Natural conditions of Zimbabwe. Full description of Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe is a land of diverse animals and flora, but, above all, tourists from all over the world are attracted by the famous Victoria Falls: "This spectacle was so beautiful that the flying angels probably admired it" - so the famous English traveler David Livingston wrote in delight, who named this waterfall in honor of Queen Victoria. And today, tourists from all over the world, finding themselves in these places, fall under the power of the strongest impressions: located on the border of four states - Zimbabwe, Zambia, Namibia, Botswana - the famous Victoria Falls amazes the human imagination. The stream of the Zambezi River, which here reaches a width of more than one and a half kilometers, collapses into a huge rift for more than a hundred meters. The water mass, crashing against the stone foot of the waterfall, crumbles into clouds of small spray that form columns of thick clouds. The roar of the collapsing river spreads 80 kilometers around. For this, the hunters of the Batoka tribe christened the Mosi-o-Tunya waterfall - "Thundering smoke". Victoria Falls and the territory adjacent to it are included in the UNESCO list World Heritage in 1989

Geographical position: The state is located in southern Africa. In the north, it borders on Zambia and Mozambique, in the east - with Mozambique, in the south - with South Africa, in the south-west and west - with Botswana. The total area is 390.7 thousand sq. km. The total length of the border is 3,066 km. Almost the entire territory of the country is occupied by the Matabele and Mashona plateaus, the height of which decreases in the north towards the Zambezi river valley, in the south - towards the Limpopo river valley. The highest point in the country is Mount Inyangani (2,595 m) in the northeast of the country. Another notable mountain range, Matopo, stretches to the southwest. The main rivers are Limpopo and Zambezi with tributaries. In the northwest of the country there is an artificial lake Kariba.

Capital: Harare. Administrative center the province of the same name. The largest city country, which is also its cultural and industrial center. The population of the city is 1,600,000 inhabitants, with the suburbs - 2,800,000 (for 2006).

Language: English, Shona and Northern Ndebele (all official languages).

Religion: The majority of the population of Zimbabwe is Christian (85%), this number includes parishioners of Afro-Christian syncretic beliefs and sects (33% of the population). Christian denominations: Pentecostals (17%), Protestants (16%), Catholics (10%), Para-Christians and Orthodox (8%). A significant number (12%) of the country's inhabitants are not religious. Traditional African beliefs are held by 3% of the population, Muslims and other religions are approx. 1% of the population.

Time: The time difference in Zimbabwe is -2 hours (relative to the time in Moscow). All country's territory belongs to the same time zone. The country does not switch to summer / winter time, so the time difference remains the same throughout the year.

Climate: In the north of the country the climate is subequatorial, in the south it is tropical. There are 2 main seasons: summer (from October to April) and winter (from May to September). During the summer, it is hot and mostly sunny during the day, and thunderstorms are possible in the afternoon. Daytime temperatures can rise up to 30 C, and nighttime temperatures drop to an average of 14-16 C. In low-lying areas (Kariba, Victoria Falls and Zambezi Valley) the weather is warmer. The rainy season lasts from November to March, as for the Eastern Highlands, there is rather high humidity and temperatures almost all year round. In winter, the weather is dry, sunny and warm enough, but the difference between day and night temperatures can vary greatly (from 20 C during the day to 5 C at night). Depending on the purpose for which tourists visit the country, the best time to visit will be different. For example, the most suitable period for rafting on the Zambezi: August - December (the river is not very rough). The most comfortable time to observe the animals is during the winter months, when it is dry and warm (from May to October).

Currency: Zimbabwean dollar (ZWD) equal to 100 cents. 1 USD = 103 ZWD. In circulation there are notes in denominations of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 Zimbabwean dollars, as well as coins in denominations of 1, 5, 10, 25, 50 cents and 1 Zimbabwean dollar. In hotels, payments are usually made in foreign currency. In the markets and in the provinces, you can also pay in South African rand, and US dollars are accepted for payment almost everywhere. You can exchange currency at exchange offices at the airport, banks and hotels. Banking hours: 8: 00-15: 00 (weekdays), 8: 00-11: 00 (Saturdays). Credit cards are accepted only in some institutions for tourists and businessmen. Due to high rates of inflation, prices in a country can change dramatically even over a short period.

Mains voltage and type of socket: 220/240 V, alternating current frequency - 50 Hz; plug sockets are of two types (D, G) with three English-type sockets (adapters for Russian plugs are required).

Customs: The import and export of currency is not limited, amounts over 50 thousand dollars are declared. A permit (cost - $ 250) is required for the import of hunting weapons and ammunition, as well as for the export of hunting trophies. The import of drugs and some medicines is prohibited. Duty-free can be imported: alcoholic beverages - 5 liters, of which spirits no more than 2 liters, wine - 2 liters, cigarettes - 400 pcs. or cigars - 50 pcs., 500 g of tobacco, gifts and souvenirs for no more than 1000 USD. There are no restrictions on the import of foreign currency. When imported, weapons, antiques and art are subject to mandatory customs control. The import of automatic and military weapons, explosives, ammunition, drugs and narcotic drugs in any form is prohibited.

