Overview
Johannesburg or Jo' burg as referred to by some residents of the city is a modern day metropolis sprawling over an area of 1600 square kilometers. With roots as being a small gold rush settlement, it has grown into the largest city of sub-Saharan Africa and the economic powerhouse of the country. A honeycomb of tunnels and caves dot the outskirts of the city. A range of Edwardian and Victorian architecture visible all over the city combines with concrete and metal skyscrapers with a web of highways running in between, to form what is Johannesburg today.
Additionally, the city is covered with 6 million trees that can easily qualify Johannesburg as an urban rainforest. Because of the greenery, it becomes very pleasant in spring.
The government is consistently developing the city further and providing for the homeless, however in the outlying townships such as Soweto (South West Township), makeshift shacks and structures of scrap point out the stark differences between the wealthy and the poor.
Ever since the breakdown of apartheid, the native African residents of the area who were formerly restricted to townships, moved into the inner city areas, and the white citizens migrated out of the city to the suburbs because of the high crime rates. With the city center being cleaned up and under constant improvement by the government , and the new police force of the city, the Metro Police and numerous security cameras employed on almost every corner of the city, Johannesburg is gradually turning into a safer and cleaner place.
The city now poses as a very attractive destination for tourists and is in the midst of several improvements that will develop the city's infrastructure further. Johannesburg is also the host city for the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
