Zimbabwe: a country and its description. Full description of Zimbabwe Zimbabwe country characteristics

• International relations of Zimbabwe
• Armed Forces of Zimbabwe
• Political Talks in Zimbabwe 2008
• Transport in Zimbabwe
• Zimbabwean cuisine

Animal world

The fauna of Zimbabwe is quite diverse. In sparsely populated areas of the country, there are antelopes (impala, stenbok, etc.), buffaloes, giraffes, zebras, elephants, rhinos, lions, hippos, leopards, hyenas, and earthen wolves. Many birds, lizards, snakes (including the African python); crocodiles are found in the rivers. Various species of ants and termites are common; in the North - the tsetse fly. There are 9 species of birds and mammals (including black rhinos, half of the world's population living in Zimbabwe), as well as 73 species of plants, under the threat of extinction. For the protection of the animal and raises. the world created a number of nature reserves and nat. parks (approx. 10% of the territory 3.), naib. large ones - Hwange, Matusadona, Victoria Falls, Mana Pools.

Current events

According to WHO data for January 2009, in Zimbabwe the number of people infected with cholera has reached 60 thousand 400 people. 3,200 people have already died as a result of this epidemic. International pressure is mounting on President Robert Mugabe to resign from office. The Nobel Peace Prize laureate, a South African priest called on Mugabe to voluntarily resign and, in case of refusal, considers it necessary to further increase international pressure, up to and including armed intervention to overthrow Mugabe.

The total number of Zimbabwean officials who are not allowed to enter the EU has reached 200. For 40 companies, assets in the European Union were frozen.

On March 6, 2009, opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai's car crashed on the highway between Harare and Masvingo, his wife Susan was killed and he was hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries. Morgan Tsvangirai and Susan have been married since 1978, from this marriage they have 6 children. Debates have flared up in the country about whether the accident was an accident or a planned action to eliminate the opposition leader, objectionable to Robert Mugabe.

State structure

Republic. The head of state is the president. Elected by the population for a 5-year term, the number of terms is not limited. Since 1987 - Robert Mugabe.

Parliament is bicameral. The Senate consists of 93 members (60 are elected by the population, 10 provincial governors are ex officio, 16 of the local leaders are elected by the council of chiefs, 5 senators are appointed by the president, and the chairman and deputy council of chiefs are also included in the Senate). The House of Assembly - 210 deputies, elected by the population every 5 years.

Political parties:

Movement for Democratic Change (Morgan Tsvangirai) - 30 seats in the Senate, 109 seats in the House of Assembly;

ZANU-PF (Robert Mugabe) - 30 seats in the Senate, 97 seats in the House of Assembly.

More than 20 parties are registered, of which the most influential are: Zimbabwe African National Union - Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF) –Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front, ruling polit. party of the country, DOS. in 1963;

Movement for Democratic Change (MDC, actually two organizations) - Movement for Democratic Change; National Alliance for Good Governance (NAGG);

United Party (UP) - United Party; Zimbabwe African National Union-Ndonga (ZANU-Ndonga) - Zimbabwe African National Union-Ndonga; Zimbabwe African People Union (ZAPU).

Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU), founded. in 1981; Zimbabwe Trade Union Federation - Zimbabwe Trade Unions Federation (ZTUF).

Military establishment

The size of the army: 39 thousand people, of which - ground forces - 35 thousand, aviation - 4 thousand. The commander-in-chief is the president. The number of police is 19.5 thousand people. In addition, there is a paramilitary police unit - 2.3 thousand people. (2000) Expenditure on the army -3.7% of GDP (2006, estimate).

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 (225 thousand in the early 1970s). 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 Tonga live in the Zambezi Valley and along the Kariba reservoir, and the Venda - in the south along the border with South Africa.
Language
The 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 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 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, the Kyle reservoir, 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.
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, there is a deficit of precipitation, 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 are found 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 enterprises, 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 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 of the ancient civilization - Monomotapa (VI-XVIII centuries) have been preserved in Zimbabwe. There are about 400 of them, but the most famous are the "acropolis" and "temples" near Fort Victoria, decorated with stone statues. Harare is the gateway to a country of unique wildlife sanctuaries. In its southern suburbs are the ruins of Great Zimbabwe - the ancient "heart of the nation."
A visit to Mbare, the unique African bazaar, and the tobacco auction held from April to October, the National Gallery and museums, will leave an unforgettable experience.
National parks Victoria Falls, Hwange, Matopo and others - abound in rare animals and amaze with the beauty of landscapes. Zimbabwe fully occupies an outstanding place among the hunting countries of Africa - a variety of natural conditions and animal species, 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

You will learn more about nature, flora and fauna in the ZIMBABWE NATIONAL PARKS section.

