Robben Island: From prison to World Heritage site
Learn about Robben Island, home to the South African maximum security prison in which Nelson Mandela was incarcerated in the latter half of the 20th century.
Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
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Transcript
Robben Island, located off the coast of South Africa, has a long history of being a penal or leper colony.
From the mid 1960s to 1991, it was home to South Africa’s maximum security prison.
This was during the apartheid era, when government policy sanctioned racial segregation, which discriminated against the nonwhite majority population.
Famous inmates include antiapartheid activist Nelson Mandela, who was imprisoned there from 1964 to 1982.
In 1997 Robben Island was turned into a museum and declared a national monument.
It was designated a World Heritage site in 1999.
From the mid 1960s to 1991, it was home to South Africa’s maximum security prison.
This was during the apartheid era, when government policy sanctioned racial segregation, which discriminated against the nonwhite majority population.
Famous inmates include antiapartheid activist Nelson Mandela, who was imprisoned there from 1964 to 1982.
In 1997 Robben Island was turned into a museum and declared a national monument.
It was designated a World Heritage site in 1999.