List of mass car bombings
Mass car bombings ( by date ) -- 1980s
Table:
Date	Country	City	Deaths	Type

Dec. 6	Colombia	Bogotá	52	truck bomb

Nov. 22	Lebanon	Beirut	24	car bomb

April 14	Sri Lanka	Trincomalee	38	car bomb

July 8	Afghanistan	Jalalabad	31	truck bomb

April 23	Lebanon	Tripoli	60	truck bomb

April 14	Italy	USO Club , Naples	5	car bomb

Feb. 17	South Africa	Oshakati , South-West Africa	27	car bomb

Dec. 11	Spain	Zaragoza	11	car bomb

Oct. 8	Afghanistan	Kabul	27	car bomb

July 14	Pakistan	Karachi	72	car bombs ( 2 )

July 5	Sri Lanka	Army camp , Jaffna	40	truck bomb

June 19	Spain	Barcelona	21	car bomb

April 21	Sri Lanka	Colombo	106	car bomb

Aug. 19	Iran	Tehran	20	car bomb

July 14	Spain	Madrid	12	car bomb

March 27	Australia	Victoria Police HQ , Melbourne	1	car bomb

March 17	Syria	Military compound , Damascus	60	truck bomb

Aug. 17	Lebanon	Market , Beirut	55	car bomb

May 22	Lebanon	Beirut	50	car bomb

March 8	Lebanon	Beirut	80	car bomb

Taking into account the table as well as the supporting text provided at the end.

Respond to the question below: Which imperial power 's takeover created a capital out of the city where 106 people died from a car bomb on the 21st of April ? Output only the correct answer as {"answer": "YOUR ANSWER"}. Use only the information given.

