The largest cities in the world are the top in terms of area and population. The largest cities in the world by area: rating, list, description and features

In addition to natural wonders, our planet is also replete with man-made wonders - created by humanity. These, without a doubt, include the largest cities in the world - grandiose capitals, covering areas of thousands of square kilometers, and the most densely populated cities, where tens of millions of people live.

The largest cities in the world by area

First on the list of the largest cities by territory is New York. New Yorkers love to call their city the “capital of the world” - and in a sense, they have every right to do so, because New York, being the largest city in the world, covers an area of ​​8,683 square kilometers.

Second most big city world's largest area - Tokyo, the capital of Japan. Living on an area of ​​6,993 square kilometers record number There are 33.2 million citizens, so at the same time Tokyo is also the largest city in terms of density and population.

In addition, the Japanese capital is characterized by very expensive accommodation - living costs in Tokyo are much higher than in other capitals of the world.

The top three in the list of the largest cities by area in the world is closed by another American city - Chicago, whose area is 5,498 square kilometers.

In the photo: the famous “giant” skyscrapers of Chicago

Chicago boasts many interesting facilities, such as O'Hare International Airport, the second busiest airport in the world. And Michael Jordan, a legendary basketball player known even to those who are not interested in this sport at all, was once born in Chicago.

In the photo: O'Hare Airport in Chicago, one of the largest airports in the world

The top five largest cities in the world in terms of territory included two more American cities - Dallas (3,644 square kilometers) and Houston (3,355 square kilometers).

22.6 million people (!) come to Dallas every year - for work or for tourism. Indeed, there's a lot to see in the world's fourth-largest city, from the gigantic Cowboys Stadium, so tall it could fit the entire Statue of Liberty, to one of the first copies of the American Declaration of Independence, which is housed in the local public library.

Pictured: the famous Dallas Cowboys stadium

Houston, the fifth largest city in the world, is located in Texas, the oil capital of the United States. Like the rest of the world's largest cities, Houston boasts many attractions. Here, for example, is the Lyndon Johnson Space Center, where you can take a tour and even have lunch with the astronauts training at the center.

Surprisingly, besides Tokyo, there is not a single city in Europe or Asia in the ranking of the ten largest cities in the world. The first European city on the list occupies only 14th place - this is Paris, whose area is 2,723 square kilometers, and in 15th place is the German Dusseldorf with an area of ​​2,642 square kilometers. Moscow, the largest city in Russia by area, occupies only a modest 23rd place in the list of the largest cities on the planet with an area of ​​2,150 square kilometers.

Largest cities in the world by population

That the city is different large area, does not mean that it occupies any noticeable place in the list of the largest cities in the world by population. In the ranking of the 10 largest cities on planet Earth in terms of the number of residents, there are no American cities at all, and Shanghai takes an honorable first place - largest city China (and, at the same time, the whole world).

As of October 2014, 24,150,000 people permanently reside in Shanghai - that is, there are almost 4 people for every square kilometer. This is an extremely modest figure: for comparison, in Tokyo, which ranks second on the list of the largest cities in the world by area, the population density is almost 15 people per square kilometer.

In second place in the list of the largest cities on Earth by population is Karachi, the largest city in Pakistan, but, surprisingly, not the capital of the country. Karachi, as of 2014, has a population of 23.5 million and a population density of 6.6 people per square kilometer.

Once the largest city in the world by population, Karachi was a modest fishing village with a population of several hundred people. In just over 150 years, the number of city residents has increased hundreds of thousands of times. In its not very long history, Karachi managed to be the capital of Pakistan - until Islamabad, the modern capital of the country, was built in 1960.

Another Chinese “giant” is Beijing, which has a population of 21 million and 150 thousand inhabitants. Unlike Shanghai and Karachi, which are the economic and commercial centers of their countries, Beijing is the capital of China in every sense: culturally, educationally, and administratively.

According to the latest official information, there are 2.5 million cities in the world. According to data for 2015, the largest city in the world by area is Chongqing, by number of inhabitants - Shanghai, by length - Mexico City, by height - La Rinconada.

Each settlement is remarkable in its own way. Thus, one is famous for its landscapes, another for its enchanting entertainment, and the third for its history. There are also those that are known for their scale. In this article, the emphasis will be on them.

Largest city in the world by area

As mentioned earlier, this is Chongqing. It is located in China (its central part), its area reaches 82,400 square meters. km (except for the territory of the city itself, this also includes the area of ​​the territory under its jurisdiction). According to official data, Chongqing occupies an area of ​​470 km in the direction from east to west. Its width from north to south is 150 km (for comparison: Australia has the same dimensions).

The largest city in the world by area is divided into districts (19 units), counties (15 units, of which 4 are autonomous). The population density, according to data for 2010, reaches 28,846,170 people, but over 80% of the population mainly live in rural areas, and there are only 6 million urban residents.

History of Chongqing

This city is recognized as the oldest in China. Its history has been going on for 3 thousand years. During the Late Paleolithic period, this is where the primitive representatives lived human race. The reason for this is the location of the city at the confluence of the Jialingjiang River and the deep Yangtze River. The largest city in the world by area is surrounded by three mountains: Dabashan (from the north), Wushan (from the east), Dalushan (from the south). Due to its hilly landscape, it was called a mountain city (Shancheng). Chongqing rises 243 meters above sea level.

