Visit Cosmopolitan Cities - A Travel Gateway to the Metropolises of the World - Nations Online Project Famous Cities of the World ___ Famous Cities of the World keywords: world major city, great world city, cities around the world, cities of the world For a virtual city-hopping, this is the gateway to cosmopolitan cities around the World. The cities and metropolises listed below are the cultural, intellectual, and economical centres of a country and often the seat of the national or regional government. They are social melting pots and main places for trade and innovations. On the list below the city's link will lead you to information about a city with satellite views and maps and links to official city sites or the official visitors sites. The country links will open the country profile page. keywords: world metropolises, mega cities, global cities, major municipalities Metropolis »I may not have gone where I intended to go, but I think I have ended up where I intended to be.« Douglas Adams The largest city and national capital of the Netherlands (Holland). Formerly known as Angora, second largest city and the national capital of Turkey . Named after the Greek goddess Athena, the municipality of Athens is the national capital of Greece .

Gaming Mecca of the East Coast, home of the Miss America Pageant, site of the world famous Boardwalk in the State of New Jersey . Largest city in Maryland , USA . Thailand's national capital, its largest city and the country's main cultural centre. The national capital and second largest city of China . The largest city and national capital of Germany (Deutschland). The national capital city of Switzerland with an UNESCO recognized mediaeval city centre. Brussels (Stad Brussel, Bruxelles, Brüssel) The national capital of Belgium , sometimes called the European capital because the city houses main institutions of the European Union and is also the political seat of the NATO. Hungary's capital city, comprises of the hilly Buda on the west and the flat Pest on the east bank of the Danube river. Buenos Aires (Ciudad de Buenos Aires, city of "Good Airs" in Spanish) The former (1536) Ciudad del Espíritu Santo y Puerto Santa María del Buen Ayre is the largest city and the national capital of Argentina .

Located on the banks and islands of the Nile River in northeast Egypt, Cairo is the largest city in both Africa and the Middle East, the national capital of Egypt and a cultural centre of the Arab world. Australia's planned capital city, founded in 1908, some years after the federation of Australian states into the Commonwealth of Australia in 1901. Famous city at the French Riviera, the Côte d'Azur in France , tourist attraction and host of the annual Cannes Film Festival. Cape Town (Sasekapa, Kaapstad) Since some years the city is a popular tourist destination in South Africa ; Cape Town is the legislative centre of the country and capital city of the Western Cape Province . The City of Chicago is the third largest city in the United States located on the shores of Lake Michigan, Illinois . Cologne (Stadt Köln) Cologne is the oldest cities in Germany . The name Cologne stems from Agrippina, the Cologne-born wife of the Roman Emperor Claudius, who proclaimed the city "Colonia" in the year 50 AD. Copenhagen (København) The capital city of Denmark , the city houses the national parliament, the government, and the Danish monarchy.

Visit Damascus one of the oldest city in the world and the national capital of Syria . The North Indian city is together with New Delhi the "National Capital Territory", second largest city and capital city of India . Main city of the emirate Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates , the city will host the first Dubai International Film Festival in December 2004. Bhaile Átha Cliath is the capital and largest city of Ireland Historical city and capital city of the region Tuscany (Toscana) in Italy . Genève (Genf, Genève, Geneva), Switzerland Cosmopolitan Swiss city at the Lake Geneva, today home to around 190 international organisations, both governmental and non-governmental. Hague, The (Den Haag) Netherlands seat of the Dutch government and as one of the capitals of the United Nations it hosts, beside other institutions of the UN, the International Court of Justice.

Ha Noi The national capital of Viet Nam , a must see is the Old Quarter of Hanoi, the oldest continuously developed area of Viet Nam with its narrow streets of houses, still occupied by guilds of tradespeople, a legacy of Hanoi's ancient past, but the area is challenged by rapid changes since Viet Nam's policy of economic openness, so hurry. Havana (San Cristóbal de La Habana) Once Great Britain has seized the city in 1762, and then exchanged it for Florida the following year. Habana is the capital of Cuba and the largest city in the Caribbean. Largest city and the capital city of Finland . Hong Kong (Xianggang, Hsiang Kang, the Fragrant Harbour) The city was a former British dependency that was returned to China in 1997, now it is formaly a Special Administrative Region (SAR) of China situated at the South China Sea, by population the fourth largest metropolitan area of the PRC. Honolulu (the place of shelter) Most populous city, principal port and capital of Hawai'i , a state of the USA. The city is located along the southeast coast of the island of Oahu.