Colombia ( /kəˈlʌmbiə/ ( listen ) kə-LUM-bee-ə , /-ˈlɒm-/ -⁠LOM- ; Spanish : [ koˈlombja ] ( listen ) ) , officially the Republic of Colombia ( Spanish : República de Colombia ( help·info ) ) , [ Note 1 ] is a country largely situated in the north of South America , with land and territories in North America . Colombia is bounded on the north by the Caribbean Sea , the northwest by Panama , the south by both Ecuador and Peru , the east by Venezuela , the southeast by Brazil , and the west by the Pacific . It comprises thirty-two departments , with the capital in Bogotá . Colombia is ethnically and linguistically diverse , with its rich cultural heritage reflecting influences by various Amerindian civilizations , European settlement , forced African labor , and immigration from Europe and the greater Middle East . Urban centres are concentrated in the Andean highlands and the Caribbean coast . Colombia has been inhabited by various American Indian peoples since at least 12,000 BCE , including the Muisca , Quimbaya , and the Tairona . Spaniards arrived in 1499 and by the mid-16th century annexed part of the region , establishing the New Kingdom of Granada , with Santafé de Bogotá as its capital . Independence from Spain was achieved in 1819 , but by 1830 the Gran Colombia Federation was dissolved , with what is now Colombia and Panama emerging as the Republic of New Granada . The new sovereign state experimented with federalism as the Granadine Confederation ( 1858 ) , and then the United States of Colombia ( 1863 ) , before the Republic of Colombia was finally declared in 1886 . Panama seceded in 1903 , leading to Colombia 's present borders . Beginning in the 1960s , the country suffered from an asymmetric low-intensity armed conflict and political violence , both of which escalated in the 1990s . Since 2005 , there has been significant improvement in security , stability , and rule of law .
Bogotá ( /ˌboʊɡəˈtɑː/ , also UK : /ˌbɒɡ-/ , US : /ˈboʊɡətɑː/ , Spanish : [ boɣoˈta ] ( listen ) ) , officially Bogotá , Distrito Capital , abbreviated Bogotá , D.C. , and formerly known as Santa Fe de Bogotá between 1991 and 2000 , is the capital and largest city of Colombia , administered as the Capital District , as well as the capital of the department of Cundinamarca . Bogotá is a territorial entity of the first order , with the same administrative status as the departments of Colombia . It is the political , economic , administrative and industrial center of the country . Bogotá was founded as the capital of the New Kingdom of Granada on August 6 , 1538 , by Spanish conquistador Gonzalo Jiménez de Quesada after a harsh expedition into the Andes conquering the Muisca . The Muisca were the indigenous inhabitants of the region , and they called the place of the foundation Thybzaca or Old Town . The name of Bogotá corresponds to the Spanish pronunciation of the Muisca Bacatá ( or Mueketá ) which was the name of a neighboring settlement located between the modern towns of Funza and Cota . There are different opinions about the meaning of the word Bacatá , the most accepted being that it means walling of the farmland in the Chibcha language . Another popular translation argues that it means The Lady of the Andes . Further , the word 'Andes ' in the Aymara language means shining mountain , thus rendering the full lexical signification of Bogotá as The Lady of the shining mountain ( notice , however , that the language of the Muisca people was not Aymara but Chibcha ) . Others suggest that Bacatá was the name of the Muisca cacique who governed the land before the Spaniards arrived . Jiménez de Quesada gave the settlement the name of Our Lady of Hope but the Spanish crown gave it the name of Santafé ( Holy Faith ) in 1540 when it was appointed as a city . Santafé became the seat of the government of the Spanish Royal Audiencia of the New Kingdom of Granada ( created in 1550 ) , and then after 1717 it was the capital of the Viceroyalty of New Granada .
Lebanon ( /ˈlɛbənɒn/ ( listen ) ; Arabic : لبنان , romanized : Lubnān , Lebanese Arabic pronunciation : [ lɪbˈneːn ] ) , officially known as the Lebanese Republic [ nb 3 ] ( Arabic : الجمهورية اللبنانية , romanized : al-Jumhūrīyah al-Lubnānīyah , Lebanese Arabic pronunciation : [ elˈʒʊmhuːrɪjje lˈlɪbneːnɪjje ] ; French : République libanaise ) , is a country in Western Asia . It is bordered by Syria to the north and east and Israel to the south , while Cyprus is west across the Mediterranean Sea . Lebanon 's location at the crossroads of the Mediterranean Basin and the Arabian hinterland facilitated its rich history and shaped a cultural identity of religious and ethnic diversity . At just 10,452 km2 ( 4,036 mi2 ) , it is the smallest recognized sovereign state on the mainland Asian continent . [ nb 4 ] The earliest evidence of civilization in Lebanon dates back more than seven thousand years , predating recorded history . Lebanon was the home of the Canaanites/Phoenicians and their kingdoms , a maritime culture that flourished for almost three thousand years ( c. 3200-539 BC ) . In 64 BC , the region came under the rule of the Roman Empire , and eventually became one of the Empire 's leading centers of Christianity . In the Mount Lebanon range a monastic tradition known as the Maronite Church was established . As the Arab Muslims conquered the region , the Maronites held onto their religion and identity . However , a new religious group , the Druze , established themselves in Mount Lebanon as well , generating a religious divide that has lasted for centuries . During the Crusades , the Maronites re-established contact with the Roman Catholic Church and asserted their communion with Rome . The ties they established with the Latins have influenced the region into the modern era .
Beirut ( /beɪˈruːt/ bay-ROOT ; Arabic : بيروت , romanized : Bayrūt ; French : Beyrouth ) is the capital and largest city of Lebanon . No recent population census has been conducted , but 2007 estimates ranged from slightly more than 1 million to 2.2 million as part of Greater Beirut , which makes it the third-largest city in the Levant region and the fifteenth-largest in the Arab world . Located on a peninsula at the midpoint of Lebanon 's Mediterranean coast , Beirut is an important regional seaport . It is one of the oldest cities in the world , having been inhabited by Amer for more than 5,000 years . The first historical mention of Beirut is found in the Amarna letters from the New Kingdom of Egypt , which date to the 15th century BC . Beirut is Lebanon 's seat of government and plays a central role in the Lebanese economy , with most banks and corporations based in its Central District , Badaro , Rue Verdun , Hamra , Ryad el Soloh street , and Achrafieh . Following the destructive Lebanese Civil War , Beirut 's cultural landscape underwent major reconstruction . Identified and graded for accountancy , advertising , banking , finance and law , Beirut is ranked as a Beta World City by the Globalization and World Cities Research Network .
