25 Johannesburg Facts: Explore This City In South Africa

South Africa is a fascinating country with plenty of interesting places to visit, including Johannesburg.

This is the largest city in South Africa and is home to 4.4 million people (as per the 2016 census). There are a number of things to see and do in Johannesburg, making it a great destination for tourists and visitors.

Johannesburg is a relatively young city, having been founded in 1886. However, it has a rich history and was an important city center of resistance against Apartheid.

Today, the place is a melting pot of cultures and ethnicities, with over 70% of the population being Black Africans. There are a number of things to see and do in this vibrant city, from exploring its history and culture to shopping and dining.

Climate Of Johannesburg

The climate in Johannesburg is classified as subtropical highland.

Summers are hot with temperatures averaging around 21 C (70 F), while winters are cool with temperatures averaging around 10.7 C (51.3 F).

Precipitation is fairly evenly distributed throughout the year, but most rainfall occurs during the warm period, from October to March.

Boiling an egg in Johannesburg takes one minute longer than in the coastal towns of Cape Town and Durban. This is due to Johannesburg's elevation of 6562 ft (2000 m) above sea level, where the air is less dense.

Tourist Attractions In Johannesburg

Johannesburg is not known for being a tourist destination, yet it is a major transportation hub. A vast number of international visitors to South Africa pass through Johannesburg at least once, resulting in the creation of a number of tourist attractions.

Johannesburg is one of the most recent large cities on the globe.

Within a century, the place has been rebuilt four times: first as a tented camp, then as a village of tin shanties, then as four-story Edwardian brick structures, and last as a modern skyscraper city.

The Apartheid Museum and the Hector Pieterson Museum are two recent additions that focus on history.

Constitution Hill is a living museum that chronicles South Africa's democratic transition.

There is also a sizable tourism business centered on former townships like Soweto and Alexandra.

The Mandela Museum, which is housed in Nelson Mandela's former home, attracts the majority of visitors to Soweto.

The Johannesburg Art Gallery, for example, is one of the city's many art museums.

The Joburg Theater is South Africa's premier live entertainment venue, showcasing world-class theater and local and international theater.

Visitors who want to see wildlife in Johannesburg and its environs have a variety of opportunities. The Johannesburg Zoo is one of the country's largest.

The park is themed around the gold rush that began in 1886 on the Witwatersrand, and the buildings in the park are meant to replicate the same period. It is housed in an old gold mine that was closed in 1971.

On the premises, there is a gold mining museum where visitors may examine a gold-bearing ore vein and watch genuine gold being poured into barrels.

Tourists like shopping in Johannesburg because the city has a diverse range of venues and experiences, from premium shopping complexes like Sandton City, the Mall of South Africa, and Nelson Mandela Square, to marketplaces and flea markets.

The Shaft of Terror is a vertical-drop roller coaster located at Gold Reef City, Africa's most popular amusement park. It is Africa's tallest and fastest roller coaster.

Kwaito music, a catchy kind of African house music that originated in the '90s, was born in Johannesburg.

Economy Of Johannesburg

With a population of over four million people, Johannesburg has become a globally recognized and bustling metropolis. It is a strong commercial center on the African Continent.

Johannesburg employs 12% of the country's workforce and accounts for 16% of South Africa's Gross Domestic Product.

The Cradle of Humankind, located on the outskirts of Johannesburg, is a rich archaeological site.

In the Cradle of Humankind, almost 40% of the world's fossils were discovered. In 1999, it was made a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Johannesburg's architecture is cutting-edge. Some of the continent's highest structures may be found in Johannesburg.

The Carlton Centre, Sentech Tower, Ponte City Apartments, and Hillbrow Tower are among these structures.

Massive, steel-reinforced concrete blocks like Corner House, headquarters of one of the leading mining houses in Southern Africa, reflected the growing importance of American architectural styles, while monumental Beaux-Arts structures like the Supreme Court building and the Johannesburg Art Gallery customized the city's new status as an outpost of the British Empire,

Population And Culture Of Johannesburg

According to the Globalization and World Cities Research Network, the Johannesburg metropolis is an alpha global city.

According to the 2016 census, Johannesburg's population stood at 4.4 million people.

There are around 1.2 million trees within the parks and on the pavements of the city, and about 4.8 million in private gardens throughout the suburbs.

The largest and busiest airport in South Africa is Johannesburg's O.R. Tambo International Airport, which is named after the legendary former leader of the African National Congress. Tambo airport was called Jan Smuts airport.

In California, there is also a place called Johannesburg, albeit with a population of only 176 people (2000 census). It was given that name by miners who worked in Johannesburg's gold mines.

FAQs

Who discovered Johannesburg?

Johannesburg was founded as a settlement in 1886 when an Australian prospector named George Harrison discovered gold in the Witwatersrand.

How was Johannesburg created?

With the discovery of a gold reef on the farm Langlaagte in 1886, it was created as a tiny hamlet governed by a Health Committee.

What type of city is Johannesburg?

Johannesburg is a city in South Africa's Gauteng province. It is the country's most important industrial and financial center.

Why is it called Johannesburg?

The hamlet was named after two Zuid-Afrikaansche Republiek (ZAR) officials who worked in land surveying and mapping, Christiaan Johannes Joubert and Johannes Rissik. The two men united their surnames and added 'burg,' an antique Afrikaans word meaning 'fortified city.'

The name was declared in a hurry as, after the discovery of gold, the flood of gold prospectors had already begun.

Why is Johannesburg called the Gold Capital of the World?

Johannesburg is sometimes called the 'City of Gold' because of its gold mining history. In fact, the city has the world's largest urban gold reserves! It is deemed the Gold Capital of the World due to its gold mines. In fact, gold was first discovered in Johannesburg in 1886, and it quickly became a major economic hub.