You cannot export dairy and meat products, weapons, drugs. Having received a certificate of purchase in the store, you can take out samples of wild flora and fauna, precious metals. The export of hunting trophies requires a permit from the authorities or a hunting license.

Population and culture: As of July 2010, the population of Zimbabwe was estimated at 11.7 million, but this estimate may be inaccurate due to the high level of infection with the immunodeficiency virus (HIV) - according to the UN 2007, 15.3% of the country's adult population (6th place in the world in terms of infection). 98% of Zimbabwe's population are Benue-Congolese speaking peoples (82% Shona, 14% Ndebele, 2% others). In the south, separate groups are settled by ethnic minorities - Tsonga, Venda, Pedi and Tswana, and in the northeast - Nsenga, Chikunda, etc., which are part of the ethnic community of Malawi. Most of the European population is English, who live mainly in cities. At the beginning of the XXI century. the white population was about 0.5%.

Zimbabwe has a diverse culture that includes a variety of beliefs and ceremonies, many of which belong to the Shona peoples, the largest ethnic group in Zimbabwe. The Shona peoples have created many sculptures and bas-reliefs of gods (idols), which they make from the finest materials available. Traditional Zimbabwean arts include pottery, vine weaving, weaving, jewelry making, and carving. The characteristic qualities of Zimbabwe's art are wicker baskets with symmetrical patterns and stools carved from a single piece of wood. Shona sculpture is essentially a mixture of African folklore and European influences.

Kitchen: National Zimbabwean cuisine is mainly a mixture of bland and bland British and heavy African food. The main dietary dish is sadza - a porridge made from white raspberries, on which most of the local dishes are built. Zimbabwe is a cosmopolitan society with local and international cuisine. Eating out is quite popular and inexpensive there. The traditional saza is served with meat and gravy and spices.

Beverages: Beer is the most commonly consumed alcoholic beverage. Imported wines, other spirits and liqueurs can be purchased at the hotels. The traditional maize beer, whawha, is produced in large quantities for special occasions. An alcoholic drink of mass consumption - chibuku, "good mood beer", is served in a ladle with handles. Made from hot cocoa, it resembles a runny porridge, tastes deceptively soft and knocks off your feet easily.

Tips: Tipping ranges from 5% in restaurants and hotels, up to 10-50 dollars for guides and gamekeepers in case of a successful hunt. In some establishments, tips are already included in the bill. In hotels, the porter is given $ 1, the maids - $ 1-2.

Souvenirs: A variety of wooden products can be cited as souvenirs from Zimbabwe. These can be animal figurines, small statues, masks, and baskets. If you want to keep the spirit of Africa in your home, then be sure to buy a drum from the Batonka tribe in Zimbawbe. This instrument is also made from wood in former center tribal lands - Binge. A wooden giraffe on six legs can be an equally interesting souvenir. They are made from different types of wood and different sizes - from the smallest to really large. Also in Zimbabwe you can buy various jewelry, the price of which is slightly different from the countries of our region, it is nice that it is downward. Here you will find emeralds, malachites and some other precious and semi gems excellent quality. Shona Stone Sculpture - Traditional View visual arts in Zimbabwe. In almost every gift shop, you can find variations on the theme of this sculpture. Also from Zimbabwe, you can bring figurines made of soapstone. Copper products can be no less beautiful and interesting souvenirs: dishes, jewelry, vases, cutlery. Also in Zimbabwe you can buy various medicinal herbs, but using them, or using them exclusively as a souvenir, is everyone's personal business. For people with a sense of humor, a 100 trillion Zimbabwean dollar bill, which was really in circulation when the country was experiencing high inflation, would be a good gift.

Flight: There are no direct flights to Zimbabwe from Russia. Possible flight options: British Airways flights with a connection in London (includes an overnight stay), as well as a joint flight of Lufthansa and South African Airways with transfers in Frankfurt and Johannesburg. The flight duration is about 14-15 hours excluding connections.

The central part of Zimbabwe is an open plateau with an altitude of 1100-1850 m above sea level. Nearly all of the best agricultural land and most cities are located in elevated areas, characterized by a more even climate with abundant rainfall and fertile land. The peripheral regions of the country, except for one in the east and the other along the border with Botswana in the west, are predominantly flat: in the north - the Zambezi river basin, in the south - the Limpopo river basin and in the southeast - the Sabi river basin. The lowest part of the country, with the hottest climate, is located in the southeast, in the basins of the Sabi and its tributary, the Rundé, and in the basin of the river Mvenesi, a tributary of the Limpopo. Rivers, as a rule, are rapids, shallow. Many of them dry out during the dry season. Located to the north of Mutare, the Eastern Highlands reaches an altitude of 2592 m above sea level. (Mount Inyangani, highest point Zimbabwe), and in the Chimanimani mountains, located south of Mutare along the border with Mozambique, Binga peak reaches 2436 m above sea level. The country's main watershed crosses the plateau from southwest to northeast and separates the drainage basins of the Zambezi and Limpopo rivers, which flow into Indian Ocean... In Zimbabwe, there is one large reservoir, Kariba, on the Zambezi River along the border with Zambia, and many smaller ones, Kyle, on the Zambezi River. Mtilikwe, Robertson and McIluane on the Gwebi River, Shangani-Tiyabenzi on the Tiyabenzi River, etc. In the north-east of the country, on the Zambezi River, there is the famous Victoria Falls 107 m high and approx. 1500 m.

