown race since these were first published in 1987.


15. Crowd packs objects when the Triple Crown is in line. Three years in a row, horses have come to the Belmont Stakes with a Triple Crown in line only to fall. In 2002, Belmont Park became the largest crowd in its history when 103, 22 saw War Emblem lose a long shot at Sarava after stumbled early. In 2003, 101,864 Funny Cide watchers finished third behind Empire Maker. In 2004, the attendance record was shattered when 120,139 people saw Smarty Jones upset by Birdstone.


16. In 2007, "Rags to Riches" became the first Philae to win the race since Tanya in 1904. Three more failed Triple Crown bytes followed: Big Brown lost to Da 'Tara in 2008; in 2012, I'll Have Another was withdrawn due to injury; and in 2014 California Chrome was taken over by Tonalist. This fueled debate about whether the series needed to be changed, such as lengthening the period between races.


17. American Pharoah won the 2015 race, becoming the 12th horse in history to win a Triple Crown and the first in 37 years. The crowd that year was capped for the first time, to 90,000. His time of 2:26.65 was the sixth fastest time in Belmont Stakes history, and the second fastest time for a Triple Crown winner. In 2018, Phi became the 13th Triple Crown winner and only the second horse to do so while undefeated.



18. The Belmont Stakes' 152nd run took place without full-time fans on June 20, 2020, dragging on from June 6 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Leading up to the announcement, NYRA considered various dates after the Belmont Park spring/summer meeting and after three other majors had set their respective dates: Kentuan-E's move to Sept. 5, the Preakness Stakes move to Oct. 3, and Bre's Cup Classic scheduled for November Gov. Andrew CuOmies of New York also announced on June 16 that riders, including riders, that races in May 2020, including races, will announce.


19. The Belmont Stakes have been run one and a half since 1926 (except 2020), having run that distance in 1874-1889.


20. The race was also held at the following distances: and five furlongs in 1867 - 1873; and quarter in 1890 - 1892, 1895 and 1904 - 1903; and furlong in 1893 - 1894 and again in 2020; and three furlongs in 1896-1903 and 1906-1925.


21. A purse for the first run in 1867 was added at $1,500, meaning the purse was a nominee and entry fee. This made the total purse $2500 and the winner received $1850. 


22. The purse increased dramatically in the Roaring Twenties, from Man Oh's war earnings of $7,950 in 1920 to Gallant's of $66,040 in 1930. Purses dwindled as a result of the Great Depression, when the war admiral made just $28,020 in 1937 and then began During the sixties and early seventies, the winner's value was $100,000, depending on the added money received for entry (larger fields, thus resulting in higher prize money).



23. The purse was re-raised in the eighties and nineties, reaching $500,000 added, with the winner receiving roughly $400,000.In 1998, the purse was changed to $1,000,000 eed, with the winner receiving $600,000. In 2014, the purse was increased to $1,500,000.


24. With one exception, the race has been held at the 126-pound level (with a 5-pound filly allowance) since 1900. 126 pounds comes from the English classics, where the standard weight is 9 stones, while one stone is equal to 14 pounds. In 1911 the Belmont was run as a handicap with the winner carrying only 109 lbs compared to the runner-up carrying 126 lbs. Races held before 1900 had different weight conditions.


25. The first post-parade parade in the United States was at Belmont 14, in 1880. Until 1921 the race was held in the tradition of English racing. Since then, the race has been run in the American, or contra-visa, direction. Because of its length (one lap around Belmont's trendy main track), and because it's the final race of the Triple Crown, it's called the "Trial of the Champion". Most three year olds are not used to the distance and lack the experience, if not the stamina, to maintain winning speed for so long. In long races like the Belmont, horse work and lead timing can be critical.


26. The Winner's Blanket, made from Belmont Stakes white carnations, is called the "Trial of the Champion" because of its 5 length, by far the longest of the three Triple Crown races, and one of the longest for a first-class dirt race in the US. It is also known as "The Carnation Run" because the winning horse is drawn with a blanket of white carnations after the race, similar to the rose and black Susan's blanket for\ Preakness, respectively. The winning owner is ceremonially presented with the winner's silver trophy, designed by Paulding Farnham for Tiffany and Co. First introduced to August Belmont Jr. in 1896 and presented by the Belmont family for an annual presentation in 1926.



27. Although the Belmont Stakes is the oldest of the Triple Crown races, its titles have been more subject to change. Until 1996, the post-parade song was "The Sidewalks of New York''. From 1997 to 2009, the song was changed to broadcast the Frank Sinatra recording "Theme from New York" in an attempt to appeal to younger fans. In 2010, the song was changed to "Empire State of Mind '' by Jasmine V before reverting to "Theme from New York" from 2011 to the present. 


28. This tradition is similar to the singing of the national song on the post parades of the first two Triple Crown races: "My Old Kentucky Home '' at Kentu y and "Maryland, My Maryland '' at the Preakness Stakes. The song change spawned the "myth of Mamie O'Rourke '', a reference to the character in the lyrics of "The Sidewalks of New York". Before the American Pharoah won the Triple Crown in 2015, some claimed that Belmont's official song change "cursed" the Triple Crown and was the reason no horse won since Affirmed in 1978. Others point out that there was no Triple Crown winner between 1979 and 1996, although the Sidewalks were still playing.


29. Along with the song change, the official drink was also changed in 1997, from "White Carnation" to "Belmont Breeze." despite the fact that he was "as refined Traused traused Banned, Moneed, in 2011 was".


30. While the origin of the white carnation as the official flower of Belmont Stakes is unknown, it takes approximately 700 "choice" carnations from Columbia to create a 40-pond blanket painted over a Belmont Stakes winner. NYRA has long used The Pennock Company, a florist based in G., to import carnations used for mantles.


31. Only James G. Rowe Sr. and George M. Odom have won the Belmont Stakes as Joey and Coach.



32. On June 5, 1993, Thorobred became the first woman to win a Triple Crown when she made it to the Belmont Stakes victory aboard the Colonial Affair.


33. In 1984, Sarah Lundy became the first female trainer to saddle a horse in the Belmont Stakes, sending Minstrel Star, who finished eleventh.


34. The 2004 race was the largest in park history with 120, 139.


35. Sarawa, unlike 70 - 1, rejected War Emblem's bid for the Triple Crown.


36. Braulio Baeza has won three Belmont Stakes over three different ones. 


37. Stakes debut 65-1 in 1961 at the old Belmont Park, won the 1963 Chateaugay when the race was held at the Aqueduct, and won the 1969 Arts and Letters at the new Belmont Park.


38. Prior to the 2016 run, Laurels had the most with 56. Chestnuts were close behind with 54 wins, followed by 33 Dark Bays/Browns. Only three horses have won (Bellemare in 1895, Native Dancer in 1953 and High Echelon in 1970). In 2016, the top three positions were covered by grais.


39. The fourteen-year-old Belmont Stakes has scored at least one Belmont winner. The leader of this list is Man o'War, who collected three subsequent American flags, crusader and Triple Crown War winner Admiral.



40. Twenty-three horses missed their chance at the Triple Crown by not winning the Belmont. Eight of them finished second: Pendive (1944), Tim Tam (1958), Forward Pass (1968), Majestic Prince (1969), Sunday Silence (1989), Silver Charm (1997), Real Quiet (1998) and Smarty Jones ( 2004). Five finished third: Northern Dancer (1964), Spectacular Bid (1979), Pleasant Colony (1981), Charismatic (1999) and Funny Cide (2003). The four finished fourth: Ty King (1966), Canonero II (1971), Alisheba (1987), and California Chrome (2014). Carry Back (1961) finished seventh, War Emblem (2002) finished and Big Brown (2008) did not. Finally, three groups failed to race at Belmont: Burgoo King (1932), Bold Venture (1933) and I'll Have Another (2012), although I'll Have Another was injured and burned out the day before his Belmont Stakes in 2012.