10 largest cities in the world

There are quite a lot of them on a global scale. In this regard, the article will present only the ranking of cities by area. So, tenth place belongs to London (1.57 thousand km). It is the capital of the United Kingdom of Great Britain, Northern Ireland. This city is also recognized as the largest city in the British Isles. Its location is r. Thames (64 km from the mouth). The city extends across the flat land of the famous London Basin. The highest point above sea level (245 m) is Westerham Heights (extreme southeast).

This city is one of the largest British ports and the main industrial center. Its area is 1.56 thousand square meters. km. Year of foundation - 43 AD e. (the era of the Roman invasion of Britain under the leadership of Emperor Claudius). Presumably, by the time of the invasion there was already a very modest settlement in size, but during archaeological excavations no evidence of this was found. Although the predominant part of London's historical center has not been excavated, therefore the fact of the existence of the settlement in the above period cannot be completely denied.

Ninth, eighth and seventh place in the ranking

Ninth place belongs to Tehran (1.6 thousand sq. km). It is the capital and largest city of Iran, the first of all the impressive cities in Asia. From north to south the city stretches for 26 km, from west to east - 40 km. The height difference of the mountain line is 700 m.

As a result of excavations, it was discovered that the existence of a settlement on the territory of the city dates back to 6 thousand BC. e. The settlers headed to the slopes of Elbrus, thereby escaping the sultry heat of the existing saline deserts.

Eighth place- Bogota (1.8 thousand sq. km) is the capital of Colombia. Founded in 1538 (by the Spanish conquistador G. Jimenez de Quesado). Its name translates as “fertile land.” The city is located in the basin of the western slope of the Eastern Cordillera. The height above sea level is 2610 m. This is the largest city in Colombia, which combines futuristic architecture, colonial churches, various museums with the fact that it is recognized as a city of tramps, drug dealers, eternal traffic jams and slums.

Seventh place- Ankara (2.52 thousand sq. km) is the capital of Turkey. Location - Atlantic Plateau (confluence of the Çubuk and Ankara rivers) at an altitude of approximately 938 m above sea level. This is one of the oldest cities in Asia Minor. It is located at the crossroads of trade routes that connect Europe with Asia. This city is the second most important and potential Turkish economic center. The development of Ankara is determined by its very convenient location at the transport junction, the presence of a significant number of civil servants, students, banking, trade structures, and industrial facilities.

Sixth, fifth and fourth place in the ranking

Sixth place- Alexandria (2.7 thousand sq. km) - the main seaport, the second largest city in Egypt, which stretches 32 km along the coast Mediterranean Sea. Year of foundation - 332 BC. e. (A. Makedonsky). This is the most important financial, industrial and commercial center of Egypt.

Fifth place- Karachi (3.5 thousand sq. km) is a port city located in the southern part of Pakistan. It is the largest in the country and one of the largest in the world. Karachi is the capital of Sindh. Population density is 12-18 million people.

Fourth place- Istanbul (5.3 thousand sq. km) is the former capital of the Byzantine, Ottoman, Roman, and Latin empires. It is a significant seaport, cultural, commercial and industrial center of Turkey. It is the only city located on two continents at once - Europe and Asia. This is the largest city in Europe.

Top three ratings

Third place- Buenos Aires (4 thousand sq. km) is the Argentine capital. The year of its foundation is 1580 (the shore of La Plata Bay).

Second place- Kinshasa (10 thousand sq. km) is the capital of Congo. Until 1966, it had a different name - Leopoldville.

The leader of the rating, as mentioned earlier, is Chongqing. It was talked about at the very beginning. These are the largest cities today. The list is gradually changing and being supplemented due to the accelerated growth of the series settlements.

The largest metropolises by area of ​​our country

For ease of perception, they are presented in the table below.

According to official data, these are the largest cities in Russia. Their scale gradually changes as they develop. It would be useful to take a closer look at such largest cities in Russia (by area) as St. Petersburg (the Northern capital) and Moscow.

Capital of the Russian Federation

Moscow is the largest city (by area and population density) in our country. It is the capital of Russia. Moscow is located on the river of the same name. If you look at the map, it is located in the central part of the plain, located in Eastern Europe. Moscow area - 2511 sq. km.

Federal bodies of Russian government are concentrated there. Local self-government is well developed. Moscow is the largest financial center. The predominant part of the country's economy is controlled directly by the capital. The largest banks and offices are also concentrated in it.

As mentioned earlier, the largest city in Europe is Istanbul, but our capital is the largest tourist and cultural European center. Historical, architectural monuments, modern entertainment infrastructure will not leave anyone indifferent. Moscow has over a hundred theaters and sixty museums, among which the most outstanding are the Bolshoi and Maly theaters and Sovremennik. Fans of opera and ballet can enjoy wonderful productions and virtuosic performances by the artists there.

Particularly popular museums are: the Museum of Anthropology (antiques - a reflection of the everyday life and traditions of the peoples of the world), the Zoological Museum, named after Pushkin.

Every capital guest, without exception, should visit the Tretyakov Gallery. The largest collection of our fine art is displayed there. In general, everything that Moscow is rich with cannot be described; it is better to see it with your own eyes.

Historical chronicles

Moscow - historical capital the previously existing Grand Duchy of Moscow. Her exact age is still not known. In the second half of the 13th century, during the reign of Prince Danil Alexandrovich (son of A. Nevsky), Moscow acquired the status of the center of an autonomous appanage principality. At that time, the city was located at a commercial junction, which gave it the opportunity to grow and develop.