Formerly (until 1949) Batavia, (from 1949-72) Djakarta, located on the island of Java, is the largest city and the national capital of Indonesia . The capital city of the State of Israel , also claimed by the Palestinians as the capital of Palestine ; the ancient Middle Eastern city is of key importance to the religions of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. State of Missouri , often abbreviated KCMO, a trading post in 1821, today Kansas City is the centre of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area and a centre for night life and music. Kathmandu Metropolitan City is the cultural and religious centre and the capital city of Nepal , famous for its Buddhist and Hindu temples and palaces. It is the largest city and the national capital of Malaysia well known by its landmark the Petronas Twin Towers, one of the tallest buildings in the world. Largest city, cultural and educational centre and the national capital of Portugal located in the west of the country on the Atlantic coast.

Largest metropolitan area and the capital city of both, the United Kingdom and of England , a polycentric city with many core districts and no clear hierarchy among them, Londinium was founded by the Romans in the 1st century AD. Los Angeles (LA) The City of Los Angeles is a very large urban sprawl in south California , in the west of the USA , it's the second most populous city of the country and famous for its movie and television productions (Hollywood). By the way, nobody walks in LA. Luxembourg (Luxemburg, Lëtzebuerg) Originated from a castle called Lucilinburhuc and its surrounding settlement, today the city is the national capital of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and one of the capitals of banking in Europe. Proclaimed official capital of the Kingdom of Spain in 1561, Spain's largest city and the national centre of arts and industry. The pre-Hispanic village called Maynila is today the Capital City of the Philippines . Second largest city (by population) of Australia , a trendy metropolis with everything you expect from a big city.

In ancient times the pre-Columbian city Tenochtitlán, today the national capital of Mexico , the oldest capital in the New World, founded in 1525 by the Spaniards. Milan (Milano, Mailand) North Italian City, the capital of the Lombardy (Lombardia) region and so-called the economic capital of Italy , famous for fashion Italian style. Montreal (Montréal) Largest city in the province of Québec , in Canada , the world's second largest francophone city after Paris is a major centre of business, economy, culture, and world affairs. Moscow (Moskvá) The centre of power and the capital of the Russian Federation , well known are its landmarks the Kremlin, the Red Square and the Saint Basil's Cathedral, and famous for the Russian ballet and the performing arts. Formerly known as Bombay, Mumbai is one of the most populous cities in the world, capital of the state of Maharashtra , India .

Munich (München) Third largest city of Germany and state capital of Bavaria , founded in 1158; the city is famous for its rural fashion, its beers and as the host of the annual Oktoberfest - the biggest public festival of the world; and in Munich is the headquarters of BMW. Nazareth The city of the Annunciation, In the New Testament, the city is described as the childhood home of Jesus,. The ancient town in northern Israel is the capital of the Northern District of the country, and the largest Arab city in Israel. New York City, the Big Apple, the most populous city of the USA , in the state of New York , the city is seat of the United Nations headquarters. Nice (ital.: Nizza) Birthplace of Yves Klein, a relatively small but famous city at the French Riviera, one of the tourist attractions of the Côte d'Azur in France . Osaka The business and industrial city, part of the Osaka-Kobe-Kyoto metropolitan area, is located on the main island of Honshu, at the mouth of the Yodo River. Osaka used to be called the city of "eight hundred eight bridges", and it's one of the oldest cities in Japan .

Considered as one of the world's most beautiful capitals, a cosmopolitan North American city with an European flair, located in the eastern part of the province of Ontario . Ottawa is the national capital of Canada . Situated in the southern part of the country at the head of Oslo Fjord, surrounded by forested hills and mountains. Oslo is the cultural centre and the capital city of Norway Paris The city takes its name from the Parisii, Celtic Iron Age people who lived on the banks of the Seine river. Today the city is the cultural center, largest city and the national capital of a still more or less central orientated French Republic . Paris is situated at the center of the Île-de-France region on the Seine river. The city was held by the Romans for some times, who called it Lutetia and later by the Merovingians, a Salian Frankish dynasty. Paris has been, and still is, the center of power of France.

