Not only is Zimbabwe just a fun word to say, it is also a luscious and interesting gem of a country! Zimbabwe is a country in southern Africa that is known for its breathtaking and dramatic landscapes and diverse wildlife. Let’s explore some fascinating facts about Zimbabwe.
5 Zimbabwe Facts
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- Zimbabwe is home to the world’s largest waterfall. (source) While it is not the highest or widest waterfall, Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe is recognized as the largest due to its combined width of 5,604 ft and height of 354 ft. These dimensions make it the largest sheet of falling water in the world!
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- Zimbabwe comes from a Shona term. (source) The name “Zimbabwe” is a Shona term for Great Zimbabwe, which is an ancient ruined city in the country’s southeast. Shona are a people whose ancestors constructed immense stone cities in southern Africa over a thousand years ago. It is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most important archaeological sites in sub-Saharan Africa.
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- Zimbabwe has a population of 15,142,652. (source) However, there are many concerns that the fast growth of Zimbabwe’s population will exacerbate the significantly high poverty and unemployment rates.
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- Zimbabwe holds the Guinness World Record for the most official languages.(source) There are 16 official languages in Zimbabwe. These are: Chewa, Chibarwe, English, Kalanga, Koisan, Nambya, Ndau, Ndebele, Shangani, Shona, sign language, Sotho, Tonga, Tswana, Venda and Xhosa.
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- Zimbabwe has the largest man-made lake in terms of volume.(source) Lake Kariba was created in 1958 by the damming of Zambezi River, and has a staggering volume of 44 cubic miles. It supports an incredible diversity of flora and fauna.