41. The average horse weighs about 1,000 pounds. If you didn't think the jockeys were impressive or had a tough job, it's time to reconsider as they ride massive animals that travel at 40 miles per hour.


42. As if that wasn't impressive enough, the jockeys are famously short. There is no height requirement for jockeys, however there is a weight limit of 126 pounds which in turn results in most jockeys being on the short side.


43. The lowest recorded weight for a jockey is 49 pounds. The lightest current jockey currently racing is Giovanni Porte who weighs in at 88 pounds.



44. Due to the lucrative nature of horse racing and subsequent gambling, jockeys are prohibited from racing a horse they own or have a stake in because, as we all know, people sometimes like to cheat. The penalties can be quite harsh for this, and may even include time in jail.


45. In Europe, the horse race or National Hunt race is still very popular, and the great National Intree Racecourse outside Liverpool in the United Kingdom is the most prestigious of all. In the state of British culture, the race has a £1 million prize, making it the most valuable race on the entire continent.


46. More than $100 billion is bet on horse racing every year. You knew it was big money, but it's just crazy.


47. The first horse to win the Kentucky Derby was Aristide, in 1875. When he ran into the race, the derby was one quarter mile longer, with a $2,850 purse. Both his jockey and coach were African American, as were 13 of the 15 jockeys in the entire race.


48. Two of the first three Kentucky Derby winners were former slaves. However, since 1891, when Dudley Allen won the Derby, no African-American rider has won the race.


49. The Triple Crown is incredibly famous now, but at first they were just a trio of races. The term was not created until 1930 - eleven years after the first horse, Sir Barton, won a trio of races. It was coined by Charles Hutton, a sportscaster who was trying to fire up the public after the thoroughbred Galant Fox became the second horse to win all three races.


50. Before the idea of ​​the Triple Crown of racing came into vogue, two of the races would occasionally run on the same day or within only one day of each other, making it difficult for horses to win the Triple Crown.


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Get in on the thrilling horse races and betting action with Jeeto88! Feel the excitement, place your bets, and ride the winning wave together!

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interesting-facts-about-horse-polo-a-game-of-aristocrats

Horse polo is considered the most ancient team game in the world, which appeared more than two thousand years ago and was widespread in Persia and India. In India, the English army officers got acquainted with this game, and polo spread throughout Europe thanks to them. The word "polo" also came from India and is translated as "wood." The sticks for this game are made of wood. Interestingly, in India, polo is played not only on horses but also on elephants.

 

Facts about horse polo

 

Thanks to the British, polo has become not just a popular folk pastime but a sport with rules that allow competitions, including international ones. The first documented polo game in England took place in 1869. By the way, the British originally called this sport "hockey on horseback." From England, polo spread not only throughout Europe but the world. For example, in 1875, polo began to be played even in distant Argentina.

 

Polo in the Olympics

Polo was included in the program of the Olympic Games 5 times: in 1900, 1908, 1920, 1924, and 1936. Interestingly, the traditional Olympic equestrian disciplines appeared at the Olympics only in 1912. Horse polo was considered more of a team sport (like, for example, football) than equestrian. An interesting fact at the Olympics in Berlin, the polo tournament at the Maifeld arena gathered a record number of spectators in the stands, about 70 thousand - more than any other sport.

 

It is worth considering that since the early 1930s, polio was considered a disgraced sport in Nazi Germany, against which active propaganda was carried out in the press. And shortly after the end of the Games, Adolf Hitler altogether banned polo as a "Jewish" and "Anglo-American" sport. However, this species was excluded from the Olympic program for another reason. The fact is that the class of the Argentina national team, which won both in 1924 and 1936, was so superior to all other groups that it became apparent: that it was useless to play with it; the Argentines would still win. This trend continues to the present. The king of polo "- the Argentinean Adolfo Cambiaso.

 

Lefties can play polo

Left-handers play polo but must hold the stick with their “uncomfortable” hands. Horse polo rules state that only the right hand can have the bar. In this case, you can hit the ball on the left. In total, four main types of blows are accepted: offside forehand (strong backhand blow forward or sideways), near side backhand (back blow), near side neck shot (hit from the left side under the horse’s neck), and offside tail shot (hit from under horse's tail). Striking from above or below the opponent's horse is prohibited.

 

Animals other than horses used for polo

In India, polo on elephants is quite popular; in Arab countries - on camels. An exciting fact In 2000, a polo match on yaks took place in Mongolia for the first time. This action initially pursued the goal of drawing public attention to the preservation of these animals from extermination. However, since 2006, yak polo, or sarlagan polo, has become so popular that it has also begun to be played in Pakistan. In Mongolia itself, the Mongolian Sarlagan Polo Association was even formed.

 

Among the exotic varieties, polo canoes, segways, golf carts, bicycles, and motorcycles should also be noted. Polo on yaks has taken root in Mongolia. Perhaps the most famous polo player Winston Churchill said: "Polo handicap is your passport to the world." Of course, this aristocratic game is far from accessible to everyone.

 

Polo field

Spectators watching the match immediately notice that the polo field is much larger than the football field. Its length is 275 meters, and its width is about 180. Each team consists of four riders whose goal is to hit the opponent's goal, which is 7 meters 30 centimeters wide. The players are "armed" with special sticks, and the diameter of the ball is about 8 centimeters. Most often, the game consists of six periods (chukkers), and the duration of each of them is seven minutes.

 

Even in a short period, the horses manage to pretty much knock out the turf on the field; therefore, during the breaks, you can see a curious sight - the spectators go out onto the lawn and help the workers drive in pieces of turf into their place. For the game, they use a special breed of horses - polo ponies. The leader in their breeding is Argentina. The cost of each horse is about $50,000. At the same time, each athlete has several; you can change them even during the game.

 

Importance of Argentina in Polo

Horse polo was even included in the program of five Olympics: 1900, 1908, 1920, 1924, and 1936. In the post-war years, polo was excluded from the Olympic sports list. Moreover, this was done with a fascinating wording: in 1924 and 1936. The advantage of athletes from Argentina was so evident that the IOC decided why to hold equestrian polo competitions if the winner was known in advance. Since 1987, the World Polo Championships have been saved.

 

It is in Argentina that the world's most titled polo player lives. His name is Adolfo Cambiaso. For fans of this sport, Cambiaso is an absolute legend. But horse polo is far from the most popular game in the world. Therefore, the stars of Argentine football are known in the sports world much more than Adolfo Cambiaso.

 

During the match, the teams change goals after each goal is scored. This is explained by the fact that one of the teams has to play against the sun, which blinds the eyes. An exchange of goals is necessary to equalize rivals' chances. In principle, the sun also affects players in other sports, but nowhere else do the plans change so often.

 

Horse polo sticks

Horse polo sticks are most often made from bamboo. Sometimes willow and combined materials are used. According to the rules of this sport, the bar is only allowed to be held in the right hand. Can lefties play polo? Of course, they can. But no exceptions are made for them either; the stick must be held in an uncomfortable right hand.

 

Even though horse polo was not included in the program of the Olympic Games for many years, the federation of this sport does not lose hope of returning to the Olympic family. Currently, equestrian polo is cultivated in more than 70 countries worldwide. The leaders are Argentina, England, Australia, the USA, India, and Pakistan.

