Land of Pleasant Surprises!

FIFA World Cup
Did you know- Despite its difficult history – the country’s sports system is one of the worst on Earth– Togo, led by the direction of Otto Pfister, became one of the 32 squads in the FIFA World Cup in 2006, ahead of Norway, Peru, the People’s Republic of China and 120 other countries and dependencies. At the global tournament in Germany, Togo – among the sub-Saharan Africa’s poorest states — was one of the 13 best teams of the world’s developing countries. From the latter part of the 20th century, soccer is the national sport in the African country. Behind soccer, athletics and boxing are the most popular sports.

Geography
Did you know- Geographically, the modern republic of Togo is one of the smallest countries on Earth. It covers about 21, 900 square miles (56,785 square kilometers). Togo is a nation located along the coast of the Gulf of Guinea (south of West Africa) and is surrounded by Burkina Faso (once called Upper Volta) to the north, Benin (formerly Dahomey ) to the east, and Ghana (ex Gold Coast) to the west. In addition, it is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the south, where there are many lagoons and tropical beaches. Much of the country is covered by hills, mountains and thick forests. On the other hand, there are at least four rivers: the Haho, the Mono (navigable/ the nation’s largest river), the Kara and the Oti. Like its neighbors, it has a tropical climate. Mount Agou ( 3,940 ft /1,200 m) is the highest point in the country. This French-speaking republic has more than 7,500 kilometers of modern highways. Finally, most of the population is concentrated on the coast.

Lome
Did you know- Lome, the modern capital of the African nation, is located on the Togo coast. In addition to the capital city, other important cities are: Sokode, Kpalim?, Atakpame, and Bassari.

Local Idols
Did you know- Benjamin Kudjow Thomas Boukpeti, who holds dual Togolese-French citizenship, is considered the greatest athlete in the country. Why? He became a national symbol when, against all odds, won a bronze medal in the k-1 slalom kayak event at the Games of the XXIX Olympiad in the People’s Republic of China. Togo’s athlete Boukpeti returned home to a hero’s welcome. Mr Boukpeti was born on August 4, 1981 in Lagny-sur-Mame, France.

Eco-tourism
Did you know- 17 percent of Togo has lush forests. For this reason, this tiny country is a paradise for eco-tourism in West Africa. Distinguished wildlife sanctuaries in Togo include the Keran National Park and the Fazao & Malkasa Nature Reserve, home to much of the country’s rich biodiversity. Without a doubt, the nation’s game sanctuaries and national parks are unique. The park provides an ideal place for crocodiles, monkeys, lions, hyenas, and other wild animals and seabirds. Exotic birds that live in the country include sparrows, drongos and grebes. Meanwhile, the Akloa waterfalls are considered among the wonders of the country.

Diplomatic Relations
Did you know- Togo has maintained good ties with Paris for more than four decades, and share many cooperation programs. On the other hand, almost all African countries have diplomatic relations with Togo.

Anti-apartheid Leader
Did you know- During Cold War, this black republic strongly opposed apartheid in South Africa. Because of this, the 1976 Montreal Olympics was boycotted by Togo, along with several black-ruled nations, such as Zaire (now the DR of the Congo) and Upper Volta (now Burkina Faso).

United Nations
Did you know- At the time of independence in the early 1960s, Togo became a member of the United Nations.

Economics
Did you know- Cotton is the main export. Other important exports are coffee and phosphates.

Group Ethnic
Did you know- This French-speaking nation is a multiracial society of more than 30 ethnic groups, all united under the national red, green and yellow flag. The nation is free from tribal rivalries since 1960.

Modern History
Did you know- From the latter part of the 20th century, the tiny nation of Togo is the sixth black-governed republic in the world, after Haiti (1804), Liberia (1847), Ethiopia ( 1896), Sudan (1956) and Guinea (1958).

About the Author:
Alejandro Guevara Onofre: Freelance writer. Alejandro is author of a host of articles/essays about over 220 countries and dependencies (and American States as well), from ecology, history, tourism and national heroes to Olympic sports, foreign relations, and wildlife. In addition, he has published some books on women’s rights, among them “History of the Women in America” and “Famous Americans”.