South African Gold Rush April 26th, 2009
In 1886 South Africa entered an exciting yet brief gold rush. The outcome of this led in part to war, but also to the establishment of the city of Johannesburg. The Witwatersrand Gold Rush was a feverish hunt partly based on reality and partly on legend, it has since gone into history in the same way. Throughout local history, legends had been told of gold miners seeking huge finds in the areas around Barberton and Pilgrim’s Rest. Finally, in 1886 the tremendous wealth of Witwatersrand was uncovered. Tourists still explore the area that is now known as the province of Mpumalanga in hopes of knew discoveries. They stay in the best hotels South Africa and enjoy the luxury accommodations at night and hunt for gold during the day.
While the wealth and discovery were real, there are still many legends that persist regarding the find. One of them involves the Australian gold miner George Harrison. His story may be true, though it is not 100% verified. The story claims that one day in March 1886 he stumbled upon the main gold bearing reef as he crossed the rocky outcrop. Soon after the discovery, gold and fortune seekers from across the world crowded into the area and before too long the humble mining village, known as Ferreira’s Camp, became a settlement. The settlement was planned around the idea that the gold would not last for long so plots were crammed into the smallest areas possible. This is largely the reason the streets in Johannesburg’s central business district are so narrow. The population of the settlement grew so fast that within 10 years it had become the largest city in South Africa. It soon outstripped the growth rate of Cape Town, which was over 200 years older. The area around Johannesburg is still a major metropolitan area in South Africa.
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