Witwatersrand (Noun)
Meaning
A rocky region in the southern Transvaal in northeastern South Africa; contains rich gold deposits and coal and manganese.
Classification
Nouns denoting spatial position.
Examples
- Historically, the Witwatersrand has been South Africa's principal gold-producing area, accounting for about 40% of the world's gold.
- The gold fields of the Witwatersrand were discovered in 1886 by Australian miner George Harrison.
- Many of South Africa's mining operations are found on the Witwatersrand, one of the largest gold-producing areas in the world.
- The southern part of the Witwatersrand is largely urbanized, forming part of the Gauteng province and including the city of Johannesburg.
- The discovery of gold on the Witwatersrand in 1886 led to a gold rush, attracting thousands of prospectors and miners from around the world.