Botswana

 **Botswana ** = =  __Male__- 80% __Female__- 82% __Male__- 48 __Female__- 49 Internet hosts- 6,374 Internet users- 80,000
 * Capital:** Gaborone
 * Population:** 1,842,323 (rank-147)
 * Area:** sq. mile: 231,800 (rank-44)
 * GDP per capita:** $12,387
 * Adult literacy rate:**
 * Infant mortality rate:** 87 per 1,000 births
 * Life expectancy:**
 * Currency:** Pula
 * Net migration rate:** 5 migrants/1,000 population
 * Military expenditures:** 3.3% of GDP
 * Illicit drugs:** n/a
 * Internet access:**


 * Flag:**The flag was adopted on September 30, 1966. The black and white stripes were inspired by the zebra, the national animal. The colors symbolize the harmony between black and white citizens. The blue in the flag represents rain, which is a symbol of fertility and prosperity.

The national animal of Botswana is the zebra. English is the official language, but most people speak Setswana. A staple food is porridge made from sorghum, millet, or maize. The primary export of Botswana is diamonds.  Formerly Bechuanaland, Botswana claimed its new name during independence in 1966. Botswana has one of the most dynamic economies in Africa. This country has one of the world's highest known rates of HIV/AIDS infection. On the other hand, Botswana has one of Africa's most progressive and comprehensive programs for dealing with the disease.
 * Interesting Facts:**
 * Background:**

**Population:** The population growth rate is 1.4 percent. Botswana is made up of many different cultures, but they are separated throughout the country. Half of the population are groups descended from Botswana's original Tswana people. The other half is made up of ethnic groups such as the Kalanga, Kgalagade, Birwa and Yei. Less than half of the population lives in rural areas due to people moving to cities for work and education. A majority of the people live it the eastern part of the country. The reason for that is because that is where the railroad is located, soil supports agriculture, and rain falls sufficiently. 



**Economy:**   For the most part,   Bot  sw  <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">an <span style="color: #004dff; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;"> <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">a's economy has remained stable since their independence in 1966. More than three-fourths of their exports are diamonds. In addition <span style="color: #004dff; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;"> <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">, c <span style="color: #004dff; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;"> <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">op <span style="color: #004dff; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;"> <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">per, nickel and beef are some other exports. Botswana's imports include foods, machinery, electrical goods, transport equipment <span style="color: #004dff; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;"> <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">, <span style="color: #004dff; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;"> <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">fuel and petroleum products, wood and paper products, and metal products. Tourism is one of Botswana's more important industry. Some of Botswana's natural resources and industries include salt, soda ash, potash, coal, iron ore and silver. The Agriculture products include livestock, sorghum, maize, millet, beans, sunflowers and groundnuts. Unemployment rates are more high in the <span style="color: #004dff; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;"> <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">younger Botswana, and the total unemployment rate is 7.5%. More than 60 <span style="color: #004dff; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;"> <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">percent of the nation's cattle are owned by less than 10 percent of the nation's population. In other words, a small <span style="color: #004dff; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;"> <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;"> percentage prospers from the economy. <span style="color: #004dff; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;"> <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">**Land and Climate:** <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;"> Botswana covers 231,800 square miles, an area about the same size as France, or the same size as Arizona and New Mexico combined. For the most part, the terrain is flat to gently rolling tableland. In addition, eighty percent of its territory is covered by the Kgalagadi Desert. The desert consists of savanna grasses and shrubs but virtually there is no water. Located in the north of Botswana is the Okavango Delta, the world's largest inland delta. Two-fifths of Botswana's territory is covered by National parks and wildlife management areas. Arable land occupies .65% of the land, permanent crops occupy .01% and other uses occupy 99.34% of the land. Drought cycles in Botswana's climate are common. The summer is from October to April, and Winter takes place from May to August. Throughout summer, temperatures are often above 100 degrees, and during winter the temperatures can be below freezing.<span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">

As president of Botswana, Seretse Khama Ian Khama runs a parliamentary republic government. He is head of state and government. The president is elected to a five-year term by the National Assembly. The Nation Assembly is made up of 63 members. Botswana's voting age is 18. The villages are divided into neighborhoods and each has a headman and a kgotla. A headman is an elder appointed by the village chief, and a kgotla is a meeting place. The women are allowed to express their opinions, although they remain in the back of the kgotla.
 * Government:**

The primary school completion rate is very high in Botswana. In 1987, the abolition of school fees marked the first step in offering schooling to all children. Although, fees were introduced to secondary students in 2006. A priority is to teach young children English before junior secondary school. To qualify for higher education, students must earn the Cambridge Overseas School Certificate and must perform one year of community service. Some institutions of higher education include the University of Botswana, six teacher-training colleges, and an agricultural college. <span style="color: #008000; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">
 * Education:**

<span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">**Religion:** Christianity is accepted as an official religion because of the school day beginning with a prayer. Although, freedom of religion is protected under the constitution. In the early 1800s, missionaries traveling from South Africa introduced Christianity. About half of all Botswana follow aspects of indigneous beliefs, and the other half is Christian. Catholics and Protestants make up about one-fourth of the population. One of the largest churches that combines traditional and Western Christianity beliefs if the Zion Christian Church.

Botswana is located in the southern part of Africa. Its borders include Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe.
 * Location:**

Botswana is a very nice place, and frequently has many tourists. One of its main attractions in the Okavango Delta. Th Okavango Delta is the largest inland delta in the world. With that being said, the delta attracts many tourists. In addition, with the many national parks located on Botswana's land also attract many tourists to the country. On the other hand, there are also many other exciting things to see in the country.
 * Tourists:**

Okavango Delta ^

< map of many National Parks in Botswana


 * Time line:**
 * 1500s-** Tswana groups began to move from southeast to Botswana
 * 1750s-** Ethnic disputes began
 * 1800s-** Wars broke out because of ethnic disputes
 * 1852-** Tswana chiefs began to seek protection through British government
 * 1885-** the Bechuanaland Protectorate was established
 * 1966-** Botswana received its independence- founders Sir Seretse Khama and Sir Ketumile Masire were declared president and vice president
 * 1980-** Khama died, Masire became president
 * 1998-** Masire retired, vice president Mogae took over
 * 2004-** Mogae won second election
 * 2008-** Mogae stepped down to allow Seretse Khama Ian Khama to become president

On September 27, Botswana celebrated the international World Tourism Day with cultural shows, arts and crafts, and a message sent by the Minister of Tourism.
 * Current Event:**

http://online.culturegrams.com/world/world_country.php?contid=1&wmn=Africa&cid=24&cn=Botswana https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/bc.html http://www.uncg.edu/afs/Images/BotswanaMap.gif http://www.travel-wise.com/travel-here/botswana-travel-directory/sights-attractions/events.aspx
 * Works Cited:**