Philadelphia The largest city in Pennsylvania and one of the oldest cities in the USA , Established as a Quaker colony by William Penn and others in 1681, it was the site in 1776 of the signing of the Declaration of Independence and in 1787 of the adoption of the Constitution of the U.S. and last but not least the birthplace of the Philly Sound, Philadelphia' soul music. Phnom Penh The national capital of the Kingdom of Cambodia , situated in the south-west of the country at the confluence of the three rivers Mekong, Tonle Sap and Bassac. A city with many cultural and historical attractions like the Royal Palace, Silver Pagoda and the National Museum. The city takes its name from the present Wat Phnom or Hill Temple, by the way, an Elephant ride is available there. Prague (Praha) The city takes its name from praga, which means "ford", in history many settlements gathered around such a shallow crossing on a river. Prague is the capital of Czech Republic . Quito San Francisco de Quito, second most populous city and the national capital of Ecuador .

The city lies at an altitude of 2,850 m (9,350 ft), making it the second highest capital in the world only surpassed only by La Paz in Bolivia . Reykjavík The capital city of Iceland . In the ninth century, the first Vikings settled in the area where the city would later rise. They named the place Reykjavík, it means "smoky bay" because of the hot steam rising from the abundant geothermal springs. Rio de Janeiro ("River of January" in Portuguese) Famous City in southeastern Brazil and former capital of the country from 1764 to 1960. One of the most cosmopolitan cities in the United States . America's oldest capital city; New Mexico , USA . Founded in 1607 by Spanish explorers. The capital city of Chile . Founded 1541, by Pedro de Valdivia. Harbour city at the mouth of the Yangtze River and the largest city in China , traditionally always in rivalry with Beijing. The capital city of the Republic of Singapore . Largest city and the capital of Sweden .

Saint-Petersburg 1703 - 2003 2003 marks the 300th anniversary of the founding of St. Petersburg, the cultural capital of the Russian Federation . Most populous Australian City with an international air, Australia. The capital city and the political, economic, and educational centre of Taiwan . The "Eastern Capital", formerly Edo (until 1868), the capital and largest city of Japan . largest city and the cultural and entertainment capital of Canada Venice (Venezia) The famous Italian lagoon city, the city of canals is the capital of the Veneto region of Italy . The Most Populated Cities of the World. World Megacities - Nations Online Project Most populated cities of the world ___ Megacities of the World Visit the Most Populated Cities on Earth This is a virtual travel to the world's most populous cities like New York, Tokyo, Shanghai, London, Hong Kong, Chicago, Buenos Aires, Bangkok, Seoul, Los Angeles, Mexico City and so on. Metropolis (Mexico city) - Photo: Omar91 Which is the largest city on the planet, this issue is still unresolved but sometimes the subject of small talk.

On your next casual conversation you may impress your audience when you state that by far the largest city is Chongqing , because most certainly nobody ever had heard of that city. Chongqing in southwest China is one of the emerging Megacities with a population of more than 32 million people, sprawled over an area of 82,400 km² (this is twice the size of Switzerland with 41,285 km²). Chongqing carved out of Sichuan province in 1997, is de facto a Chinese province with the status of a provincial-level municipality like Shanghai , Beijing and Tianjin . And this should be the largest? Actually Chongqing's core population is about 7.5 million. The largest, the biggest, or the most populous cities? In many languages this terms are interchangeable, meaning the largest city of a country is also the most populous. In the chart below there they are, the largest cities in the world, ranked by the population of a city's urban/metropolitan area. What is a City? The challenge is, ranking these cities is like to compare apples and oranges.

The common ground is: there is a city and there must be people, so lets count them. The problem begins with the definition of a city, easy you say? A build-up of many buildings with many citizens is a city, right? The largest city on Earth? Lets look at Tokyo, often referred to as the largest city on Earth. But this is only true when you take the built up area of Tokyo and add the urban expansion of Chiba, Kawasaki, Sagamihara, Saitama, and Yokohama , which actually is Japan's second most populous city . In the course of time, the fringe areas of all those cities have been growing together and now they form one massive conurbation, a sprawling ocean of buildings, and streets, with only virtual borders - and within, 28% of Japan ’s entire population. To learn more about the cities, this page provides links to the official city or municipality government website and/or to the official travel and tourism information site or other tourism guides related to a city. A city's websites usually publish also information for visitors and tourists about cultural events, festivals, sightseeing and much more. Note: Population figures are for latest available years.

