Thirteen Formative Years |
 JOHANNESBURG: The reason for Johannesburg’s existence is gold. A rich reef was discovered in an area known as the Witwatersrand – the Ridge of White Waters – in 1886, and the city “was literally and figuratively built on gold” (to quote an article by Peter Ball). Consequently, mine dumps – mountains of sand and rock tailings from the underground mines (some of which are deeper than three kilometres / two miles) – dominate southern sections of the city. This is the first of two colour photos I took of mine dumps in July 1962. |