15 Facts About Johannesburg: A Young Yet Historic African Metropolis
Johannesburg, established over 120 years ago during the gold rush on October 4, 1886, is one of the world's most youthful major cities. This is one of the fascinating facts about Johannesburg. Its size is only surpassed by Cairo, Egypt, making Johannesburg the second-largest city in Africa.
One of the notable facts about Johannesburg is its landmark, the Chris Hani-Baragwanath Hospital, the world's largest acute hospital. It serves as the sole public hospital for the 3.5 million residents of Soweto, Johannesburg.
Among the interesting facts about Johannesburg is its pride in being the world's largest man-made forest, boasting over 10 million trees. This figure continues to rise with the Greening Soweto project launched in 2006, aiming to plant an additional 200,000 trees in the renowned township.
Another unique fact about Johannesburg is that it's the world's largest city not situated on a coastline, lake, or river. This unique characteristic has earned it the title of the world's biggest 'dry port'.
The city's outskirts house the rich archaeological site known as the Cradle of Humankind. It's no wonder that 40% of the world's human ancestor fossils have been discovered in the Johannesburg area, adding to the list of facts about Johannesburg.
The Hillbrow Tower, standing tall at 269m, is Johannesburg's tallest structure. It once housed a revolving restaurant at its peak, which was closed in 1981 due to safety concerns. Today, it remains a prominent feature of the city's stunning skyline.
The Johannesburg Zoo, located in Parktown, is over a century old and is home to Africa's only two polar bears – Geebee and Wang, who hail from Canada and Japan respectively. This is one of the unique facts about Johannesburg.
Johannesburg's OR Tambo International Airport, named after the renowned former leader of the African National Congress, is Africa's largest and busiest airport. It sees an estimated 28 million passengers passing through its terminals annually.
Despite Johannesburg's reputation as one of the world's most dangerous cities, the police response time to a crime scene in the central business district (CBD) averages just 60 seconds. A comprehensive CCTV system covers every street corner, scanning vehicle license plates.
Interestingly, there's a Johannesburg in California, named by miners who had worked in the gold mines of Johannesburg, South Africa. However, it only has a population of 176 people (as per the 2000 census).
Did you know it takes a minute longer to boil an egg in Johannesburg than in the coastal cities of Cape Town and Durban? This is due to Johannesburg's altitude of 2000m above sea level, resulting in less dense air.
The popular amusement park of Gold Reef City houses the Shaft of Terror, a vertical-drop roller coaster that holds the title of being the tallest and fastest roller coaster in Africa. It features a 47-meter drop and a G force of over 6 Gs!
Johannesburg is the birthplace of Kwaito music, a popular genre of African house music that emerged in the 90s. It's renowned for its catchy lyrics that encapsulate post-apartheid township culture.
While Johannesburg is often referred to as the City of Gold, or 'eGoli' due to its origins as a gold-mining town, locals affectionately call it 'Joburg', or more recently, 'Jozi'. This is one of the endearing facts about Johannesburg.
