Cambodia Post is Updated

GeoFact of the Day's Cambodia post (↗) is updated with more information. Thanks for visiting GeoFact of the Day today!

Burundi Post is Updated

GeoFact of the Day's Burundi post (↗) is updated with more information. Thanks for visiting GeoFact of the Day today!

Central African Republic Post is Updated

GeoFact of the Day's Central African Republic post (↗) is updated with more information. Thanks for visiting GeoFact of the Day today!

Cameroon Post is Updated

My Cameroon post (↗) — link opens in a new tab or window — is updated with more information. Thanks for visiting GeoFact of the Day today!

Benin Post is Updated

My Benin post (↗) — link opens in a new tab or window — is updated with more information. Thanks for visiting GeoFact of the Day today!

Botswana Post is Updated

My Botswana post (↗) — link opens in a new tab or window — is updated with more information. Thanks for visiting GeoFact of the Day today!

Sudan Post is Updated

My Sudan post (↗) — link opens in a new tab or window — is updated with more information. Thanks for visiting GeoFact of the Day ... today and always!

Kyrgyzstan Post is Updated

My Kyrgyzstan post (↗) — link opens in a new tab or window — is updated with much more information. Thanks for visiting GeoFact of the Day...today and always!

Lesotho Post is Updated

My Lesotho post (↗) — link opens in a new tab or window — is updated with much more information. Thanks for visiting GeoFact of the Day...today and always!

China Post is Updated

Good afternoon, evening, or night wherever you are! My China post (↗) — link opens in a new tab or window — is updated with much more information. Thanks for visiting GeoFact of the Day...today and always!

Kosovo Post is Updated

Good afternoon, evening, or night wherever you are! I hope you are having a great new year so far. My Kosovo post (↗) — link opens in a new tab or window — is updated with a new map and lots of informative information. Thanks for visiting the GeoFact of the Day Blog — today and always!

New Map, Updated Posts

The San Marino post is updated with a new map. Click Here to see the GeoFact of the Day Blog's latest map! Also, two African country posts have been updated: SOUTH SUDAN and ZAMBIA. Thanks for visiting the GeoFact of the Day Blog today and always!

Colombia Map and Post Updates

Above is my new map of COLOMBIA, which is now featured on a comprehensively updated Colombia post (« Colombia Post Link »). As always, thank you so much for visiting the GeoFact of the Day Blog today!

Brazil Post is Updated

Hey there! I wanted to tell you that I recently updated the original Brazil post. Check it out, and feel free to write a comment if there are fun and interesting facts you would want to see in my post. Thanks for your readership today and always!

Recent Post Updates

One of my blog-related missions is to update country posts and other posts from several years ago. The following posts have been updated recently. All links open in a new tab or window.
Angola
Armenia
Athens
Chile
French Guiana

Of course, you are always free to submit a comment on any post for suggestions, complaints, or compliments about the GeoFact of the Day Blog!

South Sudan

Achieving independence on Saturday, July 9th, 2011 after 99% of southern Sudan people voted in a referendum to form a sovereign country of their own, the landlocked Republic of SOUTH SUDAN is currently the world’s newest country and is located at the confluence of East Africa and North Africa. The introduction of South Sudan to the world meant that Sudan is no longer Africa's largest country. South Sudan borders six countries: Central African Republic located to the west, Democratic Republic of the Congo (D.R. Congo) to the south, Ethiopia to the east, Kenya to the southeast, Sudan to the north, and Uganda to the south. The currency of South Sudan is the South Sudanese Pound, and its ISO 4217 currency code is SSP. 100 Piasters equal one South Sudanese Pound. The Sudanese Pound (SDG) currency was used for several months after achieving independence from Sudan.

● ● ● ● ●  People and Places  ● ● ● ● ●  Based on the GeoFact of the Day Blog’s 2016 estimate, South Sudan’s total population hovers around 11.15 million. The national capital is located at Juba, home to about 375,000 residents. Other cities and towns scattered throughout South Sudan include Ayod, Gumbiel, Kapoeta, Malakal (a once-thriving city destroyed by civil wars), Nyamllel, Paloich, Popiu, Raga, Tonga, and Waw. There are about 68 ethnic groups and native languages present in South Sudan. Major ethnicities and languages include Acholi, Anuak, Avokaya, Baka, Bari (600,000 people), Beli, Didinga, Dinka (1,370,000), Gbaya, Jur Modo (also known as Jur, or Modo), Kakwa, Lango, Lopit, Luwo, Mabaan, Mandari, Morokodo, Mündü, Murle, Ndogo, Nuer (800,000), Olu'bo, Otuho, Reel, Shilluk, Toposa, Uduk, and Zande (450,000). English is South Sudan's official language, while Sudanese Arabic and Sudanese Creole Arabic are other widely communicated languages. Over 80% of South Sudanese citizens adhere to native religions and traditions, while others are mostly Christian or Islamic.