The Matabele Plateau is the watershed between the Zambezi and Limpopo basins, to which most of Zimbabwe's rivers belong. Exceptions are the systems of the Sabi, which flows into the Indian Ocean, and the Nata, which flows into the Makgadikgadi lowlands. Most of the country has low-water, non-navigable tributaries of the Zambezi. Navigation is supported only in certain sections of the Zambezi.

On the Matabele plateau, brown-red soils are common, typical of dry tropical forests. The Zambezi Valley is dominated by alluvial soils, while the rest of the territory is dominated by red-brown soils of dry savannahs.

Climate the northern part of the country is subequatorial, and the southern part is tropical. Pleasant warm weather is typical for the central plateau, although it can be cool here in the evenings, and in the winter season, from May to August, frosts sometimes occur. Even in summer season from November to March temperatures do not exceed 27 C during the daytime and 16 C at night. average temperature in winter it is 18 C. In July, the air temperature sometimes drops to 10 C. Humidity is low for most of the year. Precipitation occurs during the warmer months (November to April) and is particularly intense in the mountains. Agricultural areas on the plateau receive up to 900 mm of precipitation annually, and up to 2500 mm in the Eastern Highlands. In some areas, a deficit of precipitation is traced, for example, in the basin of the Limpopo River, the average annual precipitation does not exceed 250 mm.

Vegetation and fauna. The vegetation cover in most of Zimbabwe is represented by savanna light forests. There are small areas of dry deciduous forests in the northwest and acacia thickets in the southwest. In the south of the country, significant areas are covered with forests of African ironwood - mopani.
Animal world Zimbabwe is rich and diverse. Elephants, antelopes, zebras, giraffes and lions are found in the northwest and southeast of the country, and leopards have survived in the Eastern Highlands. Most large reserves by - national parks Hwange in the north-west of the country and Gona-re-Zhou in the south-east.

Introduction

1 Economic and geographical location

2 Natural resource potential

3 Country history

4 Population

5 Agriculture

6 Mining industry

7 Manufacturing industry

8 Energy

9 Transport

10 "Chinese influx"

11 Recreational farm

Conclusion

List of used literature

Introduction

Somewhere in these parts, according to Korney Chukovsky, the good doctor Aibolit was healed. It is here to famous river Limpopo is visited by some of the most amazing animals in the world. In Zimbabwe, the "big five" of the largest animals are represented in a large number of individuals: their "leader" is a lion, a buffalo, a leopard, an elephant and a rhinoceros. It is no coincidence that hunting for them is considered the most dangerous in the world. Finally, on the territory of this country there is the fourth widest stream and one of the largest in terms of water flow and power on the planet, Victoria Falls - favorite place honeymooning of newlyweds from all over the world.

But meanwhile, in relation to this country and its leader Robert Gabriel Mugabe, all sorts of fables are circulating in the "white information light". The most innocent of them is that it is better for a white man in this country never to show himself. And if, they say, such an attack happens, then move only by car. In reality, all these rumors are like horror stories with which naughty children are scared.

1 Economic and geographical location

The Republic of Zimbabwe (English Republic of Zimbabwe, until 1980 Southern Rodesia) is a state located in the southern part of the African continent, between the Victoria Falls, the Zambezi and Limpopo rivers. It borders South Africa in the south, Botswana in the west, Zambia in the north and Mozambique in the east.

The name of the country indicates its continuity in relation to the first state on its territory - the Monomotapa empire, the capital of which was Great Zimbabwe, and the main population was the Gokomere people, the ancestors of the now prevailing Shona.

Most of Zimbabwe's territory is located at an altitude of 1000-1500 m within the vast Precambrian basement plateaus of Mashona and Matabele, which step down to the high, sandy plains of the middle reaches of the Zambezi River (in the north) and the Limpopo and Sabi interfluves (in the south). The highest point of the country is Mount Inyangani (2592 m) in the Inyanga Mountains in eastern Zimbabwe.

Zimbabwe is one of the most economically developed countries in Africa. The country is rich in minerals and has a developed industrial sector, a thriving commercial agricultural production, a modern well-developed basic manufacturing infrastructure and a fairly skilled workforce.

Led since 1980, first by ZANU and then by ZANU - PF, the Zimbabwean government has preserved and strengthened the system of rigid state regulation created during the rule of the white minority. The process of centralizing the economy, which continued until 1998, was aimed at creating favorable economic conditions for the black majority. However, the system of state regulation of the Zimbabwean economy became the main reason for its rollback in terms of macroeconomic indicators; in the 1990s, the country constantly disrupted the implementation of the programs of economic restructuring, agreed with the IMF. Bloated staffs of state-owned enterprises and institutions, lack of competition under the dominance of the public sector, poor governance and corruption, and the cost of sending troops to the DRC in 1998 contributed to the exacerbation of the chronic economic crisis. In 1997-1998, the Zimbabwean dollar depreciated, hard currency reserves dropped significantly, inflation soared, domestic interest rates rose, and trade unions began to oppose government policies.

