Located in the center of the province of Guateng, which is the richest in South Africa , the city of Johannesburg , or as it is abbreviated as local residents of "Joburg" and "Yozi", ranks first in terms of population in South Africa. Being the center of gold trade, which, like diamonds, is mined in the surrounding mountainous terrain, Johannesburg retained a special ethnic spirit of the time when gold miners arrived in this African town, possessed by a gold rush. Johannesburg attracts tourists from all over the world, first of all, because there is a huge number of not only beautiful, but unique places that have preserved the atmosphere of the past.
What are the attractions of Johannesburg worth seeing?
- Gold Reef City ("Gold Reef City");
- the Museum of Apartheid ;
- turbine hall;
- Sterkfontein Cave ;
- tower Telkom.
History and modernity in the sights of Johannesburg
So, the first place that is worth a visit is the Gold Reef City in Johannesburg . The eyes of tourists are not just an amusement park or as it is still called a city museum, but a very plausible reconstruction of Johannesburg in the 19th century. There is this unique place next to the closed gold mines. Having come here, each tourist involuntarily feels himself a witness of the gold rush era, which engulfed the most desperate gold diggers. In the park there are several museums with displays of gold finds. Every day, dance performances are organized here, which only strengthen the overall effect. In Gold Reef City there are many cafes and playgrounds. You can get here by taxi, coming out at a stop near the museum of apartheid - 55V. If tourists travel by car, then you can use the usual road map.
The Apartheid Museum is another point of visiting the so-called compulsory tourist program in Johannesburg. Even at first glance, the museum attracts tourists with its amazing architectural composition, the creation of which has worked many masters. Tourists are asked to find out what it was like - this is a complex and contradictory past of South Africa, when racial discrimination was propagated at the state level. Having received a ticket with identification: "white" or "black", the tourist will travel through the halls of the museum. Much here causes very contradictory feelings, bordering on horror and surprise. And how else can you perceive a cell filled with weapons used to punish and maintain order, more than a hundred loops that hang from the roof and serve as a constant reminder of all the hanged political prisoners.
Once at the Mary Fitzgerald Square (or as it is also called Turbina Square), where in the past there was a large hydroelectric station, you can see the turbine hall - a truly impressive building. Approximately 11 years ago, the northern boiler room was closed here, and the southern boiler room remains empty, although from time to time local authorities conduct unusual events on its territory. To connoisseurs of complex architecture to look at this gigantic building is strictly recommended.
Tired of city bustle, you can drive from Johannesburg to the famous caves of Sterkfonteyn . This can be done not only by car, but also by train, which literally every half hour sends tourists here on weekdays, and on weekends it goes every other hour and a half hours. At a depth of 40 meters there are six halls where once found the remains of Australopithecus.
In the Hillbrou area there is a Telkom tower 269 meters long, it is much higher than the surrounding majestic skyscrapers. To look at it it is better to go or with excursion or with local residents if such is among friends. The fact is that in recent years, the district of Hilbrough is not famous for its tranquility, and therefore it is not worthwhile to walk alone on these streets in search of adventure.
Thus, through familiarity with the sights of Johannesburg, every tourist will be able to unravel the mystery of this amazing African city with a fascinating history.