Rustenburg, Mining metropolis at the foot of Magaliesberg Mountains, South Africa.
Rustenburg is a city in South Africa's northwest province that includes several settlements such as Hartbeesfontein-A and Tlhabane. The municipal borders cover an area of more than three thousand square kilometers between grassland and hills.
The settlement began in 1851 as the site of a reformed church and grew slowly until the discovery of large platinum deposits in 1929. Mining transformed the small town into a regional economic center.
The name means restful fortress in Afrikaans, reflecting the calm setting below the mountain range. The town hall and main street show typical South African small-town architecture from the mid-20th century.
The city lies about 110 kilometers (70 miles) northwest of Johannesburg and offers access to the nearby Kgaswane and Pilanesberg nature reserves. Visitors can explore the surroundings through roads that pass through open terrain and mountain foothills.
The area holds some of the richest platinum mines in the world, which led to rapid population growth. The Royal Bafokeng Stadium in nearby Phokeng hosted several matches during the 2010 football World Cup.
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