| start --> | | | | square miles (26,338 square kilometers). This African |
| Mountain Gorillas | | | | nation is completely landlocked, sharing its borders with |
| Did you know...American zoologist Dian Fossey studied | | | | Burundi, Uganda, Tanzania and the Democratic |
| the social organization of the mountain gorillas in | | | | Republic of the Congo (ex Zaire). This |
| Rwanda. This great zoologist is remembered for her | | | | French-Speaking nation is located in the heart of |
| book "Gorillas in the Mist". This book inspired the film of | | | | Africa... |
| the same name directed by Michael Apted. Dian | | | | Independence |
| Fossey once wrote,"I imitated the gorillas' chestbeats | | | | Did you know...The Republic of Rwanda gained full |
| by slapping my hands against my thighs in studious | | | | independence in 1962... |
| mimicry of their rhythm. The sound was an instant | | | | Rwanda & the United States |
| success in gaining the gorillas' attention...I thought I was | | | | Did you know...The United States maintains close |
| very clever but did not realize that I was conveying the | | | | diplomatic relations with Rwanda. President George W. |
| wrong information. Chestbeating is the gorillas' signal | | | | Bush went to Kigali in 2008. He became the second |
| for excitement or alarm, certainly the wrong message | | | | American president to visit Rwanda. In 1998 President |
| for me to have sent as appeasement". It was Dian | | | | Bill Clinton put Rwanda on the map when he arrived in |
| Fossey who awakened the Rwandan consciousness | | | | Kigali... |
| to their rich ecology. | | | | History |
| The Volcanoes National Park, one of the natural | | | | Did you know...Between 1973 and 1990, Rwanda was |
| wonders on Earth, is home to mountain gorilla, a | | | | one of the most peaceful places on the African |
| symbol of Rwanda. This park is the first national park | | | | mainland. During that time, unlike several African |
| in Africa (1925). It is about the size of Saint Louis | | | | republics (e.g. Uganda, Somalia, Chad, Ethiopia), |
| (Missouri,USA).The year 2009 has been declared "the | | | | Rwanda did not have civil wars, famines and coups |
| Year International of the Gorilla" by the United Nations. | | | | d'etat. |
| Tourism | | | | Rwanda was visited by John Paul II in 1990... |
| Did you know... When "Gorillas in the Mist", a film on | | | | Cinematography |
| gorillas in Rwanda (Africa), was released in 1988, | | | | Did you know...In 2005 the movie Hotel Rwanda, based |
| several American tourists visited Rwanda. | | | | on the life of Paul Rusesabagina, was nominated for |
| The Nyungwe Forest National Park, an area the size | | | | three Academy Awards -Best Actor, Best Supporting |
| of Houston (Texas), is one of the best refuges for bird | | | | Actor and Best Original Screenplay. The film "Gorillas in |
| watching in Africa. This Rwandan park, set up in | | | | the Mist", based on Dian Foossey's 1983 book, won an |
| December 2008, is the home to 300 species of birds. It | | | | Oscar Award in 1989... |
| attracts many birds every year because of its | | | | Rwandan Heroes |
| abundant water and food sources. This tropical forest | | | | Did you know...During the Rwandan War (1994-1995) |
| is also home to civets, serval cats, leopards, silver | | | | Paul Rusesabagina saved numerous lives in his hotel. |
| monkeys and other animals... | | | | Today his name is famous in Africa. |
| The Kagera National Park -it is about the size of | | | | Mathias Ntawulikura is the most outstanding athlete in |
| Rhode Island (USA)- is a microcosm of Africa. There | | | | the nation. Mathias finished eight in the 10,000 meters at |
| are many lakes, waterfalls, forests, and numerous | | | | the 1992 Summer Olympics in Atlanta (USA). |
| species of wild animals (elephants, buffalos, lions, topis, | | | | In the early 1990s, Agathe Uwilingiyamana, a former |
| gazelles, impalas, baboons, giraffes, leopards, zebras, | | | | Minister of Education, became Prime Minister of |
| crocodiles and hippos). The natural sanctuary was | | | | Rwanda. She was one of the few ladies to be |
| founded in 1934... | | | | elected Head of Government in Africa. |
| Rwanda is a tiny country but it has one of the most | | | | Population |
| beautiful scenery on the African continent. Certainly its | | | | Did you know...Rwanda has a population of 10 million |
| natural beauty impressed Dian Fossey. In the 1960s | | | | people. |
| and 1970s Rwanda was known as the "Switzerland of | | | | Sports and Recreation |
| Africa"... | | | | Did you know...The Rwandan Olympic Committee sent |
| Geography | | | | 10 athletes to the Olympic Games in 1992. The athletes |
| Did you know...One of the smallest nations on Earth, | | | | competed in two sports: track & field (7) and |
| Rwanda is the size of Vermont, containing 10,200 | | | | cycling (3). Rwanda is an Olympic nation since 1984... |