● ● ● ● ●  Land Features  ● ● ● ● ●  Especially compared to Sudan, South Sudan possesses thousands of forested acres and also gained access to oil resources – but currently lacks the infrastructure required to properly refine and distribute this money-making commodity. Several national parks attempt to protect forests from natural resource exploitation and animal poaching. These parks include Boma National Park, Nimule National Park, and Southern National Park. The mighty White Nile river flows north to south in eastern South Sudan, bypassing communities such as (from north to south) Geiger, Ar Rank, El Galhak, Paloich, Kodok, Malakal, Bor, Malek, Tombe, Terakeka, Lado, Juba, and Kajo-Kaji. The Qanat Junqoley (Qanāt Junqalī) canal provides a shortcut to shorten the winding river, signifying the importance of boat-based transportation in surrounding communities. South Sudan's highest point is Mount Kinyeti, standing at an elevation of 3,187 meters (over 10,455 feet) near Uganda. Kinyeti is the Imatong mountain range's prominent peak, and its located is west of the Didinga Hills and east of Juba.

This post was comprehensively updated on August 25th, 2016.

Saint Lucia

Achieving full independence from the United Kingdom in 1979, SAINT LUCIA is an island country located in the Caribbean Sea and the Lesser Antilles archipelago. More specifically, Saint Lucia is situated in the Windward Islands — the Lesser Antilles southernmost extent. Saint Lucia is north of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and south of Martinique. Saint Lucia’s currency is the East Caribbean Dollar, and its ISO 4217 currency code is XCD. Citizens annually celebrate the Saint Lucian Independence Day on February 22nd.

● ● ● ● ●  People and Places  ● ● ● ● ●  According to Encyclopædia Britannica, Saint Lucia’s population in the year 2020 is about 181,800 and is ranked 191st among populations of the whole world’s countries, dependencies, and territories. Saint Lucia’s national capital is Castries, which has more than 60,000 inhabitants. Other cities and communities include Canaries, Choiseul, Dennery, Desruisseaux, Grand Anse, Gros Islet, Laborie, Marquis, Micoud, Mon Repos, Praslin, Soufrière, and Vieux Fort. The official language is English, but about 87% of the population speaks Saint Lucian French Creole. An Arawakan language confirmed extinct in the 1920s, Island Carib was widely spoken among native people in Saint Lucia and other Caribbean islands in the Lesser Antilles. Over 95% of religious adherents are Christian, followed by Spiritists (1.7%), Hindus (0.9%), and Muslims (0.45%).

● ● ● ● ●  Land and Water Features  ● ● ● ● ●  Saint Lucia is oftentimes known as the most mountainous island in the Caribbean region, and for a good reason based on its terrain and number of peaks/hills. Mostly located in the west and southwest, several peaks include Coubaril, Gimie, Gros (Large) Piton and Petit (Small) Piton, Houlemon, Marquis, Morton, Parasol (Umbrella), Rabot, Regnier, Tabac, and Terre Blanche. Situated 5.47 kilometers and 3.4 miles east of the Soufrière town, the tallest of these is Mount Gimie — standing about 3,120 feet and over 950 meters in elevation. Saint Lucia features over 30 rivers and streams, which mostly commence in the central, mountainous uplands and radiate towards most sides of the coastline.

Almost exactly in the center of Saint Lucia, the Roseau Reservoir is the largest lake and sits south of the John Compton hydroelectric dam. Saint Lucia has one of the most rugged coastlines of all islands in the Caribbean Sea. This leaves room for dozens of protective harbors, bays, and coves which are typically suitable for recreational boats. Prominent examples include Anse Chapeau, Anse Chastanet, Anse Cochon, Anse Ger, Anse Patience, L’Anse la Raye, Anse des Sables, Anse Violon, Black Bay, Canaries Bay, Chaloupe Bay, Choc Bay, Choiseul Bay, Dennery Bay, Epouge Bay, Fond Bay, Fond d’Or, Grand Anse, Grande Cul de Sac Bay, Laborie Bay, Louvet Bay, Marigot Bay, Marquis Bay, Pitons Bay, Praslin Bay, Rodney Bay, Roseau Bay, Savannes Bay, Soufrière Bay, Troumassée Bay, and Vieux Fort Bay. Finally, access this post (↗) for comprehensive information about rivers and streams throughout the country.

This post was comprehensively updated with more info on July 14th, 2017.

Samoa

Situated in the South Pacific Ocean and west of the International Date Line, SAMOA is an island country in the western region of the Samoan Islands. American Samoa, which is mentioned briefly at the bottom, occupies the eastern part. Formerly known as Western Samoa (Samoa i Sisifo), Samoa is officially known as the Independent State of Samoa. Samoa is east of Wallis and Futuna, south of Tokelau, and north of Tonga. The unitary parliamentary republic achieved independence from New Zealand on Monday, January 1st, 1962.