 

Homeland of horse polo - Persia

Modern horse polo is a team sport. It is played on horseback, and the ball must be moved across the field by hitting it with clubs. The main goal set for the players is to get into the opponent's goal.

 

The country where horse polo first appeared in Persia, which happened in the 6th century AD. After that, the game spread to other Asian territories. And all over the world, this sport became known thanks to the British colonialists, who spread it first on their native island - in Great Britain and then in Europe.

 

The word "polo" comes from the Indian "pulu," which translates as "wood." India still has various versions of polo: on elephants or camels.

 

The oldest team game

To date, it is horse polo considered the oldest team sport. In the 19th-20th century, it was trendy in India, and in 1869, thanks to the British, it became the way we can see it now.

 

It is noteworthy that the stiff British liked this unusual sport so much that it became part of the mandatory training of cavalry officers of the British army, so it was introduced into the program of cavalry military schools.

 

Today, polo is considered a noble sport. Therefore, it is not surprising that all the men of the British royal family should be able to play it well.

 

The largest horse polo field in team sports

Equestrian polo boasts the largest field of all currently existing team sports. Its dimensions are 275 meters long and 180 meters wide. For example, according to UEFA standards, the size of a football field should be 105 by 68 meters.

 

At the same time, the player’s virtuosity largely depends not on the characteristics of the field but on the person’s ability to stay in the saddle, since during the match, you need to keep in the saddle with one hand and with the other, using a stick, accurately hit a small ball, trying to score it into the opponent’s goal. In this case, you need to be able to lead the horse at high speed.

 

Spectators help polo players trample the lawn.

Modern polo is a game in which two teams of four players participate. Players spend 42 minutes on the field (7 chukkers (rounds) of 6 minutes each).

 

One of the most exciting features of the equestrian floor is the trampling of the earth between chukkers. This is done not only by employees but also by spectators. They go out into the field and press the pieces of turf uprooted by the horses' hooves back to the ground. Given that this sport is secular, such a spectacle looks very interesting.

 

Horse polo requires special horses.

Not all breeds of horses can be used in polo, but only special ones - polo ponies. Even though they are similar in height to ordinary horses, since the 147 cm height limit for ponies was abolished in 1919, polo ponies have a stable psyche and a bold character. Moreover, such horses can easily pick up speed over a short distance and simultaneously change their speed dramatically.

 

The leader in breeding horses for equestrian sex in Argentina. And if the polo pony was not raised in this country, its roots are probably from here.

 

Polo is not a sport for amateurs

Even though this sport is one of the favorite pastimes of aristocrats, not everyone will be able to achieve significant success in it since the rider and horse must act as a single whole. The ability to play horse polo has been honed over the years because it is difficult to imagine a person who knows exactly how to jump to the ball on the field to correctly hit the ball without many years of practice.

 

In addition, horse polo is one of the most traumatic sports because you need to be able to stay in the saddle so as not to fall off.

 

Horse polo is an expensive sport

Today, horse polo is not only noble but also very expensive, so it is not available to everyone. You will need to spend about 50 thousand dollars to purchase one polo pony. Moreover, there should be several such horses in the stall since, during the match, the rider changes them (a rare horse can withstand more than two halves because it feels significant stress during the game). But the rules state that a polo player can change no more than six horses per match.

 

In addition, it is worth considering the funds for the maintenance of stables, veterinary services, and ammunition.

 

 

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50-amazing-facts-about-the-country-of-palau

The Republic of Palau is one of the most beautiful countries in the world. At least, this is how those who visit this island nation usually speak of it, admire the green islands growing from the sea surface and dive underwater, seeing with their own eyes the fantastic underwater world of Palau. It is as beautiful as the travel brochures promise.

 

Amazing facts about Palau

 

The country of Palau is, as it were, an independent state, but at the same time, as it were, not. It is associated with the United States; that is, it partially controls and undertakes, if necessary, to provide Palau with protection and patronage.

 

 

1. The Republic of Palau is one of the most beautiful countries in the world.

 

2. This is how those who visit this island nation usually speak of it, admire the green islands growing from the sea surface, and dive under the water, seeing with their eyes the fantastic underwater world of Palau.

 

3. Palau is an island state in the northwest of Oceania. It occupies the extreme western part of the arc of the Caroline Islands.

 

4. In the west and north, the country is washed by the waters of the Philippine Sea. The country consists of 26 large and more than 300 small islands. Most of the islands are covered with evergreen tropical forests.

 

5. They are divided into two groups: southwestern (Tobi Islands, Sonsorol Islands, and others) and the Palau Islands proper. Most uninhabited of the 328 islands that make up the Republic of Palau.

 

6. In the past, the Palau Islands belonged to Spain, Germany, Japan, and the United States.

 

7. The Republic of Palau received independence from the USA only in 1994, which makes it one of the youngest states in the world.

 

8. The official currency of Palau is the US dollar.

 

WATERFALLS OF PALAU

 

9. About 21 thousand people live in the entire Republic of Palau. This is about 600 times less than in Moscow. And from year to year, it practically does not change.

 

10. English here has official status on a par with Palauan, but in practice, only about 15% of the population speaks it. Primarily those who work with tourists.

 

11. Almost all Palauans profess various denominations of Christianity, but about 9% adhere to the Modekngei religion, which is not found in other countries. It combines elements of Christianity and traditional local beliefs.

 

12. The Spanish navigators called these islands “Enchanted” because they could not reach them due to storms and strong headwinds, although they tried repeatedly.

 

13. The climate here is one of the best on the planet - all year round, the air temperature here is from 25 to 30 degrees, give or take.

 

14. Precipitation here is more than 3000 mm per year, and humidity averages about 80%. February and March are the driest months, while June to August is a period of prolonged tropical rains.

 

15. Typhoons are rare here, as Palau is outside the typhoon belt, but sometimes they still sweep over the islands (usually between June and December). The island's water temperature is about 20 ° C all year round.

 

NATIONAL MUSEUM OF PALAU

 

16. An important attraction is the National Museum of Palau - a good enough place to understand the national culture and history.

 

17. Here, you can also find several interesting natural and ethnographic exhibits: the head of a 5-meter crocodile, the largest ever caught on the islands, beads, and money from shells, sea charts from cords and sticks, carvings and other items of local history and crafts, a beautiful traditional "bai" (joint meeting center) made of wood and straw, as well as a small collection of Japanese military equipment from World War II.

 

CULTURAL AND HISTORICAL MUSEUM

 

18. The Dolphin Center near the coast of Koror, the International Center for the Study of Coral Reefs with a beautiful aquarium, deserves attention here.

 

19. The best resort complex in the country is Palau Pacific Resort, with an extensive range of entertainment, a first-class dive center, and a secluded resort complex Carolines Resort.

 

20. Here is the famous Blue Corner dive site (closer to the Rock Islands), where you can expect to meet any sea creature - there is an incredible variety of fish and crustaceans, nurse sharks, barracudas soft and hard corals.

 

UNDERWATER WORLD IN THE WATER WASHING PALAU

 

21. About 130 sharks live in the waters washing the shores of Palau. And there are about 1500 species of other fish.

 

22. There is no army at all in this country.

 

23. There are no political parties here.

 

24. Here is one of the natural wonders of the world, Jellyfish Lake, which several million of them exist. They have bred so much due to the lack of natural enemies and therefore have lost the ability to sting.

 

25. the giant bivalve mollusks in the world live in the coastal waters of Palau - giant tridacna, up to 2 meters in diameter and weighing up to 220-250 kilograms.