In the XIV-XV centuries. Moscow has already become a major craft and trading city. By the end of the 15th century. it received the status of the capital of the largest Russian state.

Northern capital: historical facts, attractions

St. Petersburg is one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Its beauty is strict and lyrical at the same time. It is known that during the first 10 years of its existence it grew rapidly (by 1714 there were about 34.5 thousand buildings there). Magnificent palaces, cathedrals, parks, gardens, and squares with statues surrounded by picturesque greenery were erected. St. Petersburg is a city-museum.

This city has been considered the capital since the time when the entire royal court moved to the banks of the Neva from Moscow (1712). Having seized access to the Baltic, our state entered the circle of countries of the North - traditional exporters of leather, fish, iron, timber, lard, and grain. St. Petersburg has become the largest foreign trade center in Russia. At the end of the Peter the Great era, almost half of the total volume of our exports to Western European countries was exported from here.

Then such an important state enterprise as the mint was transferred from Moscow (1724). Palace manufactories arose in the vicinity of St. Petersburg.

Today, the area of ​​the city of St. Petersburg is 1439 square meters. km, population density is approximately 4.75 million people. The northern capital is located at 60 degrees north. sh., which gives it the status of the world's largest metropolis located at such high latitudes. St. Petersburg extends for 35 km along the coast of the Neva Bay (Gulf of Finland of the Baltic Sea), touching the mouth of the Neva, about. Neva delta.

The largest cities in the Russian Federation by population density

For clarity, it is better to present the information in a table.

These are the largest cities in Russia in terms of population density as of 2015.

Finally, it is worth recalling that the article examined the largest cities in our country and Europe. A ranking of the 10 largest cities in the world by area is presented.

With the development of industrialization, everything more people are moving from rural areas to cities. This is a natural process called urbanization. The territory of cities and the number of inhabitants is growing steadily. Which city has the largest population? What is the largest city in the world by area? Read the answers in our ranking of the top 10 big cities.

The largest cities in the world by population

To determine largest cities of the world by the number of inhabitants inhabiting them, in April 2018, scientists conducted the study “Demographia. World Urban Areas 14th Annual Edition”. In their measurements, scientists took into account only urban agglomerations with continuous development. fused agglomerations were considered as one object. So where do the largest numbers of residents live? You will find the answer in the following list.

Agglomeration - a compact cluster of settlements with a clear central city.

10 largest cities in the world by population:

1. Tokyo - Yokohama. The largest city on earth by population. The population is 38,050 thousand people. This agglomeration is formed by the two largest cities of Japan fused together. Tokyo is the capital of the state, and Yokohama is the largest port in the country.
2. Jakarta. The population is 32,275 thousand people. The capital of Indonesia is growing with new residents at a very fast pace.
3. Delhi. The Indian metropolis has 27,280 thousand inhabitants. The city is the second largest in India and is home to the country's capital, New Delhi.
4. Manila. The Philippine capital is home to 24,650 thousand people, most of whom live below the poverty line.
5. Seoul - Incheon. The agglomeration of the capital of Korea and surrounding cities is also overpopulated - 24,210 thousand inhabitants.
6. Shanghai. The leader among Chinese settlements in terms of population growth - 24,115 thousand as of April 2018. It is the largest seaport in the world and the most important financial and cultural center of China.
7. Mumbai. The number of residents is growing rapidly due to a standard of living above the Indian average - 23,265,000. The economic capital of India, 40% of all foreign trade occurs in this locality.
8. . The US financial center also attracts a huge number of people - 21,575,000.
9. Beijing. The capital of China is home to 21,250 thousand people. Since 2015, population growth has slowed down, and by 2018 it stopped.
10. Sao Paulo. The most populous metropolis in the Southern Hemisphere - 21,100 thousand inhabitants. The city is an important financial center of Brazil, accounting for 12% of the country's GDP.

And our capital Moscow still ranks 15th in this ranking with 16,855 thousand people, but this number is growing very quickly. But among countries in terms of the number of million-plus cities, the Russian Federation holds an honorable fourth place. China, India and Brazil are ahead of us in this indicator.

The largest city in the world by area

There is also a system for measuring the area of ​​settlements, including the entire territory. This method does not take into account the continuity and density of buildings. In this option, the territory is calculated taking into account water and mountain areas. What is the largest city in the world by area? Find the answer to this question in the list below.

List of largest cities by area:

1. Chongqing (China) - 82403 km². It is believed that the largest city in terms of area in the world is chinese city central subordination to Chongqing. The territory it occupies is huge. But this is measurement data including suburbs and villages; there is no continuous development in this territory and the population density is only 373 people/km². And its urbanized area is only 1473 km². That is why it cannot fully be called the largest city in the world. The population of this administrative unit is 30,751,600 people.
2. Hangzhou (China) - 16847 km². Second among all cities in the world in terms of territory. Hangzhou is located on the east coast of China. It is inhabited by 8.7 million inhabitants.
3. Beijing (China) - 16411 sq. km. Located in the east of the country, the most dynamically developing center of China - GDP growth from 2005 to 2013. amounted to 65%. That is why it is home to a huge number of labor migrants - over 10 million illegal immigrants.
4. Brisbane (Australia) - 15826 sq. km. Located on the east coast of Australia. Brisbane is very cosmopolitan, with 21% of its population made up of foreigners.
5. Asmara (Eritrea) - 15061 sq. km. Despite the vast territory of the African capital, its population is only 649,000, because most of it is occupied by low-rise buildings.