Sri Lanka ( UK : /sri ˈlæŋkə , ʃriː -/ , US : /- ˈlɑːŋkə/ ( listen ) ; Sinhala : ශ්‍රී ලංකා Śrī Laṃkā ; Tamil : இலங்கை Ilaṅkai ) , officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka , is an island country in South Asia , located in the Indian Ocean to the southwest of the Bay of Bengal and to the southeast of the Arabian Sea . The island is geographically separated from the Indian subcontinent by the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait . The legislative capital , Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte , is a suburb of the commercial capital and largest city , Colombo . Sri Lanka 's documented history spans 3,000 years , with evidence of pre-historic human settlements dating back to at least 125,000 years . It has a rich cultural heritage , and the first known Buddhist writings of Sri Lanka , the Pāli Canon , date back to the Fourth Buddhist council in 29 BC . Its geographic location and deep harbours made it of great strategic importance from the time of the ancient Silk Road through to the modern Maritime Silk Road . Sri Lanka was known in the west and from the beginning of British colonial rule as Ceylon ( /sɪˈlɒn/ , US also /seɪˈlɒn/ ) . A nationalist political movement arose in the country in the early 20th century to obtain political independence , which was granted in 1948 ; the country became a republic and adopted its current name in 1972 . Sri Lanka 's recent history has been marred by a 26-year civil war , which ended decisively when the Sri Lanka Armed Forces defeated the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam ( LTTE ) in 2009 . The current constitution stipulates the political system as a republic and a unitary state governed by a semi-presidential system . It has had a long history of international engagement , as a founding member of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation ( SAARC ) , and a member of the United Nations , the Commonwealth of Nations , the G77 , and the Non-Aligned Movement . Along with the Maldives , Sri Lanka is one of only two South Asian countries rated high on the Human Development Index ( HDI ) , with its HDI rating and per capita income the highest among South Asian nations .
Trincomalee ( English : /ˌtrɪŋkoʊməˈliː/ ; Tamil : திருகோணமலை , romanized : Tirukōṇamalai ; Sinhala : ත්‍රිකුණාමළය , romanized : Trikuṇāmalaya ) also known as Gokanna/Gokarna , is the administrative headquarters of the Trincomalee District and major resort port city of Eastern Province , Sri Lanka . Located on the east coast of the island overlooking the Trincomalee Harbour , 237 kilometres ( 147 mi ) north-east of Colombo , 182 kilometres ( 113 mi ) south-east of Jaffna and 111 kilometres ( 69 mi ) miles north of Batticaloa , Trincomalee has been one of the main centres of Sri Lankan Tamil language speaking culture on the island for over two millennia . With a population of 99,135 , the city is built on a peninsula of the same name , which divides its inner and outer harbours . People from Trincomalee are known as Trincomalians and the local authority is Trincomalee Urban Council . Trincomalee city is home to the famous Koneswaram temple from where it developed and earned its historic Tamil name Thirukonamalai . The town is home to other historical monuments such as the Bhadrakali Amman Temple , Trincomalee , the Trincomalee Hindu Cultural Hall and , opened in 1897 , the Trincomalee Hindu College . Trincomalee is also the site of the Trincomalee railway station and an ancient ferry service to Jaffna and the south side of the harbour at Muttur . The recorded history of Trincomalee spans more than two and a half thousand years , beginning with civilian settlement associated with the Koneswaram temple in the pre-modern era . One of the oldest cities in Asia , it has served as a major maritime seaport in the international trading history of the island with South East Asia . From its suburban village of Kankuveli , some of Asia 's earliest medical research at the Agathiyar Thapanam , the Siddhar Tamil medical university established by Agastya , helped spread Tamil Tamraparniyan culture across the continent . In the ancient world , it was successively the capital of eastern kingdoms of the Vanni country , developing under the Anuradhapura Kingdom , Pallava Dynasty , Chola Dynasty , Pandyan Dynasty , the Vannimai chieftaincies and the Jaffna kingdom through the Koneswaram shrine 's revenue . Trincomalee 's urbanization continued when made into a fortified port town following the Portuguese conquest of the Jaffna kingdom , changing hands between the Danish in 1620 , the Dutch , the French following a battle of the American Revolutionary War and the British in 1795 , being absorbed into the British Ceylon state in 1815 .
Afghanistan ( /æfˈɡænɪstæn , æfˈɡɑːnɪstɑːn/ ( listen ) ; Pashto/Dari : افغانستان , Pashto : Afġānistān [ avɣɒnisˈtɒn , ab- ] , [ a ] Dari : Afġānestān [ avɣɒnesˈtɒn ] ) , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan , is a landlocked country in Asia . Afghanistan is bordered by Pakistan to the east and south ; [ b ] Iran to the west ; Turkmenistan , Uzbekistan , and Tajikistan to the north ; and China to the northeast . Occupying 652,000 square kilometers ( 252,000 sq mi ) , it is a mountainous country with plains in the north and southwest . Kabul is the capital and largest city . The population is 32 million , mostly composed of ethnic Pashtuns , Tajiks , Hazaras and Uzbeks . Human habitation in Afghanistan dates back to the Middle Paleolithic Era , and the country 's strategic location along the Silk Road connected it to the cultures of the Middle East and other parts of Asia . The land has historically been home to various peoples and has witnessed numerous military campaigns , including those by Alexander the Great , Mauryas , Muslim Arabs , Mongols , British , Soviets , and by the United States with allied countries . The land also served as the source from which the Kushans , Hephthalites , Samanids , Saffarids , Ghaznavids , Ghorids , Khaljis , Mughals , Hotaks , Durranis , and others have risen to form major empires . The political history of the modern state of Afghanistan began with the Hotak and Durrani dynasties in the 18th century . In the late 19th century , Afghanistan became a buffer state in the Great Game between British India and the Russian Empire . Its border with British India , the Durand Line , was formed in 1893 but it is not recognized by the Afghan government and it has led to strained relations with Pakistan since the latter 's independence in 1947 . Following the Third Anglo-Afghan War in 1919 the country was free of foreign influence , eventually becoming a monarchy under Amanullah Khan , until almost 50 years later when Zahir Shah was overthrown and a republic was established .
Jalālābād /dʒəˈlæləˌbæd/ , or Dzalalabad , ( Urdu : جلال آباد ) is a city in eastern Afghanistan . It is the capital of Nangarhar Province . Jalalabad is located at the junction of the Kabul River and the Kunar River . It is linked by an approximately 150-kilometre ( 95 mi ) highway with Kabul to the west , and a 130-kilometre ( 80 mi ) highway with the Pakistani city of Peshawar to the east . Jalalabad has a population of 356,274 ( 2015 estimate ) , making it one of the five largest cities of Afghanistan . Jalalabad is a leading center of social and trade activity because of its proximity with the Torkham border crossing , 65 km ( 40 mi ) away . Major industries include papermaking , as well as agricultural products including oranges , lemon , rice , and sugarcane due to its warm climate . It has six districts and a total land area of 12,796 hectares ( 31,620 acres ) . The total number of dwellings in this city is 39,586 .