 

ANGAUR ISLAND

 

26. Angaur Island, or Ngeur (only 8 square kilometers), is the southernmost in the Palau group of islands. This is a somewhat mysterious and calm place with only two villages and 188 inhabitants.

 

27. This island became famous for its phosphate mines, which the Germans began to develop in 1909. Now, on the site of mines and quarries, green ponds serve as the home of a small colony of crocodiles.

 

28. By the way, this is also the only place in the country where monkeys live - macaques that escaped from the cages of German miners at one time formed an utterly independent population and feel great among the green thickets of Angaur.

 

29. Another unique feature of the island is the dominance of the three official languages ​​- English, Japanese, and Angaur (Western Austronesian group), as well as the country's first casino, opened by the national congress's decision in 2003.

 

30. There is virtually no crime in Palau.

 

CITY OF KOROR IN PALAU

 

31. Koror - the economic center and former capital of Palau - is located on the island of the same name. Now it is a much less vibrant city compared to the time when it was dominated by the Japanese, with a leisurely Micronesian pace of life, with a complete absence of crowds and bustle.

 

32. Here you can still find the remains of the traditional past, but at best this city is an excellent place to relax for a day or two, no more. But from here, starting a trip to Peleliu, Angaur, the Rock Islands, and many popular dive sites is very convenient.

 

33. The underwater world of Palau is vibrant. The vertical walls of the rocks, sheerly going into the abyss, are covered with a variety of bright corals - these are soft corals and fans of gorgonians and openwork colonies of macroporous corals. The total number of coral species in Palau reaches 700.

 

34. Various invertebrates live among the corals: starfish, Gorgon's Head brittle stars, crabs and shrimps, sea urchins, colorful nudibranchs, and huge pleurobranchia. At the bottom, huge tridacnas with bright mantles of different colors are visible: emerald green, blue, and purple.

 

35. Various tropical fish live near coral thickets, including giant Napoleon fish. In the water column near the steep outer walls of the reefs, pelagic fish are found in large numbers: tuna, marlin, mackerel, and barracuda.

 

 

36. In the Ulong Channel - a natural channel in the barrier reef - at a depth of 20 meters on a sandy plateau at the entrance to the track, whitetip and gray reef sharks constantly swim with cleaner fish. Diving with whitetip and gray reef sharks is unforgettable.

 

37. Saltwater crocodiles are found in Palau, and dives with crocodiles are organized for lovers of the exotic.

 

38. In addition to diving in the sea, dives are organized in Lake Medusa. The jellyfish here are similar to the Black Sea corners but differ in their orange color and the fact that they have lost their stinging cells during evolution. Dives are carried out in the first set; below 10 meters, the water is toxic.

 

39. Just 35 kilometers south of Koror are the famous Rock Islands - one of the best places for outdoor activities in the Pacific Ocean. The mushroom-shaped limestone rocks of this island group (about 200 islets and reefs in total) are covered with a robust vegetation cap, and the waters around are considered one of the most abundant places on Earth. Therefore they serve as a recognized Mecca for divers.

 

40. The main points of attraction here are the famous Ngemelis coral wall, which begins at the surface of the water and goes to a depth of 300 meters with a continuous cover of sponges, soft corals, gorgonians, and giant black coral “trees.”

 

BEACHES ON THE ROCK ISLANDS

 

41. Also, on the Rock Islands, there are many snow-white shores of coral sand, caves with stalactites and underground channels, ancient petroglyphs (especially on the island of Oolong), and other traces of ancient peoples (fascinating is the quarry where stone money of the Yapese culture was made, located in a cave near Airer-Channel).

 

42. There is no public transport in Palau at all. All residents use their vehicles.

 

43. And the guests of this state have only two options - to rent a car or a motorcycle or to use a costly taxi.

 

44. Due to the particular historical conditions of the country, it is impossible to single out any specific local cuisine here. Most traditional island dishes are variations on recipes from Polynesian and Melanesian peoples, with a substantial admixture of Japanese, Filipino and American cuisine.

 

45. The main elements of the traditional cuisine of Palau are coconut milk and copra, cassava (tapioca), sweet potatoes, and all kinds of fish and seafood.

 

46. ​​Diplomatic relations between Palau and Russia were established only in 2006.

 

47. The only products exported here are coconut meat (copra) and some seafood.

 

48. Theft is not universal in Palau.

 

49. Slightly less than 10% of residents are not literate.

 

50. Locals are eager to help tourists determine the best fishing spots, so marlin, sailfish, tuna, mahi-mahi, and wahoo in a center and a half are not rare guests in the catches of sport fishing enthusiasts.

 

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top-125-amazing-facts-about-the-countries-of-africa

Africa is the continent of extremes; although it has abundant natural resources, Africa remains the poorest and least developed continent in the world; on its territory are the hottest and driest areas on Earth and, at the same time, some of the wettest and rainiest, so but we present to you a list of curiosities about Africa, they are only some of the vast number of exciting things and data that this considerable continent possesses.

 

Top facts about Africa

 

There are 54 countries in Africa (and nine territories), with a total of over 1.1 billion people living on the continent, representing 15% of the world population.

 

GHANA

 

1. There are 196 independent states in the world. There are 54 countries in Africa. More than a quarter of the total number of existing conditions on the planet is in Africa.

 

2. Before the colonization of Africa, there were more than 10,000 independent states and tribes on its territory, each of which had its own unique language.

 

3. Africa is the hottest continent on the planet. The reason is that most of the territory lies between the tropics. On the continent there are many countries with different levels of development, breathtaking landscapes, heritage of ancient civilizations.

 

4. In the past, most African countries were colonies that belonged to England, Belgium, France, Spain, Italy, Germany, Portugal.

 

5. After the Second World War, African countries began to gradually free themselves from oppression and gained their independence.

 

NATURE OF ETHIOPIA

 

6. Of all the countries in Africa, only Liberia and Ethiopia could not be colonized by Europeans, these countries could always defend their independence.

 

7. More than 2,000 different languages ​​are spoken on the African mainland, but the most common language is Arabic. Over 100 million people speak Swahili.

 

8. Most of the states of North Africa are very underdeveloped, although Algeria and Libya are considered an exception, where there are considerable deposits of oil and gas.

 

9. And Morocco is known as a place where phosphorites are mined, which are necessary for the manufacture of fertilizer. Almost the entire population of North Africa is engaged in the cultivation and cultivation of agriculture: olives, dates, sugar cane and so on.

 

10. Libya is a state located in the very center of North Africa, it has access to the Mediterranean Sea. Basically, a large area of ​​this area is a plain. In addition, the Western part of the state is separated from the Eastern by a chain of ridges and mountains.

 

LIBYA, TRIPOLI

11. Mostly, Libya is a desert country, because 90% of Libya's area is occupied by deserts. In the past, this territory was an Italian colony, but in 1951 it gained independence. It has the richest culture, which it inherited from the Byzantine Empire.

 

12. Morocco is an amazingly beautiful state with its contrasts and immense wealth. It was here that a small part of European traditions gave Arab culture a modern breath.

 

13. Morocco is the only country on the entire African continent that does not belong to a single African Union. She suspended her membership in 1984. This state is one of the main allies of America, which is not a member of NATO. In addition, it ranks 12th among the richest countries on the continent.

 

14. In Africa, 10 oil producers in terms of exports: Nigeria, Algeria, Angola, Libya, Egypt, Sudan, Equatorial Guinea, Republic of the Congo, Gabon, South Africa.

