Johannesburg, South Africa

Johannesburg skyline, South Africa
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Johannesburg_from_Braamfontein_12-09.jpg
Author: austinevan


Johannesburg is the biggest city in South Africa. It covers 1,644 sq km (635 sq mi) and has a population of 3.9 million people, within a metropolitan area of 6.3 million people. Johannesburg is located at an elevation of 1,753 m (5,751 ft). It observes the South Africa Standard Time, which is two hours ahead of Coordinated Universal Time (UTC+2). The phone area code for Johannesburg is 011.

Johannesburg is located in the northern part of South Africa. It is close to the gold and diamond mining areas of Witwatersrand, making it the center for the gold and diamond trade of the country.

Hillbrow Tower, Johannesburg
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:South_Africa-Johannesburg-Hillbrow001.jpg
Author: NJR ZA


Within Johannesburg today is the city of Soweto, which was between the late 1970's and the 1990's a separate city. Soweto was a disparate collection of settlements housing mostly native African workers of the gold mines. Its name Soweto means "south-west townships", in reference to its geographical location from Johannesburg.

Johannesburg experiences a subtropical highland climate. January is the warmest month in the city, with the average high temperature reaching 25.6°C (78.1°F). June and July are the coldest month, when the average low temperature may drop to 4.1°C (39.4°F), with the occasional freezing temperature at night. The city is relatively dry. The wettest months are January and November, when it receives 125 mm and 117 mm of precipitation respectively.

Johannesburg Botanical Garden
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:South-Africa_Johannesburg_Botanical_Garden-005.jpg
Author: NJR ZA


Johannesburg began as one of the settlements established by the gold rush of the 19th century. Mineral wealth from gold and diamond mining fueled the growth of the city, attracting settlers from around the country as well as from North America, Britain and other parts of Europe. In the 1950's onwards, the apartheid government created the township of Soweto to segregate the population. Even as it grew to become the largest city in South Africa, Johannesburg has to cope with rising crime.

Visiting Johannesburg

The OR Tambo International Airport (JNB), formerly called the Johannesburg International Airport, is the busiest airport in South Africa. It receives flights from major cities all over the world. It was renamed in 2006 in memory of Oliver Reginald Tambo, an anti-apartheid politican from the African National Congress.

Due to the perceived high crime rate in Johannesburg, foreign visitors should only take metered and fixed fare airport taxis. Taxis however are not common in the city. If you are planning to stay for a while, it may be advisable to rent a car.

Mandela Family Museum, Soweto, Johannesburg
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Mandela_museum_soweto.jpg
Author: Moongateclimber

Places of Interest in Johannesburg

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