Witwatersrand
The Witwatersrand in South Africa is the richest gold mining region in the world. About 40% of the world's gold mined so far is from here. It is found here on small strips called reefs, which are dug by miners at a depth of up to 3000 m.
The first gold mines were discovered in 1886. In Gold Reef, just 6 km from Johannesburg, there is a museum where you can learn about the history of gold and the unusual geology of this area, as well as a real mine shaft, which is maintained in operation. Several times a day, tourist tours are organized, which include the descent with a real mining elevator 226 m underground to level IV14.
It is interesting to see the pub underground and to learn a few words from the specific mining jargon (fanagalo). Created in 1910 to allow workers of different nationalities to understand each other, this jargon contains 2,000 words, 500 of which are exclamations and curses.
