Brief Facts About Angola

Angola is booming! The oil and diamond-rich country is currently rebuilding atfull swing after suffering from civil war for 27 years since independence fromPortugal in 1975. Now the country of 19 million is finally at peace and is going through a dramaticrebirth. The capital, Luanda is located on the coast of the Atlantic Ocean and has apopulation of over 5 million inhabitants. The city’s streets are now being paved and widened, lots of new businesses areopening up and there is a lot of construction going on all around. Keep reading for a set of fun and interesting facts about Angola. Economic growth in 2012 is expected to exceed 7% Angola is very rich innatural resources – The country is the 2nd largest oil and diamond producer insub-Saharan Africa Luanda is known as the “ Paris of Africa” – This title isapparently due to the city’s sophisticated culture and atmosphere Portuguese isthe official language – Other spoken languages include Umbundu, Kimbundu, Kikongo, and Tchokwe Angola gained independence in 1975 – The country gotindependence from Portugal on November 11, 1975.

Brief Facts About Andorra

Andorra is among the safest countries in the world with almost zeropickpocketing, car theft and disorderly conduct incidents. Andorra, according to some estimates, is the world’s 14th oldest country. The offices of the government, court, and prison are housed in the “House ofthe Valleys,” which was built in 1580 in Andorra la Vella, the capital city ofAndorra. Image credit – CIA #9. The capital city of Andorra, Andorra la Vella, is thehighest capital city in Europe with an elevation of 1,023 meters. According to World Bank data, more than 10 million tourists arrived inAndorra last year. One theory suggests that Andorra may be derived from Arabic al-durra, meaning, “The Pearl.” In 1933, Andorra was occupied by France. The country served as an important smuggling route between Vichy, France, and Spain during World War II. # Andorra became a member of theUN and Council of Europe in 1993.

Brief Facts About Algeria

The Sahara Desert covers more than 80% of Algeria. In fact, only 12% of the land in Algeria is inhabited. This is because over 90% of the Algerian population lives along the Mediterranean coastlands where the climate is more pleasant, and is similar to that of many Mediterranean countries. In the desert, the daily variations […]

Brief Facts About Albania

1. The Albanians call Albania ‘Squiperia’ or Republika e Shqiperise in full. 2. Mother Teresa (Anjezë Gonxhe Bojaxhiu) is generally celebrated as the only Albanian to win a Nobel Prize, though born in Skopje in 1910 (now in Macedonia but then in the Ottoman Empire). 3. The Tirana International airport was named after Mother Teresa […]

Brief Facts About Italy

  The Italian Republic or Italy is a country in the south of Europe, consisting mainly of a boot-shaped peninsula together with two large islands in the Mediterranean Sea: Sicily and Sardinia. To the north it is bound by the Alps, where it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and Slovenia. Repubblica Italiana (In Italian). Official language; Italian (+ German […]

Brief Facts About Israel

The birthplace of the Jewish people is the Land of Israel (Eretz Yisrael). There, a significant part of the nation’s long history was enacted, of which the first thousand years are recorded in the Bible; there, its cultural, religious, and national identity was formed; and there, its physical presence has been maintained through the centuries, […]

Brief Facts About Ireland

History Facts 1 – The Battle of The Boyne was an iconic event in Irish history which took place on the 1st July 1690. The Battle of The Boyne is commemorated every year on the 12th July by Protestants who march to celebrate the victory of Protestant King Billy over the Catholics and is known […]