2 Natural resource potential

In the bowels of the country there is gold, diamonds, chromites, asbestos, copper, tin and lithium. Most of the minerals are concentrated in the Vysokoe Velda and are confined, as a rule, to the same intrusions of deep rocks on which the red loamy soils were formed. So, gold deposits are found mainly in the western and northern parts of the country from the watershed. They were discovered a long time ago; their development is being carried out at a shallow depth - not lower than a constant groundwater level. In the Middle Velda, coal deposits (Uenki and Lubinby) are concentrated, formed on the territory covered in the Tertiary period with tropical rainforests.

The most important minerals of the country are platinoids and chromites, for which Zimbabwe ranks third in the world. There are also numerous deposits of iron ores, gold, rare metals, copper, nickel, cobalt, bauxite, coal and precious stones (diamonds, rubies, emeralds).

In 1981, the value of the production of the industry reached 104 million zim. The sugar industry emerged in 1936 with the construction of the first refinery in Bulawayo. In 1951, the Salisbury plant was also launched. The total productivity of these two factories is over 60 thousand tons. Initially, the factories operated on imported raw materials from Mozambique, South Africa and the island of Mauritius, but later switched to local raw materials from sugar plantations. Treacle from Triangle distilleries to the country's largest distillery in Harare. Sugar production in Zimbabwe ranges from 200 thousand tons in 1972 to 391 thousand tons in 1981. Youth enterprises located in Harare, Bulawayo, Gweru, Mutara produce about 2 thousand tons of products.

The cheese is produced in the same cities as well as in Masvingo. A refined oils plant is located in Bulawayo. The plant processes cotton seeds, peanuts and sunflower seeds. In the future, it is planned to build a plant for bottling vegetable oils and a soap factory.

The dense river network belongs to the Indian Ocean basin, with the exception of a small area of ​​internal flow in the west. The Zambezi River, flowing along the northwestern border of the country, collects tributaries from half of the territory of Zimbabwe (Gwai, Sengwa, Sanyati, Hunyani ...). In Limpopo, current southern border, the rivers Shashe, Umzingvani, Bubye, Mvenesi flow into. In the southeast, the Save River receives the tributaries Rundé and Saby. In the west, the Nata River with its tributaries dries up on the way to the Kalahari. The rivers of Zimbabwe are low-water, dry up in the dry season, with numerous rapids and waterfalls, the most famous of which is Victoria on the Zambezi River. Reservoirs have been built on many rivers, the largest of which is the Kariba. Only some sections of the Zambezi and Limpopo are navigable.

Due to the catastrophic rate of deforestation, woody vegetation now occupies less than half of the country's territory. Relict moist evergreen forests have survived only on the slopes of the Inyanga mountains in the east of the country. Dry deciduous teak forests grow in the west. Dry sparse forests of miombo and mopane are widespread on the Mashona plateau. The Matabele plateau is occupied by woody and shrub savannas. In the Zambezi Valley, flooded savannas are developed.

Of the large animals in Zimbabwe, elephants, antelopes, zebras, giraffes, lions, and crocodiles are still numerous. Rhinos, cheetahs, oryxes, pythons are few in number.

Nature reserves and national parks occupy 10% of the country's territory.

Zimbabwe's climate varies from subequatorial in the north to tropical in the south. There are three seasons in the year: warm, humid summer (from November to March, 21-27˚С), cool dry winters (April-June, 13-17˚С, there are frosts in the mountains) and hot dry spring (August-October, 30-40˚С). Precipitation ranges from 400 mm per year in the southern plain to 2000 mm in the mountains in the east.

3 Country history

Initially, the territory of Zimbabwe was inhabited by peoples who spoke the Khoisan languages, culturally close to their modern speakers.

From about the 9th century A.D. NS. there is evidence of the settlement of today's Zimbabwe by a fairly developed culture, which is considered to belong to the Gokomer people, the ancestors of the present Shona. They founded the Munhumutapa empire, the capital of which was the city, the ruins of which are now known as Greater Zimbabwe (in modern Shona, dzimba dzemabwe means "stone houses").

By the middle of the 15th century, when the Portuguese appeared on the coast of the Indian Ocean, this state covered almost the entire territory of Zimbabwe and part of Mozambique. After clashes with the Portuguese, the empire collapsed, although its fragments in the form of states of the Caranga tribe remained until the beginning of the 20th century. By the 17th century, part of the Shona tribes re-united into the Rosvi empire, which managed to oust the Portuguese from the Zimbabwean plateau.

The Rosvi empire ceased to exist in the middle of the 19th century, when, as a result of the expansion of the Zulu under the leadership of Shaki, the Ndebele tribes migrated to the territory of what is now southwestern Zimbabwe under the rule of King Mzilikazi (see Mfekane). At the same time, gold deposits were discovered on the territory of Zimbabwe, and these lands fell into the zone of interests of the British Empire.