Tripoli ( Arabic : طرابلس / ALA-LC : Ṭarābulus [ a ] ) is the largest city in northern Lebanon and the second-largest city in the country . Situated 85 kilometers ( 53 miles ) north of the capital Beirut , it is the capital of the North Governorate and the Tripoli District . Tripoli overlooks the eastern Mediterranean Sea , and it is the northernmost seaport in Lebanon . It holds a string of four small islands offshore , and they are also the only islands in Lebanon . The Palm Islands were declared a protected area because of their status of haven for endangered loggerhead turtles ( Chelona mydas ) , rare monk seals and migratory birds . Even though the history of Tripoli dates back at least to the 14th century BCE , the city is famous for having the largest Crusader fortress in Lebanon ( the Citadel of Raymond de Saint-Gilles ) , and it has the second largest amount of Mamluk architectural heritage on earth ( behind Cairo ) . With the formation of Lebanon and the 1948 breakup of the Syrian-Lebanese customs union , Tripoli , once on par in economic and commercial importance to Beirut , was cut off from its traditional trade relations with the Syrian hinterland and therefore declined in relative prosperity . Tripoli borders the city of El Mina , the port of the Tripoli District , which it is geographically conjoined with to form the greater Tripoli conurbation .
Italy ( Italian : Italia [ iˈtaːlja ] ( listen ) ) , officially the Italian Republic ( Italian : Repubblica Italiana [ reˈpubblika itaˈljaːna ] ) , is a European country consisting of a peninsula delimited by the Alps and surrounded by several islands . Italy is located in south-central Europe , and it is also considered a part of Western Europe . The country covers a total area of 301,340 km2 ( 116,350 sq mi ) and shares land borders with France , Switzerland , Austria , Slovenia , and the enclaved microstates of Vatican City and San Marino . Italy has a territorial exclave in Switzerland ( Campione ) and a maritime exclave in the Tunisian Sea ( Lampedusa ) . With around 60 million inhabitants , Italy is the third-most populous member state of the European Union . The capital and largest city is Rome ; other major cities are Milan , Naples , Turin , Palermo , Genoa , Bologna , Florence and Venice . Due to its central geographic location in Southern Europe and the Mediterranean , Italy has historically been home to myriad peoples and cultures . In addition to the various ancient peoples dispersed throughout what is now modern-day Italy , the most predominant being the Indo-European Italic peoples who gave the peninsula its name , beginning from the classical era , Phoenicians and Carthaginians founded colonies mostly in insular Italy , Greeks established settlements in the so-called Magna Graecia of Southern Italy , while Etruscans and Celts inhabited central and northern Italy respectively . An Italic tribe known as the Latins formed the Roman Kingdom in the 8th century BC , which eventually became a republic with a government of the Senate and the People . The Roman Republic initially conquered and assimilated its neighbours on the Italian peninsula , eventually expanding and conquering parts of Europe , North Africa and Asia . By the first century BC , the Roman Empire emerged as the dominant power in the Mediterranean Basin and became a leading cultural , political and religious centre , inaugurating the Pax Romana , a period of more than 200 years during which Italy 's law , technology , economy , art , and literature developed . Italy remained the homeland of the Romans and the metropole of the empire , whose legacy can also be observed in the global distribution of culture , governments , Christianity and the Latin script .
The United Service Organizations Inc. ( USO ) is an American nonprofit-charitable corporation that provides live entertainment , such as comedians , actors and musicians , social facilities , and other programs to members of the United States Armed Forces and their families . Since 1941 , it has worked in partnership with the Department of War , and later with the Department of Defense ( DoD ) , relying heavily on private contributions and on funds , goods , and services from various corporate and individual donors . Although it is congressionally-chartered , it is not a government agency . Founded during World War II , the USO sought to be the GI 's home away from home and began a tradition of entertaining the troops that continues today . Involvement in the USO was one of the many ways in which the nation had come together to support the war effort , with nearly 1.5 million people having volunteered their services in some way . The USO initially disbanded in 1947 , but was revived in 1950 for the Korean War , after which it continued , also providing peacetime services . During the Vietnam War , USO social facilities ( USOs ) were sometimes located in combat zones . The organization became particularly known for its live performances , called camp shows , through which the entertainment industry helps boost the morale of servicemen and women . From the start , Hollywood was eager to show its patriotism , and many celebrities joined the ranks of USO entertainers . They went as volunteers to entertain , and celebrities continue to provide volunteer entertainment , in military bases in the U.S. and overseas , sometimes placing their own lives in danger , by traveling or performing under hazardous conditions . The USO has over 200 locations around the world in 14 countries ( including the U.S. ) and 27 states . During a gala marking the USO 's 75th anniversary in 2016 , retired Army Gen. George W. Casey Jr. , the current chairman of the USO Board of Governors , estimated that the USO has served more than 35 million Americans over its history .
Naples ( /ˈneɪpəlz/ ; Italian : Napoli [ ˈnaːpoli ] ( listen ) ; Neapolitan : Napule [ ˈnɑːpələ , ˈnɑːpulə ] ; Ancient Greek : Νεάπολις , romanized : Neápolis ) [ a ] is the regional capital of Campania and the third-largest city of Italy after Rome and Milan . In 2017 , around 967,069 people lived within the city 's administrative limits while its province-level municipality has a population of 3,115,320 residents . Its continuously built-up metropolitan area ( that stretches beyond the boundaries of the Metropolitan City of Naples ) is the second or third largest metropolitan area in Italy and one of the most densely populated cities in Europe . First settled by Greeks in the second millennium BC , Naples is one of the oldest continuously inhabited urban areas in the world . In the ninth century BC , a colony known as Parthenope or Παρθενόπη was established on the Island of Megaride , later refounded as Neápolis in the sixth century BC . The city was an important part of Magna Graecia , played a major role in the merging of Greek and Roman society and a significant cultural centre under the Romans . It served as the capital of the Duchy of Naples ( 661-1139 ) , then of the Kingdom of Naples ( 1282-1816 ) and finally of the Two Sicilies until the unification of Italy in 1861 . Naples is also considered a capital of the Baroque since the arrival of Caravaggio in the 17th century , and due to the artistic revolution his arrival occasioned . Between 1925 and 1936 , Naples was expanded and upgraded by Benito Mussolini 's government but subsequently sustained severe damage from Allied bombing during World War II , which led to extensive post-1945 reconstruction work . Naples has experienced significant economic growth in recent decades , helped by the construction of the Centro Direzionale business district and an advanced transportation network , which includes the Alta Velocità high-speed rail link to Rome and Salerno and an expanded subway network . Naples is the third-largest urban economy in Italy , after Milan and Rome . The Port of Naples is one of the most important in Europe and home of the Allied Joint Force Command Naples , the NATO body that oversees North Africa , the Sahel and Middle East .