The ranking is relative because of the diverse latest available figures of the city population. External links will open in a new browser window. page keywords: largest city in the world, mega cities of the world, world cities, world city population, most populated city in the world, city travel, city guides Karachi Port and Naval bases Karachi - largest city, business capital and the "Melting Pot of Pakistan . The city is Pakistan's principal seaport and capital of Sindh province, located in southern Pakistan at the coast of the Arabian Sea (Indian Ocean). According to Karachi Metropolitan Corporation: Karachi's 'metropolitan area along with its suburbs comprises the world's second most populated city'. Due to its migrant population the city grew almost 60 times since 1947, and there is nowadays still the unchecked and uncontrolled massive migration of workforce to Karachi that increases the city's population.

‘The population of Karachi has doubled in 15 years’ FOR MAJOR WORLD URBAN AREAS VARY SO GREATLY (dead link) Glossary: * City proper or City limit is a locality with legally fixed boundaries and an administratively recognized urban status that is usually characterized by some form of local government, in other words, a city or town within its city limit without adjacent communities. Urban area is the area that a city or town occupies, it is created and further developed by the process of urbanization. ** Urban agglomeration is an extended city or town area comprising the built-up area of a central place (usually a municipality) and any suburbs linked by continuous urban area, similar to Metropolitan Area. Metropolitan area (Metro) is a large population center consisting of a large urban area (core city) together with adjacent communities and satellite cities plus its adjacent zone of influence including rural areas. Images: some images are licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License or the THE WORLD GEOGRAPHY: 10 Capital Cities by Highest Elevation In The World 10 Capital Cities by Highest Elevation In The World 1. La Paz, Bolivia La Paz 1.

La Paz, Bolivia (3,660 mts), is the administrative capital of Bolivia, as well as the departmental capital of La Paz Department, and the second largest city (in population) only after Santa Cruz de la Sierra. It is located in the western part of the country on the department of the same name. It is located at an elevation of 3,660 meters above sea level, making it the world's highest "de facto" capital city, or administrative capital. The official capital of Bolivia is Sucre and it is the seat of Justice, La Paz has more government departments, hence the "de facto" qualifier. 2. Quito, Ecuador Quito 2. Quito, Ecuador (2,800 mts), is the capital city of Ecuador in northwestern South America. It is located in north-central Ecuador in the Guayllabamba river basin, on the eastern slopes of Pichincha, an active stratovolcano in the Andes mountains.

With a population of 1,397,698 according to the last census (2001), and, as estimated by the municipality, approximately 1,504,991 in 2005, Quito is the second most populous city in Ecuador, after Guayaquil.The elevation of the city's central square is 2,800 m (about 9,186 ft), making Quito the second-highest administrative capital city in the world (after La Paz,Bolivia), and the highest legal capital (ahead of Sucre, also in Bolivia, and Bogotá, Colombia). 3. Bogota, Colombia Bogota 3. Bogota, Colombia (2,640 mts), is the capital city of Colombia, as well as the most populous city in the country, with an estimated 7,304,384 inhabitants as of 2009. Bogotá and its metropolitan area, which includes municipalities such as Chía, Cota, Soacha, Cajicá and La Calera, had an estimated population of 8,566,926 in 2009.

In terms of land area, Bogotá is the largest city in Colombia, one of the biggest of Latin America, figures in the 30th largest cities of the world, and it is the third-highest capital city in the world (after La Paz and Quito) at 2640 metres above sea level. With its many universities and libraries, Bogotá has become known as "The Athens of South America". 4. Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Addis Ababa 4. Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (2,390 mts), is the capital city of Ethiopia.It is the largest city in Ethiopia, with a population of 3,384,569 according to the 2007 population census.As a chartered city, Addis Ababa has the status of both a city and a state. It is where the African Union and its predecessor the OAU are based. Addis Ababa is therefore often referred to as "the political capital of Africa", due to its historical, diplomatic and political significance for the continent.

The city is populated by people from different regions of Ethiopia – the country has as many as 80 nationalities speaking 80 languages and belonging to a wide variety of religious communities. It is home to Addis Ababa University. 5. Asmara, Eritrea Asmara 5. Asmara, Eritrea (2,325 mts) is the capital city and largest settlement in Eritrea, home to a population of around 579,000 people. At an elevation of 2,325 meters (7,628 ft), Asmara is on the edge of an escarpment that is both the northwestern edge of the Great Rift Valley and of the Eritrean highlands. Textiles and clothing, processed meat, beer, shoes, and ceramics are the major industrial products. 6. Thimphu, Bhutan Thimphy 6. Thimphu, Bhutan (2,300 mts) is the capital and largest city of Bhutan. It is situated in the western central part of Bhutan and the name of the surrounding valley is dzongkhag, the Thimphu District.