In 1888, Cecile Rhodes made a treaty with Lobengula, heir to Mzilikazi, which allowed the British to intervene in the economy of Matabeleland (southwestern Zimbabwe, inhabited by the Ndebele people). In 1899, through the efforts of the same Rhodes, the British South African Company obtained the right to develop vast territories, including present-day Zimbabwe and Zambia, since then known as Southern and Northern Rhodesia, respectively. In 1895, the company's troops entered Mashonaland (center and north of Zimbabwe), which marked the beginning of the colonization of these lands.

In 1896-1897, the black population (primarily Shona and Ndebele) rebelled against British rule, but this revolt, known as the (First) Chimurenga, suffered a complete collapse, primarily due to a catastrophic technological gap. Already in the 20th century, the settlement of Southern Rhodesia by white settlers began.

In 1922, the British South African Company ceased to rule in Southern Rhodesia. As a result of a referendum held mainly among white settlers, it did not join the Union of South Africa, but became a self-governing colony within the British Empire.

General information

Official name - Republic of Zimbabwe... The state is located in the southern part of the African continent. The area is 390,757 km 2. Population - 13 182 908 people. (for 2013). Official language- English, Shona and Northern Ndebele. The capital is Harare. The monetary unit is the dollar.

The state borders on Mozambique in the north and east (border length is 1,231 km), in the north the border also runs with Zambia (797 km), in the south - with the Republic of South Africa (225 km), with Botswana - in the south-west and west (813 km). The total length of the border is 3,066 km.

Although Zimbabwe is located in the tropical zone, the elevation above sea level explains the country's temperate climate. Average monthly temperature does not exceed + 25 ° С. The rainy season gives way to a transitional season - until mid-May, then a cool dry season begins.

History

Culturally, the current peoples of Zimbabwe have inherited a lot from their ancestors. Since the 9th century A.D. NS. On the territory of present-day Zimbabwe, there was already a highly developed culture of the Gokomere people, the direct heirs of which are the current Shona tribes. It was they who laid the foundations of the Monomotapa empire, or Munhumutapa, with the capital of Greater Zimbabwe. Djimba Jambabwe means "stone houses" in the Shona language.

Closer to the middle of the 15th century. the Monomotapa empire occupied almost the entire territory of Zimbabwe and part of Mozambi. At the same time, the Portuguese appeared on the coast of the Indian Ocean and learned about the existence of the empire. It was easy for the Portuguese to destroy it, relying on cunning and strength, using intertribal enmity. Only at the beginning of the 17th century. the remnants of the Shona tribes managed to overcome the internecine Bits and created a new empire of Rosvi, and even drove the Portuguese to the ocean coast.

The Rosvi empire did not last long - until the middle of the 19th century, but it was destroyed not by the Europeans, but by the Zulu tribes of the leader Chaki, but by one of the Zulu tribes Ndebele - moved here together with their king Mzilikazi. But the Ndebele did not have a chance to live in peace for a long time: gold was found in Zimbabwe and the British poured here.

The period of colonial rule in Zimbabwe is inextricably linked with the name of Cecil Rhodes (1853-1902), a politician who decided to create a wide strip of British possessions in Africa, the so-called. the program "from Cairo to Cape Town".

In 1899, Cecil Rode seeks the right to develop the territories of present-day Zimbabwe and. At the same time, these lands are named in honor of Rhodes himself - South and North Rhodesia. Black population rebelled against the colonialists, but all attempts at resistance were drowned in blood. The number of white settlers in Southern Rhodesia grew steadily, whites demanded more autonomy from England, and this led to the fact that, as a result of a referendum among white farmers, Southern Rhodesia became a self-governing colony of the British Empire.

After World War II, the colonial system began to collapse, but power in Southern Rhodesia was stubbornly held by a white minority. It tried to achieve independence, but England demanded to transfer power to the black majority. And then, in 1965, Southern Rhodesia became a self-proclaimed sovereign state. Nobody in the world recognized the country, because the regime of racial discrimination was officially operating here: blacks were deprived of almost all rights, and whites owned 70% of the land.

Local tribes, with the support of the USSR and the PRC, waged a partisan struggle for a long time. Whites were forced to negotiate, as a result, in 1979, the state of Zimbabwe-Rhodesia was formed, within whose borders the white minority and the black majority tried to get along for some time.

Unrest continued in the country, and a long period of drought began, and a stream of refugees rushed out of Zimbabwe. To solve its internal political problems, the government announced a land reform. The reform stalled, and then the white farmers began to be expelled from the country. This led the UN to suspend Zimbabwe's membership in 2002 due to human rights violations.

The reform did not solve the problems of Zimbabwe, where a dictatorship was established. Nobody cultivated the land received under the reform. A massive rise in prices and general unemployment began, reaching 94%.

Zimbabwe landmarks

National park Chimanimani located within the eponymous mountain range in the province of Manicaland, eastern Zimbabwe. Basically, these are huge peaks, both in height and in longitude: about 2440 m above sea level and about 50 km in length. The main material of these mountains is quartzite rift blocks.

For a long time (1895-1982) a relatively small part of the mountains - Melsetter - was known. Later I managed to study all mountain system and the area with the most unique flora and fauna was enclosed in the Chimanimani National Park - the southern part of the Eastern Highlands.

