|
Search over 100 encyclopedias and dictionaries: |
Research categories | Follow us on Twitter |
Research categories
View all topics in the newsView all reference sources at Encyclopedia.com |
|||
Witwatersrand
Witwatersrand [Afrik.,=white water ridge] or the Rand, region, Gauteng (formerly a part of Transvaal ), South Africa. The area, which forms the watershed between the Vaal and Olifants rivers, is c.25 mi (40 km) wide and extends more than 60 mi (100 km) from west to east in a series of parallel ranges 5,000 to 6,000 ft (1,520–1,830 m) above sea level. The Rand is one of the world's richest gold-mining regions. The gold occurs in reefs, or thin bands, that are mined at depths of up to 10,000 ft (3,050 m). Development of the Rand dates from the 1880s. Although many of the older mines are now nearly exhausted, the Rand still produces most of South Africa's gold and much of the total world output. Silver and iridium are recovered as gold-refining byproducts, and the region also has coal mines. The Rand also has such industries as engineering, steel milling, metallurgy, machine building, diamond cutting, food processing, and the manufacture of chemicals, cement, furniture, and clothing. Major cities of the Rand are Johannesburg , Benoni , Boksburg , Springs , and Germiston . |
|
|
Cite this article
"Witwatersrand." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "Witwatersrand." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-Witwater.html "Witwatersrand." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-Witwater.html |
|
Witwatersrand
Witwatersrand (Rand) Series of parallel mountain ranges more than 1500m (5000ft) high, forming a watershed between the Vaal and Olifant rivers, in former Transvaal, ne South Africa. The region extends c.100km (62mi) e and w of Johannesburg. Gold was first discovered in 1884 and mining began two years later. Witwatersrand still produces c.30% of the world's total output of gold. Silver is recovered as a by-product of gold refining. Coal and manganese are also mined, and there are many ancillary industries in the region.
|
|
|
Cite this article
"Witwatersrand." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "Witwatersrand." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-Witwatersrand.html "Witwatersrand." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-Witwatersrand.html |
|
Witwatersrand
Witwatersrand, Gauteng/South Africa ‘Ridge of White Waters’ from the Afrikaans wit ‘white’, water ‘water’, and rand ‘ridge’. It was a part of the former province of Pretoria‐Witwatersrand‐Vereeniging (now Gauteng). Also known as the Rand, it is the watershed between the Vaal and Limpopo Rivers. Rich in gold deposits, this gave its name to the South African monetary unit, the ‘rand’.
|
|
|
Cite this article
JOHN EVERETT-HEATH. "Witwatersrand." Concise Dictionary of World Place-Names. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. JOHN EVERETT-HEATH. "Witwatersrand." Concise Dictionary of World Place-Names. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O209-Witwatersrand.html JOHN EVERETT-HEATH. "Witwatersrand." Concise Dictionary of World Place-Names. 2005. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O209-Witwatersrand.html |
|
Rand
Rand 1 / rand/ (the Rand) another name for Witwatersrand. |
|
|
Cite this article
"Rand." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "Rand." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-rand.html "Rand." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-rand.html |
|
Witwatersrand
Witwatersrand See RANDIAN.
|
|
|
Cite this article
AILSA ALLABY and MICHAEL ALLABY. "Witwatersrand." A Dictionary of Earth Sciences. 1999. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. AILSA ALLABY and MICHAEL ALLABY. "Witwatersrand." A Dictionary of Earth Sciences. 1999. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O13-Witwatersrand.html AILSA ALLABY and MICHAEL ALLABY. "Witwatersrand." A Dictionary of Earth Sciences. 1999. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O13-Witwatersrand.html |
|
Rand
Rand See Witwatersrand
|
|
|
Cite this article
"Rand." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "Rand." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-Rand.html "Rand." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-Rand.html |
|
Witwatersrand
Witwatersrand
•and, band, bland, brand, expand, firsthand, gland, grand, hand, land, manned, misunderstand, offhand, rand, righthand, Samarkand, sand, stand, strand, thirdhand, underhand, undermanned, understand, unplanned, untanned, withstand
•graduand • hatband • armband
•headband • neckband • sweatband
•waistband • waveband • wristband
•broadband • showband • noseband
•saraband • backhand • chargehand
•farmhand • deckhand • stagehand
•freehand • millhand • behindhand
•longhand
•beforehand, forehand
•shorthand • gangland • Lapland
•flatland • no-man's-land • Saarland
•farmland • grassland • marshland
•fenland • wetland • Sudetenland
•wasteland • dreamland • peatland
•Matabeleland • Ngamiland
•fairyland • Dixieland • Swaziland
•Thailand • Rhineland • swampland
•washland • homeland • Heligoland
•Basutoland
•clubland, scrubland
•timberland • borderland
•wonderland • Nagaland • Helgoland
•Bechuanaland, Gondwanaland
•Mashonaland • Damaraland
•Nyasaland • platteland • hinterland
•fatherland • motherland
•Namaqualand • Öland • allemande
•confirmand • ordinand • Ferdinand
•Talleyrand • firebrand • Krugerrand
•honorand • Witwatersrand
•greensand • quicksand • analysand
•Streisand • ampersand
•bandstand, grandstand, handstand
•hatstand • kickstand • inkstand
•washstand • hallstand • news-stand
|
|
|
Cite this article
"Witwatersrand." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "Witwatersrand." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-Witwatersrand.html "Witwatersrand." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-Witwatersrand.html |
|
|
Search over 100 encyclopedias and dictionaries:
HighBeam™ Research, Inc. © Copyright 2012. All rights reserved.
The Encyclopedia.com advertising network includes:
