Zambia is a small country in the southern middle region of a very large continent named Africa. Zambia is one of the few democracies in Africa. They are a third world country, but one of the most stable countries in Africa. Zambia is a horseshoe shaped country that is broken up into the northern province, eastern province, western province, an southern province.
The eastern province is at the center of the horseshoe. In the eastern province is the capital city of Zambia: Lusaka. This is also the largest city in Zambia. With a population of about one point five million, it is much smaller than our home city of Phoenix. Lusaka is a financially stable city with a lot of the new world's technology and mind set. Lusaka is not known for tourism, but Zambia does have one of the world's most amazing wonders of the world.
About a six hour drive down to the southern province is a small city named Livingstone. The city of Livingstone is named after the world famous traveler and explore David Livingstone. David Livingstone is the most famous explorer in Africa. From England, Livingstone was charting out new ground for his country. He walked from the eastern coast and the Indian Ocean all through Africa to the west coast and the Atlantic Ocean. On this journey, David Livingstone founded the city of Livingstone and discovered one of the world's most astonishing marvels.
On one of his explorations, David Livingstone discovered the
beautifully powerful Victoria Falls. He named them after Queen Victoria
who was Queen of England at that time in history. In the native language
of Tonga, they refer to the falls as Mosi-oa-Tunya which means the
smoke that thunders. Before you can even visibly see the falls, you can
see a cloud of mist that seems to just rise from the ground.
Mosi-oa-Tunya rises over 300 feet from the bottom river (the Zambezi) and stretches over a mile and a half wide. After the initial sight of the falls from an ariel view, you can see the river winding in and out like a snake. For miles it winds around and has level six rapids which are the highest level and most dangerous rapids in the world. This all makes Mosi-oa-Tunya one of the seven natural wonders of the world.
Zambia, a third world African nation that is covered in
poverty much like every other African country, is dirty like everywhere else,
and is even smelly like every other country. But Zambia is different,
Lusaka is different, Livingstone is different, and Mosi-oa-Tunya is like no
other. This, this place, is my home and there will always be a piece of
me still here. Mosi-oa-Tunya, Livingstone, southern province, Zambia,
Africa, Southern Hemisphere, Earth, the Milkyway galaxy, the Universe, the Mind
of God.
~ Jaden Jenkins, class of 2013
[Photos c/o Eric McArthur]
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