Fun Facts About Chad!

Chad -The Babel Tower of the world!

Cultural Diversity 

Did you know- Chad -it is about the size of Spain, France and Kansas combined-- is famous in the world as the home to up to 200 ethnic groups. Few countries have so many ethnic groups like this unknown African republic. For this reason, over 100 languages spoken across the nation.

Geography 

Did you know- The total area of Chad - more than twice the size of Texas -- is 496,000 square miles ( 1, 284,000 square km). This French-speaking nation is the 21st-largest country on Earth, ahead of a host of nations such as Germany, Finland, Japan and the United Kingdom. There are mountains, deserts (over 70% of the country's territory), savannas and rainforests. In the meantime, most of Chad has a tropical climate. It is located in central North Africa. Like Bolivia (South America), Switzerland (Europe), and Afghanistan (Asia), the Republic of Chad is a landlocked country in the world. It is bordered by Libya (an Arab nation) to the north, Niger (a French-speaking republic), Nigeria (an English-speaking republic) and Cameroon (a French/English speaking republic) to the west, the Central African Republic (once a colony of France) to the south, and Sudan (an Islamic republic) to the east. Curiously, it is surrounded by three oil-rich countries (Libya, Sudan and Nigeria) and two poorest nations (among the world's five poorest countries: Niger and the Central African Republic). Furthermore, this land is one of the most sparsely populated nations on the continent of Africa, along with Namibia, Mauritania, Botswana, and Libya.

National Idols 

Did you know- The country has never competed in the FIFA World Championships, but Chad's idol Japhnes N'doram was one of the Continent's most popular soccer players in the mid-1990s. During that time, he was the toast of his nation.

Lake Chad 

Did you know- The republic is home to one of the most beautiful natural wonders of the world: the Lake Chad (6,875 square miles /17,806 square kilometers). This African wonder is the world's 17th-largest lake. Curiously, it is about the size of the American State of Hawaii. Since the 2000s it is the nation's greatest tourist attraction. Today several visitors, most of them French citizens, came to Africa's natural wonder. Tourism had declined sharply since 1975 due to civil war.

People 

Did you know- The republic has about 10 million people. Up to 80 percent of them live in rural areas. The majority of African people live in the south. The Sara make up Chad's largest ethnic group, followed by the Arabs, and other groups. French and Arabic are the official languages of Chad.

Solidarity 

Did you know- The nation is home to up to 200,000 Sudanese refugees.

Independence 

Did you know- The African country of Chad proclaimed its independence from France on August 11, 1960. For this reason, it, after a 60-year French occupation, became one of Africa's first independent countries in the latter part of the 20th century.

Notable Persons 

Did you know- Despite being one of the world's ten poorest countries, Chad is home to some notable persons: Francois Tombalbaye (who led his nation to independence from France), Mahamat Saleh Haroun (film maker, who won a Grand Special Jury Prize for "Abouma"), Joseph Brahim (author), Celia Faussart (singer), Baba Moustapha (author), Tassoum Doval (economist), Kaltouma Nadjna (finished 5th in the women's 400m at the IAAF World Championships in 2001), Helene Faussart (performer), and Japhnes N'doram (one of the Continent's top six soccer players in 1996).

Economics 

Did you know- Economic growth between 1994 and 2004 was 7,o%, one of the world's best performers.

N'Djamena 

Did you know- N'Djamena - formerly Fort Lamy-- is Chad's capital and largest city. It lies in the south of the nation.

Symbols of Chad 

Did you know- The nation's flag has vertical stripes of blue, yellow and red, the traditional colors.

United Nations 

Did you know...On September 20, 1960, the Republic of Chad became one of the members of the United Nations in New York City, USA, alongside African states like Dahomey (now Benin), Ghana, and Gabon, as well as Upper Volta (Burkina Faso since August 1984) and the Central African Republic (ex Ubangi-Shari). Furthermore, it belongs to the Organization of Unity Africa (OUA), the Bank of Central African States, and the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM).

Chad & U.S.A 

Did you know- This French-speaking nation has maintained cordial diplomatic relations with the United States of America. Since the beginning of the post-colonial era, Washington has provided it with millions of dollars in humanitarian aid. In the meantime, in the last years, America has become one of the country's largest investors.

Famous visitors 

Did you know-By early 1990,Pope John Paul II, spiritual leader of the world's millions of Catholics, visited the country.

African Games 

Did you know- Against all odds, the modern country of Chad made its first African Games appearance in Congo-Brazzaville in July 1965, where won three bronze medals, ahead of Gabon, Ethiopia and Zaire (present-day the Democratic Republic of the Congo).