South Africa , officially the Republic of South Africa ( RSA ) , is the southernmost country in Africa . It is bounded to the south by 2,798 kilometres ( 1,739 mi ) of coastline of Southern Africa stretching along the South Atlantic and Indian Oceans ; to the north by the neighbouring countries of Namibia , Botswana , and Zimbabwe ; and to the east and northeast by Mozambique and Eswatini ( Swaziland ) ; and it surrounds the enclaved country of Lesotho . South Africa is the largest country in Southern Africa and the 24th-largest country in the world by land area and , with over 58 million people , is also the world 's 24th-most populous nation . It is the southernmost country on the mainland of the Old World or the Eastern Hemisphere . About 80 percent of South Africans are of Bantu ancestry , divided among a variety of ethnic groups speaking different African languages , nine of which have official status . The remaining population consists of Africa 's largest communities of European , Asian ( Indian ) , and multiracial ( Coloured ) ancestry . South Africa is a multiethnic society encompassing a wide variety of cultures , languages , and religions . Its pluralistic makeup is reflected in the constitution 's recognition of 11 official languages , which is the fourth-highest number in the world . Two of these languages are of European origin : Afrikaans developed from Dutch and serves as the first language of most coloured and white South Africans ; English reflects the legacy of British colonialism , and is commonly used in public and commercial life , though it is fourth-ranked as a spoken first language . The country is one of the few in Africa never to have had a coup d'état , and regular elections have been held for almost a century . However , the vast majority of black South Africans were not enfranchised until 1994 . During the 20th century , the black majority sought to claim more rights from the dominant white minority , with this struggle playing a large role in the country 's recent history and politics .
Oshakati is a town of 37,000 inhabitants in the Oshana Region of Namibia . It is the regional capital and was officially founded in July 1966 . The city was used as a base of operations by the South African Defence Force ( SADF ) during the South African Border War . Oshakati is divided into the electoral constituencies of Oshakati East and Oshakati West .
South West Africa ( Afrikaans : Suidwes-Afrika ; German : Südwestafrika ; Dutch : Zuidwest-Afrika ) was the name for modern-day Namibia when it was under South African administration , from 1915 to 1990 . Previously the colony of German South West Africa from 1884-1915 , it was made a League of Nations mandate of the British-ruled Union of South Africa following Germanys losses in World War I . Although the mandate was abolished by the UN in 1966 , South African rule continued despite it being illegal under international law . The territory was administered directly by the South African government from 1915 to 1978 , when the Turnhalle Constitutional Conference laid the groundwork for semi-autonomous rule . During an interim period between 1978 and 1985 , South Africa gradually granted South West Africa a limited form of home rule , culminating in the formation of a Transitional Government of National Unity . In 1990 , South West Africa was granted independence as the Republic of Namibia with the exception of Walvis Bay and the Penguin Islands , which continued to remain under South African rule until 1994 .
Spain ( Spanish : España [ esˈpaɲa ] ( listen ) ) , officially the Kingdom of Spain ( Spanish : Reino de España ) , [ a ] [ b ] is a country in Southwestern Europe with some pockets of Spanish territory across the Strait of Gibraltar and the Atlantic Ocean . Its continental European territory is situated on the Iberian Peninsula . Its territory also includes two archipelagoes : the Canary Islands off the coast of Africa , and the Balearic Islands in the Mediterranean Sea . The African enclaves of Ceuta , Melilla , and Peñón de Vélez de la Gomera make Spain the only European country to have a physical border with an African country ( Morocco ) . [ h ] Several small islands in the Alboran Sea are also part of Spanish territory . The country 's mainland is bordered to the south and east by the Mediterranean Sea except for a small land boundary with Gibraltar ; to the north and northeast by France , Andorra , and the Bay of Biscay ; and to the west and northwest by Portugal and the Atlantic Ocean . With an area of 505,990 km2 ( 195,360 sq mi ) , Spain is the largest country in Southern Europe , the second largest country in Western Europe and the European Union , and the fourth largest country in the European continent . By population ( about 47 million ) , Spain is the sixth largest in Europe and the fifth in the European Union . Spain 's capital and largest city is Madrid ; other major urban areas include Barcelona , Valencia , Seville , Zaragoza , Málaga and Bilbao . Modern humans first arrived in the Iberian Peninsula around 35,000 years ago . Iberian cultures along with ancient Phoenician , Greek , Celtic and Carthaginian settlements developed on the peninsula until it came under Roman rule around 200 BCE , after which the region was named Hispania , based on the earlier Phoenician name Sp ( a ) n or Spania . At the end of the Western Roman Empire the Germanic tribal confederations migrated from Central Europe , invaded the Iberian peninsula and established relatively independent realms in its western provinces , including the Suebi , Alans and Vandals .
Zaragoza [ a ] ( also called Saragossa [ b ] in English ) is the capital city of the Zaragoza province and of the autonomous community of Aragon , Spain . It lies by the Ebro river and its tributaries , the Huerva and the Gállego , roughly in the center of both Aragon and the Ebro basin . On 1 January 2019 the population of the city of Zaragoza was 706,904 , within its administrative limits on a land area of 1,062.64 square kilometres ( 410.29 square miles ) , ranking fifth in Spain . It is the 32nd most populous municipality in the European Union . The population of the metropolitan area was estimated in 2006 at 783,763 inhabitants . The municipality is home to more than 50 percent of the Aragonese population . The city lies at an elevation of 199 metres ( 653 feet ) above sea level . Zaragoza hosted Expo 2008 in the summer of 2008 , a world 's fair on water and sustainable development . It was also a candidate for the European Capital of Culture in 2012 . The city is famous for its folklore , local gastronomy , and landmarks such as the Basílica del Pilar , La Seo Cathedral and the Aljafería Palace . Together with La Seo and the Aljafería , several other buildings form part of the Mudéjar Architecture of Aragon which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site . The Fiestas del Pilar are among the most celebrated festivals in Spain .
Kabul ( Persian : کابل , romanized : Kābol , Pashto : کابل , romanized : Kābəl ) is the capital and largest city of Afghanistan , located in the eastern section of the country . It is also a municipality , forming part of the greater Kabul Province , and divided into 22 districts . According to estimates in 2019 , the population of Kabul is 4.114 million , which includes all the major ethnic groups of Afghanistan . Afghanistan 's only city with a population of over 1 million , Kabul serves as its political , cultural and economical center . Rapid urbanization had made Kabul the world 's 75th largest city . Kabul is located high up in a narrow valley between the Hindu Kush mountains , with an elevation of 1,790 metres ( 5,873 ft ) making it one of the highest capitals in the world . The city is said to be over 3,500 years old , mentioned since at least the time of the Achaemenid Empire . Located at crossroads in Asia - roughly halfway between Istanbul in the west and Hanoi in the east - it is in a strategic location along the trade routes of South and Central Asia , and a key location of the ancient Silk Road . It has been part of the Achaemenids followed by the Seleucids , Mauryans , Kushans , Kabul Shahis , Saffarids , Samanids , Ghaznavids , Ghurids , Khwarazmians , Qarlughids , Khaljis , Timurids , Mughals , and Hotaks , until finally becoming part of the Durrani Empire ( also known as the Afghan Empire ) in 1747 . Kabul became the capital of Afghanistan in 1776 , during the reign of Timur Shah Durrani , the son of Ahmad Shah Durrani . In the early 19th century , the British occupied the city , but after establishing foreign relations , they were compelled to withdraw all forces from Afghanistan . The city was occupied by the Soviets in 1979 but they too abandoned it after the 1988 Geneva Accords were signed .
