Gabon

Gabon - officially the Gabonese Republic, is a country on the Atlantic coast of Central Africa, on the equator, bordered by Equatorial Guinea to the northwest, Cameroon to the north, the Republic of the Congo to the east and south, and the Gulf of Guinea to the west. It has an area of 270,000 square kilometres (100,000 sq mi) and a population of 2.3 million people. There are coastal plains, mountains (the Crystal Mountains and the Chaillu Massif in the centre), and a savanna in the east. Libreville is the country's capital and largest city.

Did you know that:
1. The region was initially inhabited by the Pygmy peoples later the people of the Bantu tribes immigrated to the place.
2. The climate of Gabon is mostly hot and humid owing to the fact that it lies right on the equator.
3. Libreville, which means free town, is the capital of Gabon and was founded in 1849 by freed slaves. It however was not declared the capital of Gabon till 1993.
4. Gabon has rich reserves of manganese, iron, petroleum and timber.
5. Almost 80-85% of Gabon is covered by rainforests, 11% of which has been dedicated for national parks making these parks some of the largest nature parks in the world.
6. The rainforests of Gabon are home to 777 species of birds.
7. Ogooué is the largest lake in Gabon and stretches over a distance of 1200 km.
8. The entire country of Gabon is just slightly smaller than the state of Colorado in the United States.

Guinea

Guinea is a country in West Africa. Formerly known as French Guinea, it is today sometimes called Guinea-Conakry to distinguish it from its neighbour Guinea-Bissau and the Republic of Equatorial Guinea. It has a population of 10,057,975 and an area of 246,000 square kilometres. Forming a crescent as it curves from its western border on the Atlantic Ocean toward the east and the south, it shares its northern border with Guinea-Bissau, Senegal, and Mali, and its southern border with Sierra Leone, Liberia, and Côte d'Ivoire.

Did you know that:
1. The official language is French though many ethnic groups such as the Fula, Mandingo and Susu speak their own native languages.
2. Guinea boasts of spectacular landscape with lush and verdant rainforests and plenty of wildlife in the south. The waterfall-rich Fouta Djalon Plateau in the west has breathtaking scenery.
3. Conakry is the capital city of Guinea.
4. The natural resources include major mineral deposits, hydroelectric power resources and rich agricultural potential. Guinea is the world’s second-largest bauxite producing nation.
5. The literacy rate of Guinea is very low. Guinea has a rich musical tradition like other West African countries.

Benin

Benin is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Togo to the west, by Nigeria to the east and by Burkina Faso and Niger to the north. A majority of the population live on its small southern coastline on the Bight of Benin. Benin covers an area of approximately 110,000 square kilometers with a population of approximately 9.05 million.

Did you know that:
1. In terms of geographical area, Benin is smaller than the state of Pennsylvania.
2. The city of Cotonou in Benin enjoys the distinction of being the largest city in the country.
3. The city of Ouidah in Benin, spelt Whydah in history books written in English, is also known as the ‘Museum City’ because of its rich colonial history. Whydah was once the stronghold of the British, French, and Danish.
4. Porto-Novo, the capital city of Benin, is also known as the ‘City with three names’. This is basically because the city, apart from being known as Porto-Novo, is also known as Adjatche and Hogbonou.

Afghanistan

Afghanistan officially the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central and South Asia. It is bordered by Pakistan to the east and south, Iran to the west, Turkmenistan to the northwest, Uzbekistan to the north, Tajikistan to the northeast, and China to the northeast and east. Occupying 652,864 square kilometers (252,072 sq mi) of land, the country is predominantly mountainous with plains in the north and the southwest, which are separated by the Hindu Kush mountain range. Kabul is the country's capital and largest city. 

Did you know that:
1. Afghanistan has changed its national flag over 20 times (with some sources citing up to 30 variations) in roughly 100 years since gaining independence in 1919. 
2. Many Afghans, particularly those born during decades of conflict, use January 1st as a default, "de facto" birthday on official documents like passports, visas, and digital accounts. This practice stems from a lack of recorded, standardized birth dates in the Afghan calendar and the need for a convenient date to fill in forms.
3. Arabic is not the official language in Afghanistan.The official languages are Pashto and Dari (Afghan Persian. While Arabic is not a native or widely spoken language in the country, it is used for religious purposes and is a minority language spoken by a small percentage of the population.
4. In Afghanistan, Afghan refers to the people, and Afghani (AFN) is the currency.
5. Buzkashi, which translates to "goat grabbing," is the traditional national sport of Afghanistan. It is a rugged, ancient equestrian game where horse-mounted players, known as chapandaz, compete to grab a headless goat or calf carcass and carry it to a designated scoring circle.
6. The term “Afghan” is derived from the word “Asvakan,” meaning “horsemen” or “horse breeders.”
7. Scientists have confirmed that the world's oldest oil paintings, dating to the mid-7th century AD, were discovered in the caves behind the destroyed Bamiyan Buddha statues in Afghanistan. These murals, featuring intricate scenes and mythical figures, predate the widespread use of oil paint in Europe by centuries.
8. Afghans celebrate their new year, Nowruz (meaning "New Day"), on 21 March, the first day of spring.
9. Afghanistan is a critical, though threatened, home to the endangered snow leopard (Panthera uncia). These elusive cats, often called "ghosts of the mountains," inhabit the high, rugged mountain landscapes of northeastern Afghanistan, particularly in the remote Wakhan Corridor and parts of the Hindu Kush range.

Solomon Islands

Solomon Islands is a sovereign country consisting of six major islands and over 900 smaller islands in Oceania lying to the east of Papua New Guinea and northwest of Vanuatu.

Did you know that:
1. Solomon Islands were named after King Solomon de Mendana, the nephew of the Governor
of Peru.
2. The official language is English though Melanesian pidgin and 120 indigenous languages
are also spoken.
3. There are only two seasons in Solomon Islands: dry and raining. The rainy season is from November to April.
4. The world’s largest salt water lagoon is Marovo Lagoon and is situated in New Georgia,
Solomon Islands.
5. The world’s largest raised coral atoll is East Rennell in the Solomon Islands.
6. When people from Solomon Islands raise their eyebrows in answer to a question it means yes.

Saint Helena

Saint Helena is a volcanic tropical island in the South Atlantic Ocean, 4,000 km east of Rio de Janeiro and 1,950 km west of the Cunene River, which marks the border between Namibia and Angola in southwestern Africa. It is part of the British Overseas Territory of Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha.

Did you know that:
1. It was named after Saint Helena of Constantinople, the consort of Roman emperor Constantius Chlorus and mother of Constantine the Great.
2. Saint Helena has only one newspaper, one radio station and one internet service provider.
3. It is now Britain’s second oldest remaining Overseas Territory, after Bermuda.
4. It is the only place on earth where the mating of whale sharks has been seen by humans.
5. The British used Saint Helena as a prison for both Napoleon and some 5,000 Boer War captives.

French Guiana

French Guiana is an overseas department and region of France, located on the north Atlantic coast of South America in the Guyanas. It borders Brazil to the east and south, and Suriname to the west. By land area, it is the second largest region of France and the largest outermost region within the European Union.

Did you know that:
1. Cayenne pepper is named after Cayenne, the capital of French Guiana.
2. French Guiana has numerous coastal beaches that are popular nesting sites for turtles. The Leatherback turtle in particular is very fond of this region’s shoreline. It is one of the largest nesting sites for this turtle anywhere in the world.
3. French Guiana was the location of penal settlements from the middle of the nineteenth century until the middle of the twentieth century.
4. The European Space Centre is located at Kourou in French Guiana.