 

15. The only volcano with alkaline lava is located in Tanzania. Millions of pink flamingos live on the shores of the soda lake. Against the backdrop of a black lake, flamingos look especially bright and exotic.

 

CAPE TOWN

16. South Africa speaks 11 languages, among them: Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans and English. Most of the population knows more than three languages, and the most popular language among Africans is English.

 

17. South Africa is the largest supplier of fruits in the world.

 

18. More than 1.5 million tourists come to South Africa every year to see with their own eyes all the uniqueness of this continent.

 

19. There are more Portuguese in Angola than in Portugal.

 

20. In Senegal there is Pink Lake - Retba.

 

21. The University of Timbuktu in Mali is one of the oldest universities in the world. It was founded in the 12th century.

 

22. Translated from Portuguese, the name "Cameroon" means "river of shrimp." About 250 different peoples live on the territory of Cameroon, each of which has its own language and dialect. Because of this, it is difficult for locals to understand each other. However, there is still a language that most residents understand - this is the language of football.

 

23. Cameroonians are ardent fans. Their national team, the Indomitable Lions, won the African Cup several times, and in 1990 reached the quarter-finals of the World Cup.

 

24. The largest frog in the world called Goliath lives in Cameroon.

 

MOROCCO, CITY OF FES

 

25. The African city of Fes has the oldest university in the world. It was founded in 859, not only Muslims, but also Christians studied here.

 

26. Lagos is the largest city on the continent. The government claims that the city has a population of about 17.5 million, but other estimates of residents put it at 21 million.

 

27. The Republic of the Congo and the Democratic Republic of the Congo are two completely different states. More than 80 tribes live on the territory of the Republic of the Congo. Many of the inhabitants here believe in reincarnation. They are convinced that all bad people after death become animals that run away from hunters all their lives. Good people become white Europeans.

 

28.The local population of the Congo has a rich and distinctive folklore, but written literature appeared only after the Second World War.

 

29. The western region of the mainland includes 16 states. In this part is the most populous country in Africa - Nigeria. It is home to about 200 million people.

 

TUNISIA

 

30. Tunisia is considered the smallest state among those that belong to North Africa. In 1957, this territory gained its independence from France.

 

31. Tunisia leads in the number of students among African countries and, as a result, holds the record for the percentage of people with higher education.

 

32. Tunisia is a country whose territory is located along the Mediterranean Sea. This state attracts here those people who love adventures, wonderful holidays, especially in the cold season. Thanks to the local landscapes, paragliding, various sea and mountain sports are developed here.

 

33. Equatorial Guinea is the only Spanish-speaking country in Africa.

 

34. Algiers has the most poisonous lake in the world. The thing is that instead of water in the lake there is ink, which is formed as a result of the decomposition of various organic compounds.

 

35. Algeria claims to be the largest African country in terms of area. Its area is 2,381,741 km². In second place is the Democratic Republic of the Congo with an area of ​​2,344,858 km².

 

IN THE SERENGETI NATIONAL PARK

 

36. Tarangire National Park (Tanzania) is home to unique albino lions.

 

37. A must-see place in Tanzania is the world-famous Ngorongoro Crater, one of the 7 natural wonders of Africa.

 

38. It is believed that in Eritrea, Egypt and Libya are the most dangerous roads in the world.

 

39. The most aggressive ethnic group are the Mursi living in Ethiopia. For this tribe, fights and murders are considered commonplace, men here do not go without machine guns, and women wear necklaces made of human fingers around their necks. The Mursi tribe can be recognized by the deformed lip, which they stretch to an incredible size.

 

40. Benin has the largest terrestrial structure in the world, which is under the protection of UNESCO. This is a wall of moats and ramparts, the construction of which began in 800 BC. The length of this structure exceeds even the Great Wall of China.

 

UGANDA, KAMPALA

 

41. Niger, Mali and Uganda rank among the highest birth rates in the world.

 

42. Nigeria is the most populous country with over 145 million people.

 

43. South Africa has the most Grammy winners. Nollywood in Nigeria releases about 50 films every week.

 

44. Algeria has the highest cost of living in North Africa. And the inflation rate of 4% is the lowest among the countries of North Africa. There are more than 780 research laboratories in the country and more than 20,000 research professors reside in Algeria.

 

45. Sudanese people practice "ghost marriages" where a brother marries his deceased brother's wife to provide him with an heir. All children born are considered descendants of the deceased.

 

46. ​​And annual grass fires in Sudan can cover more than half of the entire country.

 

BOTSWANA

 

47. Botswana has the largest population of elephants on the continent.

 

48. Botswana produces about 17.7% of the world's diamonds and is the world's largest producer of the most valuable diamonds.

 

49. Zimbabwe has the highest literacy rate in Africa.

 

ZIMBABWE, HARARE

 

50. In Zimbabwe, men with a big belly are considered rich. A large belly indicates that a person is financially stable and can afford to eat meat every day.

 

51. The flag of Mozambique is the only one in the world with the image of a Kalashnikov assault rifle.

 

52. In Mozambique, photographs of any armed forces, airports, bridges or government buildings are not allowed.

 

53. Namibia is the first country to include environmental protection in its constitution. About 90% of Namibia remains a natural habitat.

 

BENIN, PORTO NOVA

 

54. Benin is one of the most politically stable countries in West Africa.

 

55. It also has one of the highest birth rates in the world - 5 children per woman.

 

56. The Global Peace Index named Ghana the most peaceful country in Africa.

 

57. In 1991, Ghanaian Ferdy Ato Adobe set a world record by running 100 meters backwards in 13.6 seconds.

 

58. There are no railways in Cape Verde, but there are seven operating airports, one of which is over 3,047 meters long.

 

59. Côte d'Ivoire boasts the largest church in the world - Notre Dame de la Paix with an area of ​​​​30,000 m².

 

MALI

 

60. Mali has one of the highest child and maternal mortality rates in Africa.

 

61. Also, this country is famous for dancing in ritual masks, of which there are more than 75 types.

 

62. Niger has the youngest population in the world. In 2013, over half of the population of Niger (50.09%) were under the age of 14.

 

63. Senegal is the only country in West Africa where there have been no military coups.

 

SENEGAL

 

64. The most popular TV show in Senegal about sheep.

 

65. Christianity is the main religion in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and is practiced by about 95% of the country's population.

 

66. Luanda, the capital of Angola is known as the "Paris of Africa". This name, apparently, is associated with the sophisticated culture and atmosphere of the city.

 

67. In Morocco, the national drink is green tea with mint leaves and sugar. This drink is served as a symbol of hospitality and it is considered an insult to refuse it.

 

68. Zambia is known for Victoria Falls, twice the size of Niagara Falls. Because of its spray, it rains 24 hours a day, seven days a week in the forest next to the waterfall.

 

69. South Africa is the only country in the world that has voluntarily abandoned its own nuclear weapons program. And also the only country in the world to host the World Cup in football, cricket and rugby.

 

70. In Burkina Faso, the symbol of the country is a white stallion.

 

71. In this country, only 1% of rural areas are electrified.

 

BURKINA FASO

 

72. Lake Lac Assal in the center of Djibouti is 10 times saltier than the Dead Sea. It is the second saltiest body of water in the world after Don Juan in Antarctica.

 

73. It is also the lowest point on land on the entire African continent and the second lowest on Earth after the Dead Sea.

 

74. Uganda is home to 11% of the country's global bird population and 50% of the world's mountain gorillas.

 

75. In Uganda, motorcycles are used as taxis to transport people, which are known as "Boda Boda".

 

76. Up to 85% of the territory of Gabon is covered with tropical forests, 11% of which are national parks. These are one of the largest natural parks in the world.