The largest cities in the world by area

To the list of the largest urban agglomerations and conurbations included both beautiful cities with a rich history and many attractions, as well as the greatest industrial centers.

Conurbation - an urban agglomeration without a clear dominant center.

Largest urban agglomerations by area:

1. . The largest agglomeration on the planet in terms of area, it occupies 11,875 square kilometers. The financial capital of America and the state of the same name.
2. Boston - Providence, USA. With all suburbs - 9189 sq. km.
3. Tokyo - Yokohama, Japan (Tokyo-capital). The agglomeration of the largest cities in Japan is located over a large area - 8547 km².
4. Atlanta. This American city with its agglomeration is located on 7296 square kilometers. It is the capital and largest city of the state of Georgia.
5. Chicago. Together with the suburbs it occupies 6856 km². Is second in importance financial center USA.
6. Los Angeles. The American city with surrounding territories is located on 6299 sq. km. Capital of the state of California.
7. Moscow, Russia. The Moscow agglomeration with all its suburbs of continuous development occupies 5,698 square kilometers.
8. Dallas - Fort Worth. Represents conurbation of many small cities, is located on 5175 square kilometers.
9. Philadelphia. 5131 sq. km.
10. Houston, USA. 4841 square kilometers.
11. Beijing, capital of the People's Republic of China. Quite a long city - 4144 sq. km.
12. Shanghai, China. 4015 sq. km.
13. Nagoya, Japan. 3885 sq. km.
14. Guangzhou - Foshan, China. 3820 sq. km
15. Washington, USA. The capital of America covers an area of ​​3,424 square kilometers.

Largest cities by population density

Every year urban overpopulation problem is becoming more and more acute. Over the past 20 years, Southeast Asia's largest cities have seen population growth average more than two percent per year. Which city surpasses all others in terms of population density? We have collected information on this issue in the following list.

Top 10 largest cities by population density:

1. Manila, capital of the Philippines. It is the most densely populated city in the world - 43,079 people/km², and in one of the districts this figure reaches 68,266 people/km². Moreover, more than 60% of the population lives in urban slums.
2. Calcutta, India. The population density is 27,462 per square kilometer. Over the past 10 years, the number of residents has decreased by 2%. A third of them live in urban slums.
3. Chennai, India. Density - 24,418 people per square kilometer. A quarter of all residents live in slums.
4. Dhaka, capital of Bangladesh. 23,234 people per square kilometer. The annual population growth is 4.2%, which is one of the highest rates in the world.
5. Mumbai, India. 20694 The standard of living here is slightly higher than in other cities in the country. Therefore, population growth is predictable.
6. Seoul, capital of South Korea. This city is also densely populated - 16,626 people/km². The capital of Korea is home to 19.5% of the country's total population.
7. Jakarta, capital of Indonesia. 14,469 people/km² Back in the 80s, the density was 8,000 inhabitants per square kilometer, and by 2018 it had almost doubled.
8. Lagos, Nigeria. 13,128 people per km².
9. Tehran, capital of Iran. 10456 inhabitants per 1 square kilometer.
10. Taipei, capital of the Republic of China (Taiwan). 9951 people per km².

Information about the largest cities is presented in the video

There are cities in the world with a large number population. And nothing else if the city occupies a large territory and the population density in it is small. What if the city has very little land? It happens that the country is small, but there are rocks and the sea around the city? So the city has to build up. At the same time, the population per 1 square kilometer is growing rapidly. The city goes from simple to densely populated. We immediately note that it is population density that is taken into account here, while there are other ratings where megacities are located by area, number of inhabitants, number of skyscrapers, as well as many other parameters. You can find most of these ratings on LifeGlobe. We will go directly to our list. So, what are the biggest cities in the world?

Top 10 most populous cities in the world.

1. Shanghai

Shanghai is the largest city in China and one of the largest cities in the world, located in the Yangtze River Delta. One of the four cities under central control of the People's Republic of China, an important financial and cultural center of the country, as well as the world's largest seaport. By the beginning of the 20th century. Shanghai has grown from a small fishing town into the most important city in China and the third financial center in the world after London and New York. In addition, the city became a center of popular culture, vice, intellectual debate and political intrigue in Republican China. Shanghai is the financial and commercial center of China. Market reforms in Shanghai began in 1992, a decade later than in southern provinces. Before this, most of the city's income went irrevocably to Beijing. Even after the tax burden was reduced in 1992, tax revenues from Shanghai accounted for 20-25% of revenues from all of China (before the 1990s, this figure was about 70%). Today Shanghai is the largest and most developed city in mainland China. In 2005, Shanghai became the world's largest port in terms of cargo turnover (443 million tons of cargo).

According to the 2000 census, the population of the entire Shanghai area (including the non-urban area) is 16.738 million people, this figure also includes temporary residents of Shanghai, whose number is 3.871 million people. Since the previous census in 1990, Shanghai's population has increased by 3.396 million people, or 25.5%. Men make up 51.4% of the city's population, women - 48.6%. Children under 14 years old make up 12.2% of the population, age group 15-64 years old - 76.3%, elderly over 65 - 11.5%. 5.4% of Shanghai's population is illiterate. In 2003, there were 13.42 million officially registered residents in Shanghai, and more than 5 million more. live and work in Shanghai unofficially, of which about 4 million are seasonal workers, mainly from Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces. Average life expectancy in 2003 was 79.80 years (men - 77.78 years, women - 81.81 years).