Pakistan , [ b ] officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan , [ c ] is a country in South Asia . It is the world 's sixth-most populous country with a population exceeding 207.8 million . In area , it is the 33rd-largest country , spanning 881,913 square kilometres ( 340,509 square miles ) . Pakistan has a 1,046-kilometre ( 650-mile ) coastline along the Arabian Sea and Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by India to the east , Afghanistan to the west , Iran to the southwest , and China in the northeast . It is separated narrowly from Tajikistan by Afghanistan 's Wakhan Corridor in the northwest , and also shares a maritime border with Oman . The territory that now constitutes Pakistan was the site of several ancient cultures and intertwined with the history of the broader Indian subcontinent . The ancient history involves the Neolithic site of Mehrgarh and the Bronze Age Indus Valley Civilisation , and was later home to kingdoms ruled by people of different faiths and cultures , including Hindus , Indo-Greeks , Muslims , Turco-Mongols , Afghans and Sikhs . The area has been ruled by numerous empires and dynasties , including the Persian Achaemenid Empire , Alexander III of Macedon , the Seleucid Empire , the Indian Maurya Empire , the Gupta Empire , the Arab Umayyad Caliphate , the Delhi Sultanate , the Mongol Empire , the Mughal Empire , the Afghan Durrani Empire , the Sikh Empire ( partially ) and , most recently , the British Indian Empire . Pakistan is the only country to have been created in the name of Islam . It is an ethnically and linguistically diverse country , with similarly diverse geography and wildlife . Initially a dominion , Pakistan adopted a constitution in 1956 , becoming an Islamic republic . An ethnic civil war and Indian military intervention in 1971 resulted in the secession of East Pakistan as the new country of Bangladesh .
Karachi ( Urdu : کراچی ; Sindhi : ڪراچي ; ALA-LC : Karācī , IPA : [ kəˈraːtʃi ] ( listen ) ) is the capital of the Pakistani province of Sindh . It is the most populous city in Pakistan , and fifth-most-populous city proper in the world . Ranked as a beta-global city , the city is Pakistan 's premier industrial and financial centre . It is the cultural , economic , philanthropic , educational , and political hub of the country , and Pakistan 's most cosmopolitan city . Situated on the Arabian Sea , Karachi serves as a transport hub , and is home to Pakistan 's two largest seaports , the Port of Karachi and Port Bin Qasim , as well as Pakistan 's busiest airport , Jinnah International Airport . Though the Karachi region has been inhabited for millennia , the city was founded as the fortified village of Kolachi in 1729 . The settlement drastically increased in importance with the arrival of British East India Company in the mid 19th century , who not only embarked on major works to transform the city into a major seaport , but also connected it with their extensive railway network . By the time of the Partition of British India , the city was the largest in Sindh with an estimated population of 400,000 . Following the independence of Pakistan , the city 's population increased dramatically with the arrival of hundreds of thousands of Muslim refugees from India . The city experienced rapid economic growth following independence , attracting migrants from throughout Pakistan and South Asia . Karachi is one of Pakistan 's most secular and socially liberal cities . It is also the most linguistically , ethnically , and religiously diverse city in Pakistan .
Jaffna ( Tamil : யாழ்ப்பாணம் , romanized : Yāḻppāṇam , Sinhala : යාපනය , romanized : Yāpanaya ) is the capital city of the Northern Province of Sri Lanka . It is the administrative headquarters of the Jaffna District located on a peninsula of the same name . With a population of 88,138 in 2012 , Jaffna is Sri Lanka 's 12th most populous city . Jaffna is approximately six miles ( 9.7 kilometres ) from Kandarodai which served as an emporium in the Jaffna peninsula from classical antiquity . Jaffna 's suburb Nallur , served as the capital of the four-century-long medieval Jaffna Kingdom . Prior to the Sri Lankan Civil War , it was Sri Lanka 's second most populous city after Colombo . The 1980s insurgent uprising led to extensive damage , expulsion of part of the population , and military occupation . Since the end of civil war in 2009 , refugees and internally displaced people began returning to homes , while government and private sector reconstruction started taking place . Historically , Jaffna has been a contested city . It was made into a colonial port town during the Portuguese occupation of the Jaffna peninsula in 1619 who lost it to the Dutch , only to lose it to the British in 1796 . During the civil war , the rebel Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam ( LTTE ) occupied Jaffna in 1986 . The Indian Peace Keeping Force ( IPKF ) briefly occupied the city in 1987 .
Barcelona ( /ˌbɑːrsəˈloʊnə/ BAR-sə-LOH-nə , Catalan : [ bəɾsəˈlonə ] , Spanish : [ baɾθeˈlona ] ) is a city on the coast of northeastern Spain . It is the capital and largest city of the autonomous community of Catalonia , as well as the second most populous municipality of Spain . With a population of 1.6 million within city limits , its urban area extends to numerous neighbouring municipalities within the Province of Barcelona and is home to around 4.8 million people , making it the sixth most populous urban area in the European Union after Paris , the Ruhr area , Madrid , and Milan . It is one of the largest metropolises on the Mediterranean Sea , located on the coast between the mouths of the rivers Llobregat and Besòs , and bounded to the west by the Serra de Collserola mountain range , the tallest peak of which is 512 metres ( 1,680 feet ) high . Founded as a Roman city , in the Middle Ages Barcelona became the capital of the County of Barcelona . After merging with the Kingdom of Aragon , Barcelona continued to be an important city in the Crown of Aragon as an economic and administrative centre of this Crown and the capital of the Principality of Catalonia . Barcelona has a rich cultural heritage and is today an important cultural centre and a major tourist destination . Particularly renowned are the architectural works of Antoni Gaudí and Lluís Domènech i Montaner , which have been designated UNESCO World Heritage Sites . The headquarters of the Union for the Mediterranean are located in Barcelona . The city is known for hosting the 1992 Summer Olympics as well as world-class conferences and expositions and also many international sport tournaments . Barcelona is one of the world 's leading tourist , economic , trade fair and cultural centres , and its influence in commerce , education , entertainment , sports , media , fashion , science , and the arts all contribute to its status as one of the major global cities . It is a major cultural and economic centre in southwestern Europe , 24th in the world ( before Zürich , after Frankfurt ) and a financial centre .
