I have learned some about this East African country in the last couple of years, but am still learning and want to continue learning.
I thought some of you might be interested in perusing some facts as well. So, with the help of Google and Wikipedia, here is a small "buffet" of information.
- I was excited to learn that Uganda is similar in size to Oregon - my home state! It is 91, 136 square miles. (By the way, Oregon is 98,466 square miles.)
- Uganda ranks as the 11th largest country in Africa in terms of population and 38th among the world's countries. In 2007 Uganda's population was estimated at 30,900,000.
- Uganda was once a protectorate of the United Kingdom, so yes, they do drive on the left, drink black tea and call cookies "biscuits" and flashlights "torches." :)
- Uganda is bordered by five other countries - Sudan, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
- Uganda is on the East Africa Plateau and the elevation averages 3,250 feet above sea level. (Oregon's average elevation is 3,300 feet.)
- Forty-five percent of Lake Victoria is considered to be in Uganda. The lake is also in Kenya and Tanzania.
- Lake Victoria is the largest tropical lake in the world and the earth's third largest lake. Its surface area is 26,600 square miles.
- Lake Victoria is the source of the Nile River - the world's longest river. (I had the opportunity to visit "the Source" - the spot where the lake flows into the river - pretty cool!)
- There are approximately 3000 islands on the lake, including Lingira Island where I stayed.
Okay, so I don't want to overwhelm you with facts in this one post, but to give you a bit of an intro to this fascinating country. I plan to share more about Uganda in coming posts, including some about its history and hardships and the people.
By the way, check out the slideshow to the upper left of photos from my first trip to Uganda. I will be adding more pictures in the future. Enjoy!
Oh, and don't forget to take the poll, too!
Very interesting! I was especially surprised by the fact that it has some of the idiosyncrasies of the UK! When they learn English, do they learn it with a British accent, or can you not even tell through the thick African accent? (-;
ReplyDeleteHi Lauren,
ReplyDeleteI found it quite interesting as well to witness the British influence - it wasn't quite what I was expecting in an African country. : )
When the Africans speak English, they do have a thick African accent (it took me a bit to get used to), but I usually couldn't pick up any British accent. There was an exception once, however, when I was listening to a preacher and he definitely had a British accent, but that was because he had spent some time in England.
Thanks for commenting. : )