Like many other regions of China, Shanghai is experiencing a construction boom. Modern architecture in Shanghai is distinguished by its unique style, in particular the upper floors high-rise buildings occupied by restaurants are shaped like flying saucers. Most of the buildings under construction in Shanghai today are high-rise residential buildings, varying in height, color and design. Organizations responsible for planning the development of the city are now increasingly focusing on the creation of green areas and parks within residential complexes to improve the quality of life of Shanghai residents, which is in keeping with the slogan of the World Expo 2010 Shanghai: “ Best city - better life" Historically, Shanghai was very Westernized, and now it is again increasingly taking on the role of the main center of communication between China and the West. One example of this is the opening of the Pac-Med Medical Exchange, an information center for the exchange of medical knowledge between Western and Chinese health institutions. Pudong has houses and streets very similar to the business and residential areas of modern American and Western European cities. There are major international shopping and hotel areas nearby. Despite high density population and a large number of visitors, Shanghai is known for its very low crime rate towards foreigners.

As of January 1, 2009, the population of Shanghai is 18,884,600, if the area of ​​this city is 6,340 km2, and the population density is 2,683 people per km2.

2. Karachi

KARACHI, the largest city, main economic center and seaport of Pakistan, is located near the delta of the Indus River, 100 km from its confluence with the Arabian Sea. Administrative center of Sindh province. Population as of 2004: 10.89 million people. Originated in the early 18th century. on the site of the Baloch fishing village of Kalachi. From the end of the 18th century. under the rulers of Sindh from the Talpur dynasty, it was the main Sindh maritime and commercial center on the Arabian coast. In 1839 it became a British naval base, in 1843-1847 - the capital of the province of Sind, and then the main city of the region, which was part of the Bombay Presidency. Since 1936 - the capital of the Sindh province. In 1947-1959 - the capital of Pakistan. Favorable geographical location The city, located in a convenient natural harbor, contributed to its rapid growth and development during the colonial period and especially after the division of British India into two independent states in 1947 - India and Pakistan.

The transformation of Karachi into the main political and economic center of the country led to rapid growth population, mainly due to the influx of immigrants from outside: for 1947-1955. with 350 thousand people up to 1.5 million people. Karachi is the largest city in the country and is one of the largest cities in the world. The main trade, economic and financial center of Pakistan, seaport (15% of GDP and 25% of tax revenues to the budget). About 49% of the country's industrial production is concentrated in Karachi and its suburbs. Factories: metallurgical plant(the largest in the country, built with the assistance of the USSR, 1975-85), oil refining, engineering, car assembly, ship repair, chemical, cement plants, pharmaceutical, tobacco, textile, food (sugar) industries (concentrated in several industrial zones: CITY - Sindh industrial trading estate, Landhi, Malir, Korangi, etc. The largest commercial banks, branches of foreign banks, central offices and branches of insurance companies, stock and cotton exchange, offices of the largest trading companies (including foreign ones). International airport(1992). The port of Karachi (cargo turnover over 9 million tons per year) serves up to 90% of the country's maritime trade and is the largest port in South Asia. Naval base.
Major cultural and scientific center: university, research institutions, Aga Khan University of Medical Sciences, Hamdard Foundation Center for Oriental Medicine, National Museum of Pakistan, Museum Navy. Zoo (in the former City Gardens, 1870). Mausoleum of Quaid-i Azam M.A. Jinnah (1950s), Sindh University (founded in 1951, M. Ecoshar), Art Center (1960). Architecturally interesting are the central streets, built in the period between the world wars with buildings made from local pink limestone and sandstone. Business center of Karachi - Shara-i-Faisal streets, Jinnah Road and Chandrigar Road with buildings mainly from the 19th and 20th centuries: the High Court (early 20th century, neoclassical), the Pearl Continental Hotel (1962), architects W. Tabler and Z. Pathan), State Bank (1961, architects J. L. Ricci and A. Kayum). To the northwest of Jinnah Road is the Old Town with narrow streets, single- and two-story houses. In the south is the fashionable area of ​​Clifton, built up mainly with villas. Buildings from the 19th century also stand out. in the Ingothic style - Frere Hall (1865) and Empress Market (1889). Saddar, Zamzama, Tariq Road are the main shopping streets of the city, where hundreds of shops and stalls are located. There are a significant number of modern multi-storey buildings, luxury hotels (Avari, Marriott, Sheraton) and shopping centers.

As of 2009, the population of this city was 18,140,625, area 3,530 km2, population density 5,139 people. per km.sq.

3.Istanbul

One of main reasons The transformation of Istanbul into a world metropolis was determined by the geographical location of the city. Istanbul, located at the intersection of 48 degrees north latitude and 28 degrees east longitude, is the only city in the world that is located on two continents. Istanbul lies on 14 hills, each of which has its own name, but now we won’t bore you with listing them. The following should be noted - the city consists of three unequal parts, into which it is divided by the Bosphorus and the Golden Horn (a small bay 7 km long). On the European side: the historical peninsula located in the south of the Golden Horn, and in the north of the Golden Horn - the districts of Beyolu, Galata, Taksim, Besiktas, on the Asian side - the "New City". There are numerous shopping and service centers on the European continent, and mostly residential areas on the Asian continent.

