Tag: africa
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The spot where the Namib Desert meets the Atlantic ocean
Where in the world can you see an infinite beach? Try the Namib Desert in Namibia, where some of the world’s tallest dunes meet the sea. The Namib Desert is the world’s oldest desert, going back at least 55 million years. While devoid of surface water, there are nearly a thousand miles of desert coastline […]
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The African Dung Beetle navigates Earth using the stars
Not sure what’s more amazing about the African dung beetle, one that it rolls immaculate balls out of other animals’ dung or that it navigates from home to manure piles and back via celestial cues. “These clever insects use the polarized light of the moon to navigate in a straight line,” writes Popular Mechanics. “Their […]
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The ‘underwater waterfall’ phenomenon at Mauritius Island
A unique and beautiful ‘underwater waterfall’ illusion lies off the southeast coast of the African continent at Mauritius Island in the Indian Ocean. The precise location of the surreal view rests at the Black River Gorges National Park in Le Morne, on the island’s southwest. UNESCO recognizes the area as a World Heritage site. The spectacular […]
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Gorgeous eyelashes of the Secretary bird
The Secretary bird (Sagittarius serpentarius) is your new favorite bird. Endemic to Africa and the national bird of Sudan, the Secretary bird looks like a combination of an eagle and a crane. Its snake-stomping legs can deliver up to 43 pounds of force. The raptor is also known for its speed, earning the nickname “devil’s […]
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World’s third-largest diamond discovered in Botswana
A unit of De Beers unearthed one of the world’s largest diamonds in Botswana earlier this month. The 1,098-carat diamond is believed to be the third-largest gem-quality stone ever mined. It’s worth a jaw-dropping $100+ million. 80% of the income through sales will be passed on to the state to “be used to advanced national […]
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Marvel at the Giant Groundsels of Mt Kilimanjaro
Giant Groundsels (Dendrosenecio kilimanjari) are prehistoric plants found on top of Mt Kilimanjaro, Tanzania. They evolved about a million years ago in altitudes above 14,000 feet where they learned to harness the ability to survive sub-zero temperatures. They can also grow as high as 30 feet tall. Giant Groundsels are a member of the dandelion […]
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The huge neck of the East African gerenuk
The Gerenuk is an antelope often referred to as a giraffe-necked antelope or “giraffe gazelle.” They are unique-looking creatures due to their huge necks, small heads, and big eyes and ears. In short, they look like a gazelle had a baby with a llama. Amazingly, they can survive their entire life without ever taking a […]
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The beautiful yet feisty Lilac-breasted roller bird, Africa’s most colorful bird
The plumage on the lilac-breasted roller bird is gorgeous. The creature sports eight different colors to give it the impression of a mesmerizing rainbow. Native to sub-Saharan Africa and the national bird of both Botswana and Kenya, the lilac bird is known to perch on treetops by the roadside so it can pounce on rodents […]
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The beauty of Madagascar’s giant Baobab trees
The Grandidier’s Baobabs (Palmate adansonia) are giant trees indigenous to Africa, predominantly on Madagascar’s beautiful island. Baobabs can live up to 800 to 1000 years with their unique ability to act as a water storage tank—the trees can store up to 32 gallons of water in their thick trunks. Both the animals and locals tap […]
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The Great Blue Turaco
The beautiful Great Blue Turaco (Corythaeola cristata) is a bird from West and Central Africa’s tropical forests. The birds weigh up to three pounds and grow up to 30 inches long, about a pheasant’s size. While not the most competent flyers, they are excellent climbers, spending most of their time hanging out in the trees. While the great […]
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Lost and Found: The Somali Elephant Shrew is back!
The Somali Sengi, also known as the Somali Elephant Shrew, is back after a 50-year hiatus. The small insectivorous mammal endemic to Somalia was deemed extinct since the 1970s by the Global Wildlife Conservation’s list of lost species. But scientists recently rediscovered a thriving population of Somali Sengi in Djibouti. “Here we report new evidence […]
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The strange but fabulous Shoebill Stork
The Shoebill Stork is your new favorite bird. Amazingly huge, the Shoebill Stork (Balaeniceps rex) may be one of the most prehistoric dinosaur-looking birds alive (note: the cassowary might be the other). An ambush predator with a height of up to 5 feet, the bird stands for long periods before engaging in a vicious attack on prey. […]