Rwanda

FACTS FROM THE CIA WORLD FACTBOOK

Location:Central Africa, east of the Democratic Republic of Congo

Area:roughly the size of Maryland

Climate: two rainy seasons and mild in the mountains with possible frost or snow (generally warm in most parts)

Terrain: mostly grassy uplands and hills with mountains in the northwest

Natural Resources: gold, tin ore, tungsten ore, methane, hydropower, fertile land (used for farming)

Natural Hazards: occassional droughts, volcanic mountains in the Virunga mountain range

Population: 10, 186, 063

Median Age: 18.7

People living with HIV/AIDS: 250, 000

Ethnic groups: Hutu (Bantu) 84%, Tutsi (Hamitic) 15%, Twa (Pygmy) 1%

Religions: Roman Catholic 56.5%, Protestant 26%, Adventist 11.1%, Muslim 4.6%, indigenous beliefs 0.1%, none 1.7%

*Rwanda is the most densely populated country in Africa

Old Flag (previous to the genocide)

Meaning of the old Rwandan flag:

Red stripe- symbolized the people

Yellow stripe- symbolized the nation's hope for future development

Green stripe- symbolized peace

"R"- distinguished Rwandan flag from the flag of New Guinea which is identical except for the letter in the middle



Current Flag (after the genocide)

Meaning of the current Rwandan flag:

Blue stripe-symbolizes joy and peace

Yellow stripe-symbolizes Rwanda's mineral wealth and development in the economic field

Green stripe-symbolizes Rwanda's prosperity and natural resources

Sun-radiates 24 rays that symbolize enlightenment

-This flag was accepted in 2001 because the old flag was done away with after the 1994 genocide

Sources: https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/rw.html
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/65/Flag_Rwanda_1962.svg/450px-Flag_Rwanda_1962.svg.png
http://www.mapsofworld.com/rwanda/flag.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_Rwanda