The Republic of Zimbabwe is a South African state located among such water resources as the Victoria Falls, the Zambezi and Limpopo rivers. Zimbabwe's borders stretch alongside countries such as South Africa in the south, Botswana in the west, Zambia in the north, and Mozambique in the east. The story of the appearance of the name of the country - Zimbabwe - is noteworthy - echoes of continuity are heard in it. After all, the first state on this territory - the Monomotapa empire - made the city of Great Zimbabwe its capital. Since ancient times, the Gokomere people lived here, today their descendants are Shona. The total area of ​​Zimbabwe is 390,580 km².

A significant part of the territory of Zimbabwe is located at an altitude of 1000-1500 m above sea level. These are areas of the vast Precambrian basement plateaus of Mashona and Matabele, they gradually decrease as they approach the sandy plains of the middle course Zambezi river(in the north) and between the rivers Limpopo and Sabi (in the south). The highest point in Zimbabwe - mountain inyangani(2592 m above sea level), located in the east of Zimbabwe.

The country's hydrography is rather dense, despite the fact that surface waters occupy only 1% of the total area. Almost all of Zimbabwe's rivers belong to the Indian Ocean basin. The largest rivers include the Zambezi River, which has a huge number of tributaries: Gwai, Sengwa, Sanyati, Hunyani, etc. Limpopo river, its tributaries are the Shashe, Umzingvani, Bubye and Mwenezi rivers. The Save River flows through the southeastern part of Zimbabwe, into which the Rundé and Sabi tributaries flow. the temporary Nata River is located in the west of Zimbabwe, traces of itself and its tributaries are lost on the way to the Kalahari Desert. Almost all of these rivers have such a distinctive feature as large rapids; waterfalls are very often formed on them. Without a doubt. the most famous waterfalls in the territory of Zimbabwe is Victoria Falls on the Zambezi River... Some rivers were developed - reservoirs were built on them. The largest is Kariba.

A great variety of minerals have been discovered in the depths of the country, among others Zimbabwe is rich in platinoids and chromites, iron ores, gold, copper, nickel, bauxite, cobalt, coal and precious stones. The latter include diamonds discovered in Zimbabwe, rubies, emeralds.

Zimbabwe's climate is subject to fluctuations, with subequatorial features prevailing in the north and tropical ones in the south. The annual period is divided into three seasons: warm, humid summer (from November to March, temperature range 21-27˚С), cool dry winters (April-June, 13-17˚С) and hot dry spring (August-October, 30 -40˚С). During the year, the amount of precipitation is 400 mm in the southern plain and up to 2000 mm in the mountains in the east.

The flora of Zimbabwe suffered greatly, especially the forest areas, which in many parts of the country were reduced at a very fast pace. As a result, woody vegetation is now widespread in only half of Zimbabwe's territory. Relic wet evergreen forests can be found only on the slopes of the Inyanga Mountains in the east of the country. Dry deciduous teak forests are common in the west. Dry rare miombo and mopane forests spread to the Mashon plateau. Another plateau - the Matabele plateau - is characterized by the presence of woody and shrub savannas.

The fauna of Zimbabwe is still very representative. Among large mammals, elephants, lions, rhinos, cheetahs, oryx, crocodiles, antelopes, zebras, giraffes live here. The territory of the country is famous for the abundance of pythons. To preserve the entire natural diversity of Zimbabwe, rather significant areas (about 10% of the country's territory) were converted into reserves and national parks.

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). The official language is 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. The 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: they found gold 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. The 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. No one 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

Chimanimani National Park 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 they managed to study the entire 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 there are amazingly beautiful Bridal Veil waterfalls.

The mountains of this park are covered with dense forest - mainly tropical rainforests of southern Africa, including the Chirinda forest. Many interesting types of vegetation can be found here, 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 exhibits world-famous collections on 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, museum branches 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 then 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 lowest point of the entire country is enclosed - it lies at an altitude of 153 m above sea level, this is the meeting point of two rivers - the Save and the Runde.

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 inhabitants, among which are found: lion, leopard, cheetah, elephants, hippos, wild dogs, buffaloes, giraffes, zebras, Ron antelopes. 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 highest 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

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, 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 Zambezi River. Mtilikwe, Robertson and McIlwain 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, 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 the summer season from November to March, temperatures do not exceed 27 C during the daytime and 16 C at night. The average temperature in winter 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.
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.