Overall, Istanbul, 150 km long and 50 km wide, has an approximate area of ​​7,500 km. But no one knows its true borders; it is about to merge with the city of Izmit in the east. With continuous migration from villages (up to 500,000 per year), the population is rapidly increasing. Every year, 1,000 new streets appear in the city, and new residential areas are built in the west-east axis. The population is constantly increasing by 5% per year, i.e. Every 12 years it doubles. Every 5 residents of Turkey live in Istanbul. The number of tourists visiting this wonderful city reaches 1.5 million. The population itself is unknown to anyone; officially, according to the last census, 12 million people lived in the city, although now this figure has increased to 15 million, and some claim that 20 million people already live in Istanbul.

Tradition says that the founder of the city in the 7th century BC. There was a Megarian leader, Byzantus, to whom the Delphic oracle predicted where it would be better to establish a new settlement. The place really turned out to be very successful - a cape between two seas - the Black and Marmara, half in Europe, half in Asia. In the 4th century AD. Roman Emperor Constantine chose the settlement of Byzantium to build the new capital of the empire, which was named Constantinople in his honor. After the fall of Rome in 410, Constantinople finally established itself as the undisputed political center of the empire, which since then was no longer called Roman, but Byzantine. The city reached its greatest prosperity under Emperor Justinian. It was a center of fabulous wealth and unimaginable luxury. In the 9th century, the population of Constantinople numbered about a million people! The main streets had sidewalks and canopies, and were decorated with fountains and columns. It is believed that a copy of Constantinople's architecture is represented by Venice, where bronze horses taken from the Constantinople Hippodrome after the sack of the city by the Crusaders in 1204 are installed on the portal of St. Mark's Cathedral.
As of 2009, the population of this city was 16,767,433, area 2,106 km2, population density 6,521 people. per km.kv

4.Tokyo

Tokyo is the capital of Japan, its administrative, financial, cultural and industrial center. Located in the southeastern part of the island of Honshu, on the Kanto Plain in Tokyo Bay of the Pacific Ocean. Area - 2,187 sq. km. Population - 15,570,000 people. The population density is 5,740 people/km2, the highest among Japanese prefectures.

Officially, Tokyo is not a city, but one of the prefectures, or rather, a metropolitan area, the only one in this class. Its territory, in addition to part of the island of Honshu, includes several small islands to the south, as well as the islands of Izu and Ogasawara. Tokyo County consists of 62 administrative units - cities, towns and rural communities. When people say "Tokyo City", they usually mean those in the 23rd metropolitan area. special district, which from 1889 to 1943 formed the administrative unit of the city of Tokyo, and are now themselves equated in status to cities; each has its own mayor and city council. The capital's government is headed by a popularly elected governor. The government headquarters is located in Shinjuku, which is the county seat. Tokyo is also home to the state government and the Tokyo Imperial Palace (also using the obsolete name Tokyo Imperial Castle), the main residence of the Japanese emperors.

Although the Tokyo area has been inhabited by tribes since the Stone Age, the city began to play an active role in history relatively recently. In the 12th century, local Edo warrior Taro Shigenada built a fort here. According to tradition, he received the name Edo from his place of residence. In 1457, Ota Dokan, ruler of the Kanto region under the Japanese shogunate, built Edo Castle. In 1590, Ieyasu Tokugawa, the founder of the shogun clan, took possession of it. Thus, Edo became the capital of the shogunate, while Kyoto remained the imperial capital. Ieyasu created long-term management institutions. The city grew quickly and XVIII century became one of the largest cities in the world. In 1615, Ieyasu's armies destroyed their opponents, the Toyotomi clan, thereby gaining absolute power for about 250 years. As a result of the Meiji restoration in 1868, the shogunate came to an end; in September, Emperor Mutsuhito moved the capital here, calling it " Eastern capital" - Tokyo. This has sparked debate over whether Kyoto can still remain the capital. In the second half of the 19th century, industry began to develop rapidly, then shipbuilding. Built in 1872 railway Tokyo-Yokohama, in 1877 - Kobe-Osaka-Tokyo. Until 1869 the city was called Edo. On September 1, 1923, a major earthquake (7-9 on the Richter scale) occurred in Tokyo and the surrounding area. Almost half of the city was destroyed, and a strong fire broke out. About 90,000 people became victims. Although the reconstruction plan turned out to be very expensive, the city began to partially recover. The city was again seriously damaged during World War II. The city was subjected to massive air attacks. More than 100,000 residents died in one raid alone. Many wooden buildings burned down, and the old Imperial Palace was damaged. After the war, Tokyo was occupied by the military, during Korean War it became a major military center. Several American bases still remain here (Yokota military base, etc.). In the mid-20th century, the country's economy began to rapidly revive (what was described as an "Economic Miracle"), in 1966 it became the second largest economy in the world. Revival from war traumas was proven by the holding of the Summer Summer Games in Tokyo in 1964. Olympic Games, where the city showed itself favorably on the international stage. Since the 1970s, Tokyo has been inundated with a wave of rural labor, leading to further development cities. By the end of the 80s, it became one of the most dynamically developing cities on Earth. On March 20, 1995, an incident occurred in the Tokyo subway. gas attack using sarin. The terrorist attack was carried out by the religious sect Aum Shinrikyo. As a result, over 5,000 people were injured, 11 of them died. Seismic activity in the Tokyo area has led to discussions about moving the capital of Japan to another city. Three candidates have been named: Nasu (300 km north), Higashino (near Nagano, central Japan) and a new city in Mie province, near Nagoya (450 km west of Tokyo). A government decision has already been received, although no more further actions is not being undertaken. Currently, Tokyo continues to develop. Projects to create artificial islands are being consistently implemented. The most notable project is Odaiba, which is now a major shopping and entertainment center.

