I was spending time with a friend the other day, and he was playing a game called Seterra. By definition, it’s a video game, but I think it’s important to recognize its value and shouldn’t be categorized with things like Fortnite or Minecraft.
The function of the game is to quickly and accurately match the names of all 193 countries that are a part of the United Nations with their corresponding shape. I’m rather embarrassed that I didn’t know how many countries there are, or that I still don’t know half of their names, but as of the other day, I know one more and I would like to share.
It is called Lesotho. Lesotho is both located in South Africa, while also being literally inside of South Africa. Surrounded on all sides by her neighboring country, Lesotho relies heavily on the economy and the protection of South Africa and chooses to trade primarily with just them. Out of their 2 million citizens, 40% are considered impoverished by the standardized definition, but in reality, a large percentage of the country retains past traditions and lifestyles and have chosen to rely on trade and cooperation between small towns. This distorts the UN’s poverty figures and creates a false pretense that the country is very poor. Due to their location, they are one of the few countries in Africa that regularly expects snow, and even with their tiny size, Lesotho has an extremely diverse landscape that includes mountains and spectacular canyons.
Lesotho is just one example of the amazing wonders and awe inspiring locations that are hidden, spread throughout the world, and I am excited to find more.
