26 Interesting Facts About Zimbabwe

1 . Zimbabwe was once a very rich country.

2 . 70% of Zimbabwe's population belongs to or is descended from the Shona tribe.

3 . Zimbabwe is a landlocked country, it has no coastline.

4 . Zimbabweans call any type of toothpaste "colgate", any soda or soft drink "Coca-Cola" and any dish soap "Surf".

5 . Zimbabwe became independent from the United Kingdom on April 18, 1980.

6 . Blackouts in Zimbabwe are quite frequent and random, they can easily last for about three hours.

7 . Zimbabwe has the shortest life span for its inhabitants, women live an average of 34 years and men an average of 37 years.

8 . According to statistics (UNICEF, 2012) more than 1.4 million Zimbabweans live with AIDS.

9 . Mwari is the name of the goddess of the Shona tribe of the Zimbabwean people. The population has believed in this goddess for centuries.

10 . In Zimbabwe there is a strong belief that mermaids exist. In fact, these mystical creatures are often to blame for any negative events like kidnapping, torture, or murder.

11 . Cholera and malaria are two diseases present in the country.

12 . Police officers are forbidden to move cars to one side of the road platform. Trying to do so is illegal.

13 . Zimbabwe suffers from a shortage of professional medical services. Most of the country's certified doctors and nurses leave it in search of better opportunities elsewhere in the world. Therefore methods of spiritual healers are very frequent among the population.

14 . The land of Zimbabwe is three times the land of the United Kingdom.

15 . The largest waterfall in the world, Victoria Falls, is located on the Zambezi River.

16 . The noise of Victoria Falls can be heard up to a total of 40 km away.

17 . The whitish aura created by the impact of the water falling at a height of 400 meters from the Victoria Falls can be seen up to 50 km away.

18 . The local name for Victoria Falls is Mosi – O – Tunya which translates as the smoke that thunders.

19 . The waterfall was named after Queen Victoria by the explorer who discovered it David Livingstone.

20 . The waterfall was discovered in 1855.

21 . The waterfall is a UNESCO world heritage site, and began attracting tourists in 1905, when a train track to Bulawayo was built.

22 . During the rainy season, the water reserves can fill up to a total of approximately half a million liters per minute.

23 . 76% of Zimbabwe's rural population lives on less than $ 1.25 a day.

24 . Zimbabwe is ranked 156th out of 187 for underdeveloped countries. It is a country with a low economy and a food deficit.

25 . Zimbabwe has one of the highest rates of literate people in all of Africa, approximately 90% of the population can read.

26 . Mount Inyagani, at 2,592 meters, is the highest point in the entire country.

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