5. Mumbai

The history of the emergence of Mumbai - a dynamic modern city, the financial capital of India and the administrative center of the state of Maharashtra, is quite unusual. In 1534, the Sultan of Gujarat ceded a group of seven unwanted islands to the Portuguese, who, in turn, gave them to the Portuguese princess Catarina of Braganza on the day of her wedding to King Charles II of England in 1661. In 1668, the British government surrendered the islands leased to the East India Company for 10 pounds of gold per year, and gradually Mumbai grew into a center of trade. In 1853, the first railway line on the subcontinent was built from Mumbai to Thane, and in 1862, a colossal land development project turned seven islands into a single whole - Mumbai was on the path to becoming the largest metropolis. During its existence, the city changed its name four times, and for those who are not experts in geography, its former name is more familiar - Bombay. Mumbai, after the historical name of the area, reverted to its name in 1997. Today it is a vibrant city with a distinct character: a major industrial and commercial center, it still has an active interest in theater and other arts. Mumbai is also home to the main center of the Indian film industry - Bollywood.

Mumbai is the most populous city in India: in 2009, the city's population was 13,922,125 people. Together with its satellite cities, it forms the fifth largest urban agglomeration in the world with a population of 21.3 million people. The area occupied by Greater Mumbai is 603.4 sq. km. The city stretches along the coast of the Arabian Sea for 140 km.

6. Buenos Aires

Buenos Aires is the capital of Argentina, the administrative, cultural and economic center of the country and one of the largest cities in South America.

Buenos Aires is located 275 km from the Atlantic Ocean in a well-protected bay of La Plata Bay, on the right bank of the Riachuelo River. The average air temperature in July is +10 degrees, and in January +24. The amount of precipitation in the city is 987 mm per year. The capital is located in the northeastern part of Argentina, on flat terrain, in a subtropical natural zone. The natural vegetation of the city's surroundings is represented by tree and grass species typical of meadow steppes and savannas. Greater Buenos Aires includes 18 suburbs, with a total area of ​​3,646 square kilometers.

The population of the capital of Argentina proper is 3,050,728 (2009, estimate) people, which is 275 thousand (9.9%) more than it was in 2001 (2,776,138, census). In total, 13,356,715 people live in the urban agglomeration, including numerous suburbs immediately adjacent to the capital (2009 estimate). Residents of Buenos Aires have a half-joking nickname - porteños (literally, residents of the port). The population of the capital and its suburbs is growing rapidly, including due to the immigration of guest workers from Bolivia, Paraguay, Peru and other neighboring countries. The city is very multinational, but the main division of communities occurs along class lines, and not along racial lines as in the United States. The majority of the population is Spanish and Italian, descendants of both the settlers of the Spanish colonial period from 1550-1815 and the larger wave of European immigrants to Argentina from 1880-1940. About 30% are mestizos and representatives of other nationalities, among which the following communities stand out: Arabs, Jews, English, Armenians, Japanese, Chinese and Koreans; there is also a large number of immigrants from neighboring countries, primarily from Bolivia and Paraguay, and more recently from Korea , China and Africa. During the colonial period, groups of Indians, mestizos and black slaves were visible in the city, gradually disappearing into the southern European population, although their cultural and genetic influences are still noticeable today. Thus, the genes of modern residents of the capital are quite mixed compared to white Europeans: on average, the genes of residents of the capital are 71.2% European, 23.5% Indian and 5.3% African. Moreover, depending on the quarter, African admixtures vary from 3.5% to 7.0%, and Indian admixtures from 14.0% to 33%. . State language in the capital - Spanish. Other languages ​​- Italian, Portuguese, English, German and French - have now practically fallen out of use as native languages ​​due to the massive assimilation of immigrants from the second half of the 19th century- beginning XX centuries, but are still taught as foreign languages. During the period of the massive influx of Italians (especially Neapolitans), the mixed Italian-Spanish sociolect Lunfardo became widespread in the city, which gradually disappeared, but left traces in the local linguistic version of the Spanish language (See. Spanish in Argentina). Among the city's religious population, the majority are adherents of Catholicism, a small part of the capital's residents profess Islam and Judaism, but in general the level of religiosity is extremely low, since a secular-liberal way of life predominates. The city is divided into 47 administrative districts, the division was initially based on Catholic parishes, and remained so until 1940.

7. Dhaka

The name of the city is derived from the name of the Hindu goddess of fertility Durga or from the name of the tropical tree Dhaka, which produces valuable resin. Dhaka is located on the northern bank of the turbulent Buriganda River almost in the center of the country and is more similar to the legendary Babylon than to the modern capital. Dhaka is a river port in the Ganges Brahmaputra delta, as well as a center for water tourism. Although travel by water is quite slow, water transport in the country is well developed, safe and widely used. The oldest section of the city, lying north of the coastline, is an ancient trading center of the Mughal Empire. In the Old City there is an unfinished fortress - Fort LaBad, dating back to 1678, which houses the mausoleum of Bibi Pari (1684). It is also worth paying attention to the more than 700 mosques, including the famous Hussein Dalan, located in the old City. Now the old City is a vast area between the two main water transport terminals, Sadarghat and Badam Tole, where the sightseeing experience everyday life the rivers are especially charming and interesting. Also in the old part of the city there are traditional large oriental bazaars.

