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Table of Contents
Johannesburg, informally known as Jozi or Jo’burg, is the largest city in South Africa and is one of the 50 largest urban areas in the world. It is the provincial capital and largest city of Gauteng, the wealthiest province in South Africa. It is located in the mineral-rich Witwatersrand range of hills and is the centre of a large-scale gold and diamond trade.
See the fact file below for more information on the Johannesburg or alternatively, you can download our 20-page Johannesburg worksheet pack to utilise within the classroom or home environment.
Key Facts & Information
BRIEF HISTORY
- The region surrounding Johannesburg was originally inhabited by San hunter-gatherers who used stone tools. There is evidence that they lived there up to ten centuries ago. Stone-walled ruins of Sotho–Tswana towns and villages are scattered around the parts of the former Transvaal in which Johannesburg is situated.
- The main Witwatersrand gold reef was discovered by Jan Gerritse Bantjes in June 1884 on the farm Vogelstruisfontein. This triggered the Witwatersrand Gold Rush and the founding of Johannesburg in 1886.
- The discovery of gold soon attracted people to the area, so it needed a name and governmental organisation.
- Gold was discovered earlier, some 400 kilometres (249 miles) to the east of present-day Johannesburg in Barberton.
- Gold prospectors soon discovered the richer gold reefs of the Witwatersrand offered by Bantjes.
GEOGRAPHY
- Johannesburg is located in the eastern plateau area of South Africa known as the Highveld, at an elevation of 1,753 meters (5,751 ft). The former Central Business District is located on the southern side of the prominent ridge called the Witwatersrand and the terrain falls to the north and south.
- Johannesburg may not be built on a river or harbour, but its streams contribute to two of southern Africa’s mightiest rivers, the Limpopo and the Orange.
CLIMATE
- Johannesburg is situated on the Highveld plateau and has a subtropical highland climate.
- The city enjoys a sunny climate in the summer months (October to April), followed by afternoon thundershowers and cool evenings, and the winter months (May to September) have dry, sunny days followed by cold nights.
CULTURE
- Johannesburg is a cultural hub in South Africa and has a wide variety of cultural venues, making it a prominent area for many creative and cultural industries.
- Johannesburg is home to the National School of Arts.
- The Johannesburg City Library is located in the Central Business District of Johannesburg.
ECONOMY
- Johannesburg is the economic and financial hub of South Africa, producing 16% of South Africa’s gross domestic product and accounting for 40% of Gauteng’s economic activity.
- In a 2008 survey conducted by MasterCard, Johannesburg ranked 47th in the top 50 cities in the world as worldwide centres of commerce (the only city in Africa to do so).
- Mining was the foundation of the Witwatersrand’s economy, but its importance is gradually declining due to dwindling reserves and service and manufacturing industries have become more significant to the city’s economy.
- Johannesburg has Africa’s largest stock exchange, the JSE, although it has moved out of the central business district.
TOURIST SPOTS
- The Apartheid Museum graphically portrays apartheid through photos, artifacts, newspaper clippings, chilling personal accounts, and film footage. It follows the country through decades of oppression to the birth of democracy.
- Gold Reef City, eight kilometers from the city center, takes tourists back to the gold rush through a series of thrilling theme park rides and historical exhibits. This family-friendly attraction hosts reproductions of buildings and businesses from the era. The park also offers dedicated rides for young children, as well as a petting zoo.
- At the Lion & Safari Park, you can get close to some of Africa’s famous wildlife, less than an hour’s drive from downtown Johannesburg.
- Animal interactions are the highlight here. Tourists can cuddle a lion cub, take the cheetah walk, and hand feed giraffes. Self-guided tours are permitted, but tourists can also join a guided game drive in the park’s vehicles to see lions, cheetahs, zebras, ostriches, wild dogs, hyenas, and various species of antelope.
Johannesburg Worksheets
This is a fantastic bundle which includes everything you need to know about the Johannesburg across 20 in-depth pages. These are ready-to-use Johannesburg worksheets that are perfect for teaching students about the Johannesburg, informally known as Jozi or Jo’burg, which is the largest city in South Africa and is one of the 50 largest urban areas in the world. It is the provincial capital and largest city of Gauteng, the wealthiest province in South Africa. It is located in the mineral-rich Witwatersrand range of hills and is the centre of a large-scale gold and diamond trade.
Complete List Of Included Worksheets
- Johannesburg Facts
- Jo’burg Facts
- Complete Me
- Assemble the Pic
- Joburg Places
- Let’s Eat
- Joburg’s Ride
- Good or Bad?
- Around the World
- Joburg Collage
- Info Update
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Link will appear as Johannesburg Facts & Worksheets: https://kidskonnect.com - KidsKonnect, November 20, 2019
Use With Any Curriculum
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