 

77. Ethiopia is the only African country with its own alphabet and it is called Ge'ez (geez). The alphabet has 345 letters.

 

MAURITIUS

 

78. Dodo birds once lived in Mauritius. It was they who inspired Lewis Carroll to write the book Alice in Wonderland.

 

79. Guinea-Bissau is the sixth largest cashew producer in the world. This is one of the poorest countries in the world.

 

80. Chad has the second fastest growing economy in the world.

 

81. In June 2016, South Sudan experienced an inflation rate of 309%, one of the highest in the world. In a country, wealth is measured by the number of livestock each family owns.

 

82. Mauritania was the last country to abolish slavery in 2007. The traditional standards of female beauty here are obese women who are considered beautiful, while thin women are considered sickly.

 

83. In the country of Eswatini (Swaziland), the last absolute monarchy in Africa and one of the few remaining in the world. King Mswati III now has 15 wives. His predecessor had 125.

 

GAMBIA, BANJUL

 

84. The official title of the President of the Gambia is Sheikh Professor Doctor President. People vote in elections in the Gambia by throwing stones into pits.

 

85. The ancient Egyptians were the first to have a calendar of 365 days divided into 12 months.

 

86. Nigeria has the highest twin birth rate in the world. It has more species of butterflies than any other country.

 

87. Kenyan men can have multiple wives. Hunting is prohibited in Kenya. In 2015, Kenya was ranked as the world's leading safari country.

 

88. The six driest places in the world are in Africa. These are: Al-Kufra in Libya, Aswan and Luxor in Egypt, Wadi Halfa in Sudan, Pelican Point in Namibia and Aoelef in Algiers.

 

89. Traditionally, Ethiopian parents and children do not have a family name. Most children take their father's first name as their last name.

 

90. The Democratic Republic of the Congo is the eleventh largest country in the world and the fourth most populous in Africa. Nyiragongo Volcano is one of eight active volcanoes in the country and one of the most active volcanic areas in the world.

 

CHAD

 

91. It is better for tourists to avoid the CAR country. Staying here is dangerous, the CAR is one of the most troubled African republics. The local population is already accustomed to constant civil wars and coup d'état.

 

92. Also, cases of cannibalism here also do not surprise anyone. Jean Bedel Bokassa, the president of the Central African Republic from 1966 to 1976, was a real cannibal.

 

93. Liberia is in the top 20 most non-smoking countries in the world - 104 cigarettes per adult per year. The largest cruise ships are also registered in Liberia.

 

94. Among all the countries of Central Africa, Gabon is considered the richest. This is one of the oldest oil-producing states, there are more than a hundred oil fields.

 

95.Most of the territory of this country is covered with tropical forests with unique flora and fauna. It’s just that it’s unlikely that you will be able to capture this beauty - photography is prohibited in most places in the country.

 

96. Translated from Portuguese, the name "Gabon" means "Coat with a hood."

 

ERITREA

 

97. The country of Eritrea, after Egypt, ranks second in archaeological discoveries in Africa with 80,000 archaeological sites.

 

98. Eighteen people from Africa have been awarded the Nobel Prize. They are from Algeria, Egypt, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa.

 

99. Despite being the second largest continent in the world, Africa has the shortest coastline. In Africa, 16 countries are landlocked.

 

100. Cameroon is often referred to as "Africa in Miniature" as it represents all the landscapes of the continent, including tropical forests, desert, swamp and savannah.

 

101.Egypt is best known for its pyramids, but the Republic of the Sudan has 223 pyramids of its own, twice the number of Egyptian pyramids.

 

LESOTHO

 

102. The traditional clothing of the country of Lesotho is the Basotho blanket with colorful patterns. The blanket is used not only for protection from the cold, but also as a status and cultural accessory. By the way, Lesotho has one of the scariest airstrips in the world.

 

103. In Togo, men and boys are allowed to walk holding hands. The Togolese wear everything on their heads and love to haggle. Here you can bargain for everything you buy in the market.

 

104. Somali women are not allowed to communicate publicly with men. This country is also known for its maritime piracy.

 

105. In the Central African Republic, one can meet local forest tribes living in low huts made of vines and covered with leaves. Education in the CAR is free and compulsory, but about half of the country's adult population is illiterate.

 

106. Fish River Canyon in Namibia is the second largest canyon in the world.

 

SUDAN

 

107. Sudan is located in northeastern Africa. The state has access to the Red Sea. Currently, the country is considered one of the poorest territories.

 

108. South Africa has three capitals (Cape Town, Pretoria, Bloemfontein).

 

109.SADR is the least densely populated country not only in Africa but throughout the world. Its density is approximately 1.3 people per square kilometer.

 

110. Tunisia has 8 UNESCO World Heritage Sites. In the Matmata area, people still live in underground houses. Women can pass on their names and nationalities to their children.

 

111. The literacy rate in Guinea is one of the lowest in the world. In this country, men can use their wealth to take another wife.

 

112. In Sierra Leone, rice is the staple food consumed at almost every meal. Bones, especially chicken bones, are considered a delicacy.

 

113. The inhabitants of the Republic of the Congo are known throughout the world for their love of fashionable clothes. Fashion for them is art, a way to entertain people, passion and individuality. The country even has a society La Sape ("Society of creators of the atmosphere and elegant people").

 

CONGO

 

114. The country of Chad is also called the "Dead Heart of Africa" ​​because of its proximity to deserts. Nile perch is one of the largest freshwater fish, it lives in Lake Chad and can reach up to 2 meters with a weight of up to 200 kilograms.

 

115. The most important meal for Libyan families is lunch, and it has great symbolic significance. Businesses, shops and schools in Libya are closed for several hours so families can get together for lunch.

 

116.Rwanda is considered one of the best countries with high internet connectivity in Africa. Since 2000, it has been among the five most developed countries. Registration of a business in Rwanda takes 48 hours.

 

117. Equatorial Guinea is the smallest African country that is a Member of the United Nations and one of the richest countries in Africa. However, the vast majority of its inhabitants live in poverty.

 

TANZANIA

 

118. In Tanzania, greeting with the left hand is considered impolite and rude. In Tanzania, the most expensive wood in the world is produced from the Mpingo tree. It is the birthplace of Mount Kilimanjaro.

 

119. Money of Angola (kwanza) cannot be taken out of the country.

 

120. Egypt is considered one of the most unusual and mysterious states, thanks to which tourists from all over the world come here. And what is most surprising, the people of the local desert were able to build not only the greatest pyramids, but also give the world toothpaste, paper, the first understanding of surgery.

 

EGYPT

 

121. Egypt - a country of ancient pyramids on the shores of the Red and Mediterranean Seas. It also has its own reserves of gas and oil.

 

122. Coming here, many tourists are surprised that men wear white clothes and women wear black. And all then that, dark clothes heat up faster, which makes the representatives of the weaker sex return home faster.

 

123.Sudan ranks 10th in terms of the number of illiterates.

 

124.Once upon a time, Sudan was regularly engulfed in ethnic, including religious conflicts. Such wars were facilitated by neighboring territories. Tourism is practically not developed here, so there are no hotels. But having arrived here, you can ask the locals for an overnight stay.

 

125. The area of ​​modern Sudan occupies a huge part of Nubia, which was previously ruled by Ancient Egypt. And closer to the North, in the country there is a huge number of monuments dating back to those times.