The city's population is 9,724,976 inhabitants (2006), with its suburbs - 12,560 thousand people (2005).

8. Manila

Manila is the capital and main city The central region of the Republic of the Philippines, occupying the Philippine Islands in the Pacific Ocean. In the west, the islands are washed by the South China Sea, in the north they adjoin Taiwan through the Bashi Strait. Located on the island of Luzon (the largest in the archipelago), Metro Manila includes, in addition to Manila itself, four more cities and 13 municipalities. The name of the city comes from two Tagalog (local Filipino) words "may" meaning "to appear" and "nilad" - the name of the original settlement located along the banks of the Pasig River and the bay. Before the Spanish conquest of Manila in 1570, the islands were inhabited by Muslim tribes who acted as intermediaries in Chinese trade with South Asian merchants. After a fierce struggle, the Spaniards occupied the ruins of Manila, which the natives set fire to escape from the invaders. After 20 years, the Spaniards returned and built defensive structures. In 1595, Manila became the capital of the Archipelago. From this time until the 19th century, Manila was the center of trade between the Philippines and Mexico. With the arrival of Europeans, the Chinese were limited in free trade and repeatedly rebelled against the colonists. In 1898, the Americans invaded the Philippines, and after several years of war, the Spanish ceded their colony to them. Then the American-Philippine War began, which ended in 1935 with the independence of the islands. During the period of US domination, several light and textile enterprises were opened in Manila. food industry, oil refining plants, construction materials production. In the Second world war The Philippines were occupied by the Japanese. The state gained final independence in 1946. Currently, Manila is the main seaport, financial and industrial center of the country. Factories in the capital produce electrical equipment, chemicals, clothing, food, tobacco, etc. The city has several markets and shopping centers with low prices, attracting visitors from all over the Republic. In recent years, the role of tourism has been growing.

As of 2009, the population of this city was 12,285,000.

9. Delhi

Delhi is the capital of India, a city with 13 million people that most travelers cannot miss. A city in which all the classical Indian contrasts are fully manifested - grandiose temples and dirty slums, bright celebrations of life and quiet death in the gateways. A city in which it is difficult for an ordinary Russian person to live for more than two weeks, after which he will begin to quietly go crazy - the incessant movement, general bustle, noise and din, the abundance of dirt and poverty will become a good test for you. Like every city with thousand years of history, Delhi has many most interesting places worthy of a visit. Most of them are located in two areas of the city - Old and New Delhi, between which is the Pahar Ganj area, where most independent travelers stay (Main Bazaar). Some of the most interesting attractions in Delhi include the Jama Masjid, Lodhi Garden, Humayun Tomb, Qutb Minar, Lotus Temple, Lakshmi Narayana Temple ), military fortresses Lal Qila and Purana Qila.

As of 2009, the population of this city was 11,954,217

10. Moscow

The city of Moscow is a huge metropolis, consisting of nine administrative districts, which include one hundred and twenty administrative districts. There are many parks, gardens, and forest parks on the territory of Moscow.

The first written mention of Moscow dates back to 1147. But settlements on the site of the modern city were much earlier, in a time distant from us, according to some historians, by 5 thousand years. However, all this belongs to the realm of legends and speculation. No matter how everything happened, in the 13th century Moscow was the center of an independent principality, and by the end of the 15th century. it becomes the capital of the emerging unified Russian state. Since then, Moscow has been one of the largest cities in Europe. For centuries, Moscow has been an outstanding center of all-Russian culture, science, and art.

The largest city in Russia and Europe by population (population as of July 1, 2009 - 10.527 million people), the center of the Moscow urban agglomeration. It is also one of the ten largest cities in the world.

The size of a city is determined by its population. This is why there are many cities that have large sizes and yet are called small because of the lack of inhabitants. Although it is not always good that the size of a city is estimated only by the number of people per capita. Here are the ten largest cities in the world based on population.

1. Tokyo, Japan - 37 million people

As the richest city in the entire world, there is no doubt that the Japanese city may be the largest city in the world. Tokyo has grown quite a lot from its very humble beginnings in both economy and population. The population is over 37 million people.

2. Jakarta, Indonesia - 26 million people

As the largest political and financial center in the country, Jakarta is undoubtedly the second largest city in the world with a population of approximately 26 million people.

3. Seoul, South Korea— 22.5 million people

It's no surprise that Seoul has been growing rapidly lately, and its development is not limited to just economic sphere, but also in population and technology. The population is 22.5 million.

4. Delhi, India - 22.2 million people

Delhi comes in fourth and is almost equal in population to Seoul with 22.2 million.

5. Shanghai, China - 20.8 million people

China is known for its vast territory and dense population. Shanghai has the fifth largest population with 20.8 million people.

6. Manila, Philippines - 22.7 million people

Manila ranks sixth in the list of largest cities in the world.

7. Karachi, Pakistan - 20.7 million people

Being the cultural center of Pakistan, Karachi makes it the seventh largest city in the world, with a population of 20.7 million.

8. New York, USA -20.46 million people

Who hasn't heard of New York? Yes, it is the most populous city in the US at 20.46 million people. New York City stands out greatly in terms of cultural diversity, as it is home to many people from different corners peace.