● ● ● ● ●  People and Places  ● ● ● ● ●  Samoa's population is approximately 190,000 as of 2016. About 96% of all Samoans are Christians — especially Roman Catholic — followed by worshippers of the Bahá'í Faith, Buddhism, and Chinese Universism. Samoa's official languages are Samoan (a Polynesian language) and English, while the literacy rate is over 97%. Most citizens are ethnic Samoans, while most others are Euronesians (Polynesian and European mix) or have European ancestry. The Samoan people are said to be easygoing and happy and may celebrate minor and major occasions with bountiful feasts featuring local recipes. Samoa's capital is Apia (Āpia), which has over 37,000 residents. Other communities include Asau, Sala'ilua, and Satupaitea on Savai'i island and Falelatie, Matautu, Solosolo, and Ti'avea on Upolu island. Samoan people's currency is the Samoan Tala (WS$), and its ISO 4217 currency code is WST.

● ● ● ● ●  Land and Water Features  ● ● ● ● ●  Samoa is comprised of several small islands and two larger main islands: Savai'i to the west and Upolu to the east. Both main islands have a tall peak near the center. Designated as the largest shield volcano in the South Pacific islands, Mount Silisili stands at 1,858 meters (6096 feet) in elevation on Savai'i, while Mount Fito stands 1,113 meters (3652 feet) on Upolu. Savai'i features other volcanoes — including Mata o le Afi ("eye of the fire"), Mauga (Mount) Afi, and Mauga Matavanu — which have not erupted in at least one century. Regardless, volcanic eruptions are always possibilities, and therefore residents and the government ideally would maintain emergency plans to prepare. Rising sea levels, their associated flooding, tsunamis, and earthquakes are other possible concerns in Samoa. Apolima Strait diagonally separates Savai'i and Upolu from the southwest and northeast direction, and it contains several islands including Apolima, Manono, and Nu'ulopa.

Meanwhile, American Samoa is an unincorporated territory belonging to the United States. The main island is Tutuila, and American Samoa's capital is Pago Pago. American Samoa shares the same official languages with Samoa. Samoans use the United States Dollar.

New Zealand

NEW ZEALAND is an Oceanic country achieving full independence on November 25th, 1947 with the signing of the Statute of Westminster Adoption Act and New Zealand Constitution Amendment Act.* Before that monumental year, New Zealand became a Dominion of the United Kingdom on September 26th, 1907. New Zealand is known for its endemic Kiwi bird species, serving as a national symbol. The island country is about 2,000 kilometers east-southeast of Australia, 2,000 km south of Fiji, and is known as Aotearoa by its native Māori people.

● ● ● ● ●  People and Places  ● ● ● ● ●  Citizens are typically referred to as New Zealanders or Kiwis. New Zealand's capital is Wellington, and Auckland was the former capital until 1865. Other cities include Auckland, Christchurch, Hamilton, Invercargill, New Plymouth, Queenstown, and Rotorua. The official languages are English and Maori. Other widely communicated native and immigrant languages include Afrikaans, Arabic, Fijian, French, German, Gujarati, Hindi, Japanese, Korean, Mandarin Chinese, Niue, Pitcairn-Norfolk (Pitcairn English), Pukapuka, Rakahanga-Manihiki, Rarotongan, Samoan, Spanish, Tagalog, Tokelauan, Tongan, and Yue Chinese. Native and indigenous groups on mainland New Zealand are the Maori people, comprised of dozens of tribes (iwi). The currency New Zealanders use is the New Zealand Dollar, and its ISO 4217 currency code is NZD.

● ● ● ● ●  Land and Water Features  ● ● ● ● ●  North Island and South Island are New Zealand's two main islands, and smaller islands include Chatham, D'Urville, Stewart, and Great Barrier. The South Pacific Ocean surrounds New Zealand, while the Tasman Sea separates the country from Australia. Also known as Mount Cook, Aoraki towers 3,724 meters and 12,218 feet tall and boasts the designation of highest mountain in New Zealand. The former reading was 3,754 meters and 12,316 feet until 1991, when rock and ice collapsed and started the process an abundance of erosion.

The Cook Islands, Niue, and Tokelau are New Zealand's island territories. They are located more than 1,000 miles northeast of New Zealand. The Cook Islands are comprised of two north and south island groupings; its capital is Avarua. Known for its collectible commemorative coins, Niue is an island surrounded by reefs. Its capital — located on the western coast — is Alofi, and other Niuean communities include Avatele, Hakupu, Huihui (Niue International Airport's location), Mutalau, Tamakautoga, Tuapa, and Vaiea. Tokelau is a capital-less territory that has three atolls; Atafu and Nukunonu are major communities.

The map was added to this post on June 26th, 2013.

* More details of New Zealand's various "independence days" can be found on this New Zealand Parliament page.

Kiribati

Officially known as the Republic of Kiribati in English and Ribaberiki Kiribati in the Gilbertese language, KIRIBATI is a huge region and country in the Pacific Ocean. This country achieved independence from the United Kingdom on Thursday, July 12th, 1979. Kiribati is north of Tuvalu and Tokelau and east of Nauru. The capital is Tarawa (South Tarawa), a coral atoll in the Gilbert Islands located in western Kiribati. National government headquarters are located in the community of Bairiki. The official languages of Kiribati are English and Gilbertese. The people of Kiribati use two currencies for monetary transactions: the Kiribati Dollar (KID) and the Australian Dollar (AUD). The map of Kiribati was uploaded to this post on October 23rd, 2016.