The Chimanyima National Park is easily accessible and is located 150 km from the town of Mutare. Mount Monte Binga, enclosed within the boundaries of the park, is the highest point (the park is actually divided by two countries: Zimbabwe and Mozambique). The height of this mountain is 2436 m above sea level. But on the territory of Zimbabwe they remained surprisingly beautiful waterfalls Bridal Veil.

The mountains of this park are covered with dense forest - mainly tropical rainforests of southern Africa, including the Chirinda forest. Here you can find many interesting views vegetation such as wild orchids, cycads, tree ferns, and rare tree species. Many trees in the park are over 1000 years old. And also such valuable tree species as mahogany grow here.

National History Museum in Bulawayo... The main museum building in the western region (Matabeleland) includes a comprehensive library and numerous galleries. The museum presents world-famous collections on the topics: entomology (the science of insects), geology, herpetology (the study of the life of reptiles and amphibians), ichthyology (the science of fish), mammalogy, ornithology (birds), paleontology (prehistoric life forms).

Kvekwe Gold Mining Museum... The exhibits of the Museum of Gold Mining reflect the history of the development of the country's gold mining industry from the earliest times to the present day.

Here you can also see the Paper House, built entirely of papier-mâché and wire floors. This is the only surviving exhibit of three other such buildings, built in 1895.

A traveling museum. To meet the demand from the growing audience in rural areas, branches of museums have sprung up in regions such as Mutoko, Nyanga, Tsindi, Domboshawa, and many are still under development. In addition to them, mobile museums, especially popular among the population, are emerging, the main visitors of which are schools located in remote regions of the country.

Gonarehu National Park occupies 5,053 km 2 of the southeastern regions of Zimbabwe. The name of the park in translation means the concept of "place of many elephants." From here it becomes clear that elephants are one of the most striking sights of the Gonarehu National Park, however, not the only one.

There are also many other wonderful specimens of African fauna, many remarkable for their peculiarities of plants. Gonarehu is the second largest park in the country in terms of its area.

Among the local population, a legend is still alive, representing an alternative interpretation of the name of the national park. Allegedly, the root of the word Gonarehu - "gona" (translated from the local language Shona means "tusks"), as it were, opens a history that has been repeated here for many centuries. The point is that local herbalists (healers) used the tusks of elephants to prepare their potions.

There are as many as three rivers flowing through the territory of the Gonarehu National Park: Seiv, Runde and Mwenezi. They became the main reason for living in the park of such a rich animal world and the formation of a rather diverse flora. Here, the species diversity of birds is counted in hundreds, and fish and mammals - in dozens.

It is within the boundaries of the Gonarehu National Park that the most low point the whole country - it lies at an altitude of 153 m above sea level, this is the meeting point of two rivers - Seiv and Rund.

Gonarejo National Park is preparing to merge into a single conservation area with such parks in other countries as the Kruger Park in South Africa, Limpopo Park in Mozambique. The goals of such a cross-border association are not only to popularize and attract tourists to this zone, but also to involve the local population in work, to raise the economic potential of the region, and of course, not least, to preserve the natural diversity of these zones.

The fauna of Gonarehu Park boasts of its permanent residents, among which are found: lion, leopard, cheetah, elephants, hippos, wild dogs, buffaloes, giraffes, zebras, Ron antelopes. Sable, Nyala and Suni antelopes are not so widespread in the park. The underwater world of fish and aquatic mammals is very striking in its species composition, among them, first of all, it is worth mentioning the Zambezi shark, freshwater gobies, black bream, unique turquoise Killifish and other species.

The fauna of Gonarehu Park boasts of its permanent residents, among which are found: lion, leopard, cheetah, elephants, hippos, wild dogs, buffaloes, giraffes, zebras, Ron antelopes. beautiful view in Gonarehu Park - near the beautiful Chilojo rock formed from red sandstones. This rock mass can be found within the picturesque Rundé river valley. Dense forests are wiped around the cliff, one of the valuable species of which is the Mabalauta tree.

Majestic and wonderful. Its noise is stronger than the stomp of a million migrating wild ungulates, and the fog is visible from 80 km away. David Livingston was the first European to reach the falls in 1885 and named it after the English Queen Victoria (she had never seen the falls).

The waterfall, soon recognized as a natural wonder of the world, the dream of every traveler in Africa, plunges across the entire width of the river (1800 m) into a gorge from a height of 120 m into a narrow and deep canyon in basalts, creating clouds of spray like drizzling rain and rainbows. If you observe it with a full bright moon, you can see a lunar rainbow that moves all the time.

At dawn and dusk, the sky, water and water mist turn pink and orange, especially during the rainy season from March to May.

Then cascades of water masses fly with the greatest speed and fountains of spray are thrown into the sky at a height of 300 m. It is easy to imagine the feelings of Lee-wingston when he wrote: flew over them. "

Zimbabwe cuisine

Zimbabwe's cuisine is mainly a mixture of bland and bland British and heavy African food. The main dietary dish is sadza - white maize porridge, on which most of the local dishes are built.

The second important component is nyama - meat, usually chicken or pork, as well as crocodile, kudu or impala. The use of fruits and vegetables is limited, but do not skip the pumpkin puree, it is delicious.

