Johannesburg

South Africa · gold mining · mega city · economic hub

Super busy megacity. Johannesburg is South Africa's largest city with nearly 5 million people living in the city itself, and over 15 million in the wider area around it. That makes it one of the 100 biggest cities in the entire world.

Built on gold. The city started because of enormous amounts of gold discovered underground in an area called the Witwatersrand. That's why people call it the City of Gold, and why it became so incredibly wealthy and important.

Africa's money center. Johannesburg is the richest city on the African continent and runs the continent's biggest stock exchange, where people buy and sell company shares. It's basically the economic engine that powers South Africa.

Important for justice. The Constitutional Court, which is South Africa's highest court that decides the most important legal cases, is located in Johannesburg. This makes the city a center of power and decision-making for the whole country.

Cultural melting pot. Johannesburg is known by cool nicknames like Jozi and Joburg, and it's full of art, music, museums, and diverse neighborhoods where people from all over South Africa and the world live together.