| "> | | | | Did you know- The nation is home to up to 200,000 |
| Chad -The Babel Tower of the world! | | | | Sudanese refugees. |
| Cultural Diversity | | | | Independence |
| Did you know- Chad -it is about the size of Spain, | | | | Did you know- The African country of Chad |
| France and Kansas combined-- is famous in the world | | | | proclaimed its independence from France on August |
| as the home to up to 200 ethnic groups. Few | | | | 11, 1960. For this reason, it, after a 60-year French |
| countries have so many ethnic groups like this | | | | occupation, became one of Africa's first independent |
| unknown African republic. For this reason, over 100 | | | | countries in the latter part of the 20th century. |
| languages spoken across the nation. | | | | Notable Persons |
| Geography | | | | Did you know- Despite being one of the world's ten |
| Did you know- The total area of Chad - more than | | | | poorest countries, Chad is home to some notable |
| twice the size of Texas -- is 496,000 square miles ( | | | | persons: Francois Tombalbaye (who led his nation to |
| 1, 284,000 square km). This French-speaking nation is | | | | independence from France), Mahamat Saleh Haroun |
| the 21st-largest country on Earth, ahead of a host of | | | | (film maker, who won a Grand Special Jury Prize for |
| nations such as Germany, Finland, Japan and the | | | | "Abouma"), Joseph Brahim (author), Celia Faussart |
| United Kingdom. There are mountains, deserts (over | | | | (singer), Baba Moustapha (author), Tassoum Doval |
| 70% of the country's territory), savannas and | | | | (economist), Kaltouma Nadjna (finished 5th in the |
| rainforests. In the meantime, most of Chad has a | | | | women's 400m at the IAAF World Championships in |
| tropical climate. It is located in central North Africa. | | | | 2001), Helene Faussart (performer), and Japhnes |
| Like Bolivia (South America), Switzerland (Europe), | | | | N'doram (one of the Continent's top six soccer |
| and Afghanistan (Asia), the Republic of Chad is a | | | | players in 1996). |
| landlocked country in the world. It is bordered by | | | | Economics |
| Libya (an Arab nation) to the north, Niger (a | | | | Did you know- Economic growth between 1994 and |
| French-speaking republic), Nigeria (an English-speaking | | | | 2004 was 7,o%, one of the world's best performers. |
| republic) and Cameroon (a French/English speaking | | | | N'Djamena |
| republic) to the west, the Central African Republic | | | | Did you know- N'Djamena - formerly Fort Lamy-- is |
| (once a colony of France) to the south, and Sudan | | | | Chad's capital and largest city. It lies in the south of |
| (an Islamic republic) to the east. Curiously, it is | | | | the nation. |
| surrounded by three oil-rich countries (Libya, Sudan | | | | Symbols of Chad |
| and Nigeria) and two poorest nations (among the | | | | Did you know- The nation's flag has vertical stripes |
| world's five poorest countries: Niger and the Central | | | | of blue, yellow and red, the traditional colors. |
| African Republic). Furthermore, this land is one of the | | | | United Nations |
| most sparsely populated nations on the continent of | | | | Did you know...On September 20, 1960, the Republic |
| Africa, along with Namibia, Mauritania, Botswana, and | | | | of Chad became one of the members of the United |
| Libya. | | | | Nations in New York City, USA, alongside African |
| National Idols | | | | states like Dahomey (now Benin), Ghana, and Gabon, |
| Did you know- The country has never competed in | | | | as well as Upper Volta (Burkina Faso since August |
| the FIFA World Championships, but Chad's idol | | | | 1984) and the Central African Republic (ex |
| Japhnes N'doram was one of the Continent's most | | | | Ubangi-Shari). Furthermore, it belongs to the |
| popular soccer players in the mid-1990s. During that | | | | Organization of Unity Africa (OUA), the Bank of |
| time, he was the toast of his nation. | | | | Central African States, and the Non-Aligned |
| Lake Chad | | | | Movement (NAM). |
| Did you know- The republic is home to one of the | | | | Chad & U.S.A |
| most beautiful natural wonders of the world: the | | | | Did you know- This French-speaking nation has |
| Lake Chad (6,875 square miles /17,806 square | | | | maintained cordial diplomatic relations with the United |
| kilometers). This African wonder is the world's | | | | States of America. Since the beginning of the |
| 17th-largest lake. Curiously, it is about the size of the | | | | post-colonial era, Washington has provided it with |
| American State of Hawaii. Since the 2000s it is the | | | | millions of dollars in humanitarian aid. In the meantime, |
| nation's greatest tourist attraction. Today several | | | | in the last years, America has become one of the |
| visitors, most of them French citizens, came to | | | | country's largest investors. |
| Africa's natural wonder. Tourism had declined sharply | | | | Famous visitors |
| since 1975 due to civil war. | | | | Did you know-By early 1990,Pope John Paul II, |
| People | | | | spiritual leader of the world's millions of Catholics, |
| Did you know- The republic has about 10 million | | | | visited the country. |
| people. Up to 80 percent of them live in rural areas. | | | | African Games |
| The majority of African people live in the south. The | | | | Did you know- Against all odds, the modern country |
| Sara make up Chad's largest ethnic group, followed | | | | of Chad made its first African Games appearance in |
| by the Arabs, and other groups. French and Arabic | | | | Congo-Brazzaville in July 1965, where won three |
| are the official languages of Chad. | | | | bronze medals, ahead of Gabon, Ethiopia and Zaire |
| Solidarity | | | | (present-day the Democratic Republic of the Congo). |