Colombo ( /kəˈlʌmboʊ/ ; Sinhala : කොළඹ , romanized : Kolamba , pronunciation [ ˈkəlɐmbɞ ] ; Tamil : கொழும்பு , romanized : Koḻumpu , Tamil pronunciation : [ koɻumbu ] ) is the commercial capital and largest city of Sri Lanka by population . According to the Brookings Institution , Colombo metropolitan area has a population of 5.6 million , and 752,993 in the city proper . It is the financial centre of the island and a tourist destination . It is located on the west coast of the island and adjacent to the Greater Colombo area which includes Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte , the legislative capital of Sri Lanka and Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia . Colombo is often referred to as the capital since Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte is within the urban area of , and a suburb of , Colombo . It is also the administrative capital of the Western Province and the district capital of Colombo District . Colombo is a busy and vibrant place with a mixture of modern life and colonial buildings and ruins . Due to its large harbour and its strategic position along the East-West sea trade routes , Colombo was known to ancient traders 2,000 years ago . [ citation needed ] It was made the capital of the island when Sri Lanka was ceded to the British Empire in 1815 , and its status as capital was retained when the nation became independent in 1948 . In 1978 , when administrative functions were moved to Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte , Colombo was designated as the commercial capital of Sri Lanka . Like many cities , Colombo 's urban area extends well beyond the boundaries of a single local authority , [ citation needed ] encompassing other municipal and urban councils such as Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte Municipal Council , Dehiwala Mount Lavinia Municipal Council , Kolonnawa Urban Council , Kaduwela Municipal Council and Kotikawatte Mulleriyawa Pradeshiya Sabha . [ citation needed ] The main city is home to a majority of Sri Lanka 's corporate offices , restaurants and entertainment venues .
Iran ( Persian : ایران Irān [ ʔiːˈɾɒːn ] ( listen ) ) , also called Persia , and officially the Islamic Republic of Iran ( Persian : جمهوری اسلامی ایران Jomhuri-ye Eslāmi-ye Irān ( listen ) [ dʒomhuːˌɾije eslɒːˌmije ʔiːˈɾɒn ] ) , is a country in Western Asia . With 82 million inhabitants , Iran is the world 's 18th most populous country . Its territory spans 1,648,195 km2 ( 636,372 sq mi ) , making it the second largest country in the Middle East and the 17th largest in the world . Iran is bordered to the northwest by Armenia and the Republic of Azerbaijan , [ a ] to the north by the Caspian Sea , to the northeast by Turkmenistan , to the east by Afghanistan and Pakistan , to the south by the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman , and to the west by Turkey and Iraq . Its central location in Eurasia and Western Asia , and its proximity to the Strait of Hormuz , give it geostrategic importance . Tehran is the political and economic center of Iran , and the largest and most populous city in Western Asia with more than 8.8 million residents in the city and 15 million in the larger metropolitan area . Iran is home to one of the world 's oldest civilizations , beginning with the formation of the Elamite kingdoms in the fourth millennium BCE . It was first unified by the Iranian Medes in the seventh century BCE , and reached its territorial height in the sixth century BCE under Cyrus the Great , whose Achaemenid Empire stretched from Eastern Europe to the Indus Valley , one of the largest empires in history . The empire fell to Alexander the Great in the fourth century BCE and was divided into several Hellenistic states . An Iranian rebellion established the Parthian Empire in the third century BCE , which was succeeded in the third century CE by the Sasanian Empire , a leading world power for the next four centuries . Arab Muslims conquered the empire in the seventh century CE , and the subsequent Islamization of Iran led to the decline of the once dominant Zoroastrian religion . Iran 's major contributions to art , philosophy , and science spread throughout the Muslim world and beyond during the Islamic Golden Age .
Tehran or Teheran ( /tɛəˈræn , -ˈrɑːn , ˌteɪə-/ ; Persian : تهران Ťehrân [ tehˈɾɒːn ] ( listen ) ) is the capital of Iran and Tehran Province . With a population of around 8.7 million in the city and 15 million in the larger metropolitan area of Greater Tehran , Tehran is the most populous city in Iran and Western Asia , and has the second-largest metropolitan area in the Middle East ( after Cairo ) . It is ranked 24th in the world by the population of its metropolitan area . In the Classical era , part of the territory of present-day Tehran was occupied by Rhages , a prominent Median city . It was subject to destruction through the medieval Arab , Turkic , and Mongol invasions . Its modern-day inheritor remains as an urban area absorbed into the metropolitan area of Greater Tehran . Tehran was first chosen as the capital of Iran by Agha Mohammad Khan of the Qajar dynasty in 1786 , in order to remain within close reach of Iran 's territories in the Caucasus , before being separated from Iran as a result of the Russo-Iranian Wars , and to avoid the vying factions of the previously ruling Iranian dynasties . The capital has been moved several times throughout history , and Tehran is the 32nd national capital of Iran . Large-scale demolition and rebuilding began in the 1920s , and Tehran has been a destination for mass migrations from all over Iran since the 20th century . Tehran is home to many historical collections , including the royal complexes of Golestan , Sa'dabad , and Niavaran , where the two last dynasties of the former Imperial State of Iran were seated . Tehran 's most famous landmarks include the Azadi Tower , a memorial built under the reign of Mohammad Reza Shah of the Pahlavi dynasty in 1971 to mark the 2,500th year of the foundation of the Imperial State of Iran , and the Milad Tower , the world 's sixth-tallest self-supporting tower which was completed in 2007 . The Tabiat Bridge , a newly built landmark , was completed in 2014 .
Madrid ( /məˈdrɪd/ , Spanish : [ maˈðɾið ] ) [ n. 1 ] is the capital and most populous city of Spain . The city has almost 3.3 million inhabitants and a metropolitan area population of approximately 6.5 million . It is the second-largest city in the European Union ( EU ) , surpassed only by Berlin , and its monocentric metropolitan area is the second-largest in the EU , smaller only than Paris . The municipality covers 604.3 km2 ( 233.3 sq mi ) . Madrid lies on the River Manzanares in the centre of both the country and the Community of Madrid ( which comprises the city of Madrid , its conurbation and extended suburbs and villages ) ; this community is bordered by the autonomous communities of Castile and León and Castile-La Mancha . As the capital city of Spain , seat of government , and residence of the Spanish monarch , Madrid is also the political , economic and cultural centre of the country . The current mayor is José Luis Martínez-Almeida from the People 's Party . The Madrid urban agglomeration has the third-largest GDP in the European Union and its influence in politics , education , entertainment , environment , media , fashion , science , culture , and the arts all contribute to its status as one of the world 's major global cities . Madrid is home to two world-famous football clubs , Real Madrid and Atlético Madrid . Due to its economic output , high standard of living , and market size , Madrid is considered the major financial centre and the leading economic hub of the Iberian Peninsula and of Southern Europe . It hosts the head offices of the vast majority of major Spanish companies , such as Telefónica , IAG or Repsol . Madrid is also the 10th most liveable city in the world according to Monocle magazine , in its 2017 index .