 

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top-75-fascinating-facts-about-martinique

Martinique is France's island and overseas territorial community in the eastern Caribbean Sea. It is part of the Lesser Antilles island chain. Its closest neighbors are the island republics of Dominica, 22 miles (35 km) to the northwest, and Saint Lucia, 16 miles (26 km) to the south. Guadeloupe, another part of overseas France, is about 75 miles (120 km) to the north. This island has incredible views and will not leave anyone indifferent to its beaches.

 

Amazing facts about Martinique

 

Travelers are always interested in interesting facts about France and its overseas department - the exotic island of Martinique. Well, this tropical resort has its little secrets!

 

 

1. Martinique is an island country in the Caribbean.

 

2. The island of Martinique belongs to the archipelago of the Lesser Antilles and is located in its central part.

 

3. Martinique is one of the most attractive islands in the Caribbean.

 

4. Beautiful beaches, cozy bays, hilly trekking paths, as well as fantastic vegetation of the tropics along the coast attract many travelers.

 

5. Martinique is located between Saint Lucia and Dominica. On all sides, the island is surrounded by beaches, but if the Caribbean Sea washes Martinique in the west and south, then by the Atlantic Ocean in the east and north.

 

6. Such a geographical location of the island attracts divers and other lovers of active water sports from all over the world.

 

7. Martinique is the most prosperous overseas department of France in the Caribbean. This territory has belonged to France since 1635.

 

8. The island's indigenous population was Caribs, Indians, whose name remained in the toponym "Caribbean Sea."

 

 

9. The island was discovered by Columbus at the end of the 15th century, more precisely, in 1493. It is believed that the history of Martinique begins from this moment.

 

10. Not finding gold on the island, the Spaniards left it. But the Spaniards named Martinique after one of their Catholic saints.

 

11. Since the Spaniards were not interested in the island with beautiful nature, the French subsequently founded the first settlement here.

 

12. In 1635, 90 French settlers founded the fortified Fort Saint-Pierre here, and the French colonization of Martinique began.

 

13. At first, the island was the property of a private company, but then it was bought by the state and from 1664 became the crown colony of France.

 

14. Already by the 60s of the 17th century, the Indian population of Martinique was either exterminated in wars with the French, or died from diseases brought from Europe, so the new landowners began to massively import slaves from Africa.

 

15. It is not surprising that local history is full of a large number of events related to the struggle of slaves for their rights and freedoms. However, slavery was abolished in Martinique only in 1848 - by decree of the Provisional Government of France in the colonies.

 

 

16. In 1870, the population of Martinique received voting rights and representation in the French Parliament.

 

17. And since 1946, Martinique has the status of an overseas department of France (but it is not an independent state, like French Guiana in South America).

 

18. Now Martinique is a wonderful resort with wonderful nature and a highly developed tourist infrastructure.

 

19. At one time, this island was called by Columbus "the most beautiful land in the world."

 

20. Martinique can rightly be called one big resort. There are many first-class hotels, excellent beaches and stunning architecture of the colonial period. All this is the hallmark of the island.

 

21. The largest and highest volcano on the island is Mont Pele, its height is 1397 meters. The name translates as "Bald Mountain". The volcano is located 8 kilometers from Fort Saint-Pierre, which suffered from its eruption over 100 years ago.

 

22. Saint-Pierre, the largest city of the island, was the first capital of Martinique, which was almost completely destroyed by the 1902 eruption of Mont Pele. Now, making tours to Martinique, you can visit Saint-Pierre and see for yourself the destructive power of volcanoes. The local museum of volcanology is open for visiting, the remains of the old theater, the ruins of the city prison and city warehouses are also interesting for tourists.

 

 

23. Nearby is the house-museum of Paul Gauguin, who lived at one time in Martinique. Some of the masterpieces of the world famous French artist Gauguin were painted in Martinique. In the house where the genius lived, a museum is now open, but, unfortunately, there are no originals of his works there.

 

24. The city of Fort-de-France is the modern capital of Martinique. For its architecture and originality, it is often called "Little Paris".

 

25. On the narrow streets of Fort-de-France, coming from the bay de Flamence and the Rivière Madame, there are a large number of mansions of the colonial period, many churches, and a well-developed network of cafes and shops.

 

26. Fort-de-France is also a city of parks. In the center of the city there is a large park La Savane, where there are many beautiful fountains, palm alleys and open areas for concerts.

 

27.From the southeast, the park is adjacent to Fort St. Louis. The streets of the city are narrow, winding, there are many cafes and restaurants, as well as historical and cultural monuments. The city also has a large number of different museums.

 

28. The city of Fort - de - France, the capital of Martinique and at the same time one of the largest ports, where sugar, rum and cocoa beans are exported. It is in this part of the coast that there are bays convenient for navigation - those in which there are no reefs.

 

 

29. There are many reefs around Martinique. This is inconvenient for sailors, but ideal for divers. By the way, the infrastructure for diving and sport fishing is well developed on the local coast.

 

30. Due to volcanic activity, the island has a difficult terrain (for which tours to Martinique are especially respected by fans of hiking trekking) and indented, with a large number of bays, coasts (this makes a beach holiday especially cozy).

 

31. As for the hills, they are mainly represented here by hills, but on the north side there are old volcanoes, the highest of which is almost one and a half kilometers above sea level: this is Mont Pele (which translates as "Bald Mountain"). It was his eruption at the beginning of the twentieth century that destroyed the first capital of Martinique, but since then Mont Pele has been sleeping.

 

32. For Martinique in 1855 - 1961, special monetary units were issued in France, which were in circulation only here. Now on the island - as well as in the metropolis - the euro is used, but in many places in Martinique, US dollars are accepted for payment.

 

33. The cheapest and most common form of transport among the local population is a bus. Here it is called "collective taxi". However, such a “taxi” runs only according to a schedule, and on weekends it is quite rare. Alternatively, you can use a regular taxi, but its cost is much more expensive.

 

34. The "golden mean" for tours of Martinique is car rental. You can rent a car almost everywhere, you only need to have a driver's license from any country in the world. The main thing to remember is that traffic on the island is right-handed!

 

 

35. Lake Etang - de - Saline - this is a great place for lovers of both active and passive recreation. The reservoir is located in the southernmost part of Martinique, 600 meters from the Caribbean Sea, as a result of which its waters are salty. The weather in this area is always sunny and warm. On the lake, you can either just sunbathe or go diving, as the nearby Strait of St. Lucia is rich in its underwater world.

 

36. The southernmost coast of Martinique is the Les Salines peninsula, recognized as the most beautiful place on the island due to its amazing beaches.

 

37. The Strait of St. Lucia, into whose waters Le Saline crashes, is famous for strong currents and a rich underwater world, which cannot but please diving fans.

 

38. The town of Sainte-Anne, which is the peculiar capital of the peninsula, is known for its small but very beautiful Abbey Morland square, a church built of white sandstone, and charming street architecture.

 

39. The Piton du Carbet mountain range is located near the Mont Pele volcano in the northern part of the island of Martinique. Despite the fact that Piton - du - Carbet is of volcanic origin, eruptions have never occurred here.

 

40. The length of the ridge is 80 kilometers, and it includes several peaks. The highest point of the ridge is Mount More - Pavillon, which rises at an altitude of 1197 meters above sea level. This place is perfect for lovers of mountaineering and hiking.

 

 

41. Fans of sea fishing, diving and those who like to just relax on the beach will be interested in the Presqu'il Caravel peninsula, located in the Baye du Gallon. Presqu'il Caravel is widely known for its wild beaches.

 

42. In Martinique, the so-called trekking routes are very popular - hiking along hiking trails. First of all, this is the Route de la Tres, which passes through the rainforest and the slopes of the Piton du Carbet peaks.