An alcoholic drink of mass consumption - chibuku, "good mood beer", is served in a ladle with handles. Made from hot cocoa, it resembles a runny porridge, tastes deceptively soft and knocks off your feet easily. It's not tasty at all.

Chibuku is drunk mainly in city beer halls - places visited exclusively by men. Coffee lovers looking to kick their habit should seriously consider taking a vacation in Zimbabwe. Although coffee grows in the eastern mountains, it is mostly exported and you have to find it. Anything called Zimbabwean coffee is almost disgusting.

Beer is the most commonly consumed alcoholic beverage. Imported wines, other spirits and liqueurs can be purchased at the hotels. The traditional maize beer, whawha, is produced in large quantities on special occasions.

Zimbabwe on the map

4 230

Capital- Bulawayo.
Difference in time: lags behind Moscow by 2 hours.
Ethnic groups
There are two main groups of the population: black Africans, who make up 99% of all residents, and the white community, which numbered only 101 thousand people in the late 1990s (in the early 1970s - 225 thousand). The largest ethnic groups of Africans are Shona (80%) and Ndebele. The Asian community is small. The Shona people include several ethnic groups: Korekore in the north, Manyika and Ndau in the east, Caranga, which make up almost half of the Chishon-speaking population in the south of the country, and Zezuru, the second largest Chishon-speaking group west of Harare. Another large African people of Zimbabwe are the Ndebele, who, like Kalanga and Hlengwe, speak the Sindebele language. In addition, the Chitonga-speaking Tonga live in the Zambezi Valley and along the Kariba reservoir, and Venda in the south along the border with South Africa.
Language
Official language is English. The native language of most Zimbabweans is Chishona, which is spoken by the Shona people.
National currency: Zimbabwean dollar.
Religion
Most of the rural African population remains committed to traditional cultures. About a quarter of Zimbabweans are Christians, including Catholics - about 40%, supporters of the Anglican Church - approx. 15% and methodologists - 10-12%. Other faith groups associated with foreign missions include Seventh-day Adventists and The Salvation Army. About 40% of African Christians belong to numerous independent African churches, which in the past either split from missions of foreign denominations or arose independently of them.
Geographical position
Republic of Zimbabwe, a state in southern Africa. Zimbabwe is landlocked and borders in the north along the Zambezi River with Zambia, in the east and northeast with Mozambique, in the southwest with Botswana and in the south along the Limpopo River with the Republic of South Africa (South Africa) ...
Relief and minerals
The central part of Zimbabwe is an open plateau with heights of 1100-1850 m above sea level. Nearly all of the best agricultural land and most cities are located in elevated areas, characterized by a more even climate with abundant rainfall and fertile land. The peripheral regions of the country, except for one in the east and the other along the border with Botswana in the west, are predominantly flat: in the north - the Zambezi river basin, in the south - the Limpopo river basin, and in the southeast - the Sabi river basin. The lowest part of the country, with the hottest climate, is located in the southeast, in the basins of the Sabi and its tributary, the Rundé, and in the basin of the river Mvenesi, a tributary of the Limpopo. Rivers, as a rule, are rapids, shallow. Many of them dry out during the dry season. Located to the north of Mutare, the Eastern Highlands reaches an altitude of 2592 m above sea level. (Mount Inyangani, the highest point of Zimbabwe), and in the Chimanimani Mountains, located south of Mutare along the border with Mozambique, Binga peak reaches 2436 m above sea level. The country's main watershed crosses the plateau from southwest to northeast and separates the drainage basins of the Zambezi and Limpopo rivers, which flow into the Indian Ocean. In Zimbabwe, there is one large reservoir, Kariba, on the Zambezi River along the border with Zambia, and many smaller ones, Kyle, on the Zambesi River. Mtilikwe, Robertson and McIluane on the Gwebi River, Shangani-Tiyabenzi on the Tiyabenzi River, etc. In the north-east of the country, on the Zambezi River, there is the famous Victoria Falls 107 m high and approx. 1500 m.
Climate
The climate of the northern part of the country is subequatorial, and the southern one is tropical. Pleasant warm weather is typical for the central plateau, although it can be cool here in the evenings, and in the winter season, from May to August, frosts sometimes occur. Even in the summer season from November to March, temperatures do not exceed 27 ° C during the day and 16 ° C at night. The average temperature in winter is 18 ° C. Humidity is low most of the year. Precipitation occurs during the warmer months (November to April) and is particularly intense in the mountains. Agricultural areas on the plateau receive up to 900 mm of precipitation annually, and up to 2500 mm in the Eastern Highlands. In some areas, a deficit of precipitation is traced, for example, in the basin of the Limpopo River, the average annual precipitation does not exceed 250 mm.
Vegetable world
The vegetation cover in most of Zimbabwe is represented by savanna light forests. There are small areas of dry deciduous forests in the northwest and acacia thickets in the southwest. In the south of the country, significant areas are covered with forests of African ironwood - mopani.
Animal world
The fauna of Zimbabwe is rich and varied. Elephants, antelopes, zebras, giraffes and lions live in the northwest and southeast of the country, and leopards have survived in the Eastern Highlands. The largest reserves are in the Hwange National Parks in the north-west of the country and Gona-re-Zhou in the south-east.
Economy
Zimbabwe is one of the most economically developed countries in Africa. The country is rich in minerals and has a developed industrial sector, a thriving commercial agricultural production, a modern well-developed basic manufacturing infrastructure and a fairly skilled workforce. Agriculture. Although the share of agricultural production is estimated at only 1/8 of GDP, agriculture is a vital branch of the economy. Agriculture is the main occupation of the population of Zimbabwe, where small-scale peasant farms predominate. It provides food for the townspeople, provides raw materials for some important industries and produces export crops, which bring the country 2/5 of the country's total foreign exchange earnings. Zimbabwe meets its domestic needs for many types of food. The main food crop is corn. Other important crops are millet and sorghum. The most important commercial crops are tobacco, which accounts for half of all agricultural export earnings, cotton, which is not only exported, but also processed in local textile industries, sugar cane, used to produce sugar for domestic consumption and for export, and roses, which are exported to Europe. In good years, maize becomes the main agricultural export. Peanuts, soybeans, barley, cassava, potatoes, various vegetables and fruits, mainly bananas and oranges, Arabica coffee and tea are also grown. Meat and dairy farming is highly developed. Livestock are raised mainly in drier areas in the southwest of the country.
In the 1990s, approx. 65% of all agricultural products and 78% of grain were produced in commercial farms. Slightly more than half of the land is depleted and marginal African communal holdings in the former tribal lands, where 60% of the population lives. In 1997-1998, some commercial private farms were forcibly transferred to communal ownership.
Forestry and fishing are not important sources of government revenue. In the savannah sparse forests belonging to communities, peasants cut down trees for arable land, for fuel and building material. Most of the timber used in the modern economy comes from pine and eucalyptus plantations. In the northwestern regions of Zimbabwe, teak is being industrially harvested. A lot of fish are found in the inland waters of the country, but only the Tonga people living in the Zambezi valley have fish constituting an essential part of their diet. Commercial fishing is limited to the Kariba reservoir.
Mining industry. The subsoil of Zimbabwe is rich in minerals, their extraction brings significant income. Although the mining industry accounts for only 2% of GDP, it produces the required raw materials for several other industries, and the extracted minerals, mainly in the form of primary products, provide a third of export earnings. The main export items of mineral raw materials (share in the value in 1997): gold - 50%, asbestos - 13%, nickel - 12%, coal - 12%, chromium - 2%, copper - 2%, iron ore - 1%, as well as cobalt, silver, tin, precious stones, limestone, etc. Platinum deposits in the Hartley region, 50 km west of Harare, are the richest in the world outside South Africa. Asbestos is mined in large quantities in the Zvishavane region. Large reserves of hard coal in the northwest in Hwang provide cheap fuel for thermal power plants and coking coal for local metallurgical enterprises. Limestone and phosphorites are mined for the needs of the local industry.
Most of the mining industry is in the hands of multinational corporations such as Rio Tinto Zink, Lonro and the Anglo American Corporation. State corporations are involved in copper mining and have monopolized gold mining and gold refining. All minerals are sold through the State Office for the Marketing of Mineral Resources.

