Trivia in Somalia

National symbols

Flag: A light blue flag with a white five-pointed star in the center. The light blue represents the sky and sea, and the star symbolizes the unity of five Somali-inhabited regions that were once divided.

Emblem: A national emblem featuring a shield with a white star on blue ground supported by two golden leopards, with crossed spears and olive-palm branches at the base.

Trivia & facts

• Somalia is said to have the world's largest camel population.
• With approximately 3,300 km of coastline, it has one of the longest in Africa.
• The local word "Somali" may mean "those who go seeking milk".
• Impromptu poetry competitions are a national pastime, earning Somalia the title 'Nation of Poets'.
• Most banknotes are counterfeit, and US dollar transactions dominate urban areas.
• Frankincense and myrrh have been traded continuously since ancient times as signature products.
• Mogadishu's old town contains a mosque built in the 13th century.
• Camel milk is rich in vitamin C and a breakfast staple.
• Somalia has some of the lowest internet rates in East Africa.
• The leopards on the national emblem represent the African leopards inhabiting the country.