 

43. Its second name is the Jesuit trail. It windingly runs from the capital of Martinique - Fort - de - France to the Piton - du - Carbet mountain range. The trail passes between huge volcanic formations, past the church and the Balata botanical garden. Also, in some places, the mountain river Alma flows along it.

 

44. At an altitude of 450 m above sea level, the most famous residential point is located here - the settlement of Mont Rouge. Walking along this path, between fern thickets and palm groves, you can enjoy the beauty of the local nature to the fullest.

 

45. The creation of the beautiful Balata Botanical Garden, famous for its huge variety of flowers, lasted 20 years. Representatives of European flora grow in the garden: pines, orchids, which are perfectly complemented by representatives of the exotic flora: dragon trees, reeds and cordilins. In total, about 3 thousand different types of trees, shrubs and flowers are represented in the Balata Botanical Garden. In addition, small ponds are broken in the garden, the water surface of which is covered with lilies and water lilies.

 

 

46. ​​The history of the volcano Mon - Pele, the second name of which sounds like "Bald Mountain", is quite tragic. Back in the 18th century, he began to show signs of life, but they were insignificant and soon completely stopped. However, in May 1902, a serious volcanic eruption occurred, as a result of which the former capital of the island, the city of Saint-Pierre, was completely destroyed by ash and stones that escaped from the mouth of Mont-Pele. Subsequently, the Museum of Volcanology was opened in the city, and Enns-Siron Beach, which is of volcanic origin, is also located here.

 

47. Balata Church is located 10 kilometers from the capital of the island and is a copy of the Sacré-Coeur Basilica in France. This magnificent building was erected in 1928 in the Romano-Byzantine style.

 

48. The building has a rectangular shape and is crowned with a dome resembling the silhouette of a basilica. Outside, the shrine is decorated with sculptures, and its interior is full of stained glass windows and mosaics depicting scenes from the Bible. The church was built on the territory of the Jardin-Balata botanical garden and is surrounded by artificial ponds with lilies and water lilies.

 

49. Fort Desaix is ​​one of several structures built in the 18th century. It was intended to protect the capital of the island from attacks on the island. The fort is named after the French general Louis Charles Antoine Desaix, who took part in the Egyptian campaign of Napoleon Bonaparte.

 

50. Initially, the structure had an irregular pentagonal shape. During the Great Patriotic War, gold bars from the Bank of Gold and Foreign Exchange Reserves of France were stored here. Today, the fort is reserved for the headquarters of the armed forces of France.

 

 

51. In the north of the island you can see beaches with black and gray sand. This is due to volcanic activity in the local mountains. The southern coast of the island is famous for its white sandy beaches.

 

52. Most of the population of Martinique are the descendants of African slaves who were once brought here to work on French plantations. Almost all the Indians who lived here before the arrival of the French were exterminated or fled from the island, so today they cannot be found here. Whites make up only about 5% of the island's population. Some of them are Russian-speaking diaspora. 90% of the population professes Catholicism.

 

53. French has the status of an official language in Martinique, but "patois" (a mixture of African dialects and French) is much more common among the local population.

 

54. There are no minerals in Martinique. But the island is well developed agriculture and tourism. Bananas and pineapples are grown here, and sugar and rum are also produced. And all this is exported.

 

55. And Martinique does not produce anything else. Meat, grain, vegetables, drinks, medicines, furniture, dishes, clothes and oil have to be imported.

 

56. There are not very many tropical forests left here, they are preserved only on the slopes of the mountains.

 

57. The nature of Martinique is generous and varied, but there are few animals in the forests. Basically, some species of rodents, snakes, as well as domestic animals predominate in the local fauna. The scarcity of the animal world is associated with the massive deforestation of tropical forests, which have survived in the wild only in mountainous regions.

 

 

58. There is an island of iguanas in Martinique - these are reptiles, huge lizards.

 

59. Previously, there were a lot of lizards and snakes on the island. To combat them, in the 1800s, planters brought mongooses to the island. But it did not end in anything good: the mongooses multiplied very quickly and began to devour bird eggs. Because of this, some other species of birds have been completely exterminated or endangered.

 

60.Park Floral is a park area located in the capital of Martinique and abounding with flowers of various kinds. A huge variety of flowers is complemented by bizarre and unique palm trees, as well as entire groves of eucalyptus.

 

61. In the park, you can walk for a very long time or sit on a bench and admire this colorful beauty of the surrounding nature. In addition, food fairs and shopping arcades are also located here, where you can buy products created by the hands of local craftsmen.

 

62. A colorful sight is the black volcanic sand beach of Enns Siron. The old villages of Enns Belleville and Le Precher, the remains of chocolate plantations, are also interesting for tourists. And for a good rest on the water, the beach in Enns Culver Bay is perfect.

 

63. Tourists will also be interested in seeing the building of the Scholcher Library, Saint-Louis Cathedral, visiting the Museum of the Department of Archeology and seeing the Fort-de-France Aquarium.

 

 

64. In the northern part of Martinique, the fishing town of Grand Rivière is interesting to visit with a colorful fish market and rows of fishing boats painted in bright colors. Also, the Grand Rivière offers an excellent panorama of the Martinique Strait, and in good weather you can see the distant coast of the Dominican Republic.

 

65. A trip to the town of Sainte-Marie, which is famous for its rum, will be interesting. At the Museum of Rum, you can taste various varieties of this drink produced in Sainte-Marie.

 

66. Not far from the town of Diamant, where houses are built of coral blocks, there is a small volcanic island Rocher du Diamant, with an incredibly rich underwater world (for which Rocher du Diamant received the unofficial title of "Mecca of divers" of Martinique).

 

67. Many tourists who decide to tour Martinique are attracted not only by the opportunity to relax on the tropical coast and dive into the Caribbean and Atlantic waters, but also by a large number of festivals, the number of which Martinique is often compared with Cuba and Brazil.

 

68. Some of the most colorful events of this kind are the Queen's Carnival and the Mardi Gras Carnival (“Fat Tuesday”, the last day before the start of Lent in the Catholic Church), which take place on the island in February.

 

69. In addition, Martinique is famous for its sports festivals and events: first of all, we are talking about Navigation Week and international competitions in yachting and windsurfing (take place from February 4 to 9), as well as surfing competitions.

 

 

70. Despite the small size of the island, several queens ruling in France, Holland and Turkey were originally from Martinique: Josephine de Beauharnais, wife of Napoleon I; her daughter from her first marriage, Hortense de Beauharnais, who became Queen of Holland; her distant relative Aime de Ribery (Nakshedil), who accidentally got into the harem of the Turkish Sultan Abdul-Hamid I.

 

71.Since tourism is the main source of income for the local population, in terms of security, Martinique is quite a calm place. However, do not lose vigilance! Street theft and fraud here, as elsewhere in the world, is a common form of crime.

 

72. And the main health risks while staying on the island are: inattention to solar activity on the beaches - as a result, sunburn and overheating, as well as local jellyfish are quite poisonous! One must be careful when swimming in the sea; should be protected from insect bites. Repellents must be used!

 

73. The southern part of the island, well developed and mastered by tourists, is quite flat. All mountains are in the north. For this reason, small waterfalls can also only be seen in the north.

 

74. An interesting variety of trees in Martinique is the traveler's palm. Her crown is like an open fan. The palm tree accumulates water inside the trunk, thanks to which it helps to save the afflicted from thirst.

 

75. Martinique is similar to the southern Mediterranean coast of France. Like some suburb of Nice.

 

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