sights
On the Zambezi River (on the border with Zambia) there is the famous Victoria Falls (height - 120 m, length - 1700 m, one of the largest in the world), surrounded by a national park, and a large picturesque reservoir Kariba. The sheer walls of the gorges below the waterfall seem to be created for breathtaking rafting, and the calm flow of the upper reaches of the Zambezi River is great for cruises and canoeing, the route Victoria Falls - Zambezi Park - rapids - Tsova River - Chandu River - Victoria Falls is especially popular.
Monumental stone structures preserved in Zimbabwe ancient civilization- Monomotapa (VI-XVIII centuries). There are about 400 of them, but the most famous are the "acropolis" and "temples" near Fort Victoria, decorated with stone statues. Harare - the gateway to the country of unique reserves wildlife... In its southern suburbs are the ruins of Great Zimbabwe - the ancient "heart of the nation."
A visit to Mbare, a unique African bazaar, and a tobacco auction, held from April to October, will leave an unforgettable experience. National Gallery and museums.
National parks Victoria Falls, Hwange, Matopo and others - abound in rare animals and surprise with the beauty of the landscapes. Zimbabwe is truly an outstanding hunting country in Africa - diversity natural conditions and species of animals, a combination of hunting opportunities on specialized hunting ranches and in the wild, excellent trophy sizes, a very high level of service, makes it attractive for the most demanding hunter and traveler. The best sport fishing in Africa, according to experts, is also here. Travel around the country is organized at a high level, because it is one of the largest sources of income for the state. This is ensured by state licensing and strict control over the activities of guides, gamekeepers and accompanying personnel.
Holidays
& nbsp1 January New Year
April 18 Independence Day
April 19, 2002 Good Friday
May 21, 2002 Easter
May 25 Africa Day
11 August Heroes Day
12 August Defense Day
December 25 Christmas
December 26 Boxing Day

When compiling a description of the country, materials from the sites were used:
http://www.krugosvet.ru/aMenu/1.htm
http://www.gold-pelican.spb.ru/countrys.php
http://tours.belti.ru/all_maps.php
http://www.oval.ru/encycl.shtml