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia , is a sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australian continent , the island of Tasmania , and numerous smaller islands . It is the largest country in Oceania and the world 's sixth-largest country by total area . The population of 26 million is highly urbanised and heavily concentrated on the eastern seaboard . Australia 's capital is Canberra , and its largest city is Sydney . The country 's other major metropolitan areas are Melbourne , Brisbane , Perth , and Adelaide . Indigenous Australians inhabited the continent for about 65,000 years prior to the first arrival of Dutch explorers in the early 17th century , who named it New Holland . In 1770 , Australia 's eastern half was claimed by Great Britain and initially settled through penal transportation to the colony of New South Wales from 26 January 1788 , a date which became Australia 's national day . The population grew steadily in subsequent decades , and by the time of an 1850s gold rush , most of the continent had been explored and an additional five self-governing crown colonies established . On 1 January 1901 , the six colonies federated , forming the Commonwealth of Australia . Australia has since maintained a stable liberal democratic political system that functions as a federal parliamentary constitutional monarchy , comprising six states and ten territories . Australia is the oldest , flattest , and driest inhabited continent , with the least fertile soils . It has a landmass of 7,617,930 square kilometres ( 2,941,300 sq mi ) .
Melbourne ( /ˈmɛlbən/ ( listen ) MEL-bərn ) [ note 1 ] is the capital and most populous city of the Australian state of Victoria , and the second most populous city in Australia and Oceania . Its name refers to an urban agglomeration of 9,993 km2 ( 3,858 sq mi ) , comprising a metropolitan area with 31 municipalities , and is also the common name for its city centre . The city occupies much of the coastline of Port Phillip bay and spreads into the hinterlands towards the Dandenong and Macedon ranges , Mornington Peninsula and Yarra Valley . It has a population of 5 million ( 19% of the population of Australia ) , and its inhabitants are referred to as Melburnians . [ note 2 ] The city was founded on 30 August 1835 , in the then-British colony of New South Wales , by free settlers from the colony of Van Diemens Land ( modern-day Tasmania ) . It was incorporated as a Crown settlement in 1837 , and named Melbourne by Governor General Richard Bourke on 10 April 1837 in honour of the British Prime Minister , William Lamb , 2nd Viscount Melbourne . In 1851 , four years after Queen Victoria declared it a city , Melbourne became the capital of the new colony of Victoria . In the wake of the 1850s Victorian gold rush , the city entered a lengthy boom period that , by the late 1880s , had transformed it into one of the world 's largest and wealthiest metropolises . After the federation of Australia in 1901 , it served as interim seat of government of the new nation until Canberra became the permanent capital in 1927 . Today , it is a leading financial centre in the Asia-Pacific region and ranks 15th in the Global Financial Centres Index . Melbourne is home to many of Australia 's best-known landmarks , such as the Melbourne Cricket Ground , the National Gallery of Victoria and the World Heritage-listed Royal Exhibition Building . It is also the birthplace of Australian impressionism , Australian rules football , and the Australian film and television industries .
Syria ( Arabic : سوريا , romanized : Sūriyā ) , officially the Syrian Arab Republic ( Arabic : الجمهورية العربية السورية , romanized : al-Jumhūrīyah al-ʻArabīyah as-Sūrīyah ) , is a country in Western Asia , bordering Lebanon to the southwest , the Mediterranean Sea to the west , Turkey to the north , Iraq to the east , Jordan to the south , and Israel to the southwest . A country of fertile plains , high mountains , and deserts , Syria is home to diverse ethnic and religious groups , including Syrian Arabs , Kurds , Turkemens , Assyrians , Armenians , Circassians , Mandeans and Greeks . Religious groups include Sunnis , Christians , Alawites , Druze , Isma'ilis , Mandeans , Shiites , Salafis , Yazidis , and Jews . Arabs are the largest ethnic group , and Sunnis the largest religious group . Syria is a unitary republic consisting of 14 governorates and is the only country that politically espouses Ba'athism . It is a member of one international organization other than the United Nations , the Non-Aligned Movement ; it was suspended from the Arab League in November 2011 and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation , and self-suspended from the Union for the Mediterranean . The name Syria historically referred to a wider region , broadly synonymous with the Levant , and known in Arabic as al-Sham . The modern state encompasses the sites of several ancient kingdoms and empires , including the Eblan civilization of the 3rd millennium BC . Aleppo and the capital city Damascus are among the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world . In the Islamic era , Damascus was the seat of the Umayyad Caliphate and a provincial capital of the Mamluk Sultanate in Egypt . The modern Syrian state was established in the mid-20th century after centuries of Ottoman and a brief period French mandate , and represented the largest Arab state to emerge from the formerly Ottoman-ruled Syrian provinces . It gained de jure independence as a parliamentary republic on 24 October 1945 , when Republic of Syria became a founding member of the United Nations , an act which legally ended the former French Mandate - although French troops did not leave the country until April 1946 .
Damascus ( /dəˈmæskəs/ ; Arabic : دمشق , romanized : Dimašq [ diˈmaʃq ] , Syrian Arabic : [ dɪˈmaʃʔ ] , French : Damas ) is the capital of Syria ; it is also the country 's largest city , following the decline in population of Aleppo due to the battle for the city . It is colloquially known in Syria as aš-Šām ( الشام ) and titled the City of Jasmine ( مدينة الياسمين Madīnat al-Yāsmīn ) . Damascus is a major cultural center of the Levant and the Arab world . The city has an estimated population of 1,711,000 as of 2009 [ update ] . Located in south-western Syria , Damascus is the center of a large metropolitan area of 2.7 million people ( 2004 ) . Geographically embedded on the eastern foothills of the Anti-Lebanon mountain range 80 kilometres ( 50 mi ) inland from the eastern shore of the Mediterranean on a plateau 680 metres ( 2,230 ft ) above sea level , Damascus experiences a semi-arid climate because of the rain shadow effect . The Barada River flows through Damascus . First settled in the second millennium BC , it was chosen as the capital of the Umayyad Caliphate from 661 to 750 . After the victory of the Abbasid dynasty , the seat of Islamic power was moved to Baghdad . Damascus saw a political decline throughout the Abbasid era , only to regain significant importance in the Ayyubid and Mamluk periods . Today , it is the seat of the central government and all of the government ministries . As of September 2019 [ update ] , 8 years since the start of the Syrian Civil War , Damascus has been named the world 's least livable city by the Economist Intelligence Unit .