The city became the capital of Bhutan in 1961. As of 2005 it had a population of 79,185, with 98,676 people living in the entire Thimphu district.The city is spread out longitudinally in a north-south direction on the west bank of the valley formed by the Wang Chuu, also known as the Thimphu Chuu River. Unusually for a capital city, Thimphu is not served by an airport, but relies on the airport at Paro, connected by road some 54 kilometres (34 mi) away. 7. Sana'a, Yemen Sana'a 7. Sana'a, Yemen (2,260 mts) is the capital of Yemen and the centre of San‘a’ Governorate. Sana'a is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. At an altitude of 2,260 meters, it is also one of the highest capital cities in the world. Sana'a has a population of 1,747,627 (2004 census), making it Yemen's largest city. 8.

Mexico City, Mexico Mexico City 8. Mexico City, Mexico (2,230 mts) is the capital and largest city in Mexico as well as the largest city in the Americas and the world's third largest metropolitan area by population, after Seoul and Tokyo. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole. Mexico City is the most important political, cultural, and financial center in the country.The 2009 estimated population for the city proper was around 8.84 million people and has a land area of 1,485 square kilometres (573 sq mi). According to the most recent definition agreed upon by the federal and state governments, the Mexico City metropolitan area population is 21.2 million people, making it the largest metropolitan area in the Americas and the fifth largest agglomerationin the world. 9. Kabul, Afghanistan Kabul 9. Kabul, Afghanistan (1,800 mts) is the capital and largest city of Afghanistan, located in the Kabul Province.

According to the 2008 official estimates, the population of Kabul metropolitan area is 2.8 million people. It is an economic and cultural centre, situated 5,900 ft (1,800 m) above sea level in a narrow valley, wedged between the Hindu Kush mountains along the Kabul River. The city is linked with Kandahar, Herat and Mazar-e Sharif via a circular highway that stretches across the country. 10. Johannesburg, South Africa Johannesburg 10. Johannesburg, South Africa (1,770 mts) is the largest city in South Africa. Johannesburg is the provincial capital of Gauteng, the wealthiest province in South Africa, having the largest economy of any metropolitan region in Sub-Saharan Africa. The city is one of the 40 largest metropolitan areas in the world, and is also the world's largest city not situated on a river, lake, or coastline. According to the 2007 Community Survey, the population of the municipal city was 3,888,180 and the population of the Greater Johannesburg Metropolitan Area was 7,151,447.

No comments: The Major Cities of the World Tokyo Japan Tokyo is the capital of Japan located on the eastern coast of Honshu Island at the head of Tokyo Bay. The city of Tokyo is the administrative, financial, educational, cultural and industrial center of Japan, surrounded by numerous suburban manufacturing complexes. 2 Seoul The Republic of Korea Seoul is the capital of the Republic of Korea (South Korea), located in NW part of the contry, on the Han River. The political, commercial, industrial, and cultural center of the nation, Seoul is by far the most important city in the country. 3 Pyongyang Democratic People's Republic of Korea Pyongyang is the capital of North Korea, in SW of the country, on a high bluff looking down the Taedong River. It is considered as the oldest city on the Korean Peninsula. During the Korean War, Pyongyang fell to the North Koreans. After having been ravaged in the war, the city was rebuilt according to an organized city planning. 4 Ulan Bator Mongolia Ulan Bator (Ulaan Baatar) is the capital city of Mongolia, situated in the north central part of the country, on the Tuul River.

It is situated at the foot of the Bogdo Khan Uul, It is the political, cultural, economic, and transportation center of the country. 5 Beijing People's Republic of China Beijing is the capital of the People's Republic of China. The second largest city in China (after Shanghai), Beijing is the political, cultural, and educational center of the country. At the center of the city, Tianmen square is located surrounded by Great Hall of the People to the west and Museum of the Revolution to the east. 6 Taipei Taiwan Taipei is the capital of Taiwan located in the northern part of Taiwan Island. Taiwan's largest city, it is the administrative, cultural, and industrial center of the island. The Jiang Jie-shi Memorial Park is located in the center of the city. 7 Manila Republic of the Philippines Manila is the capital of Republic of the Philippines, SW Luzon, on Manila Bay. Manila is the center of the country's largest metropolitan area, with its chief port, and the center of all the governmental, commercial, industrial, and cultural activities. 8 Hanoi Socialist Republic of Vietnam Hanoi is the capital of Vietnam, on the right bank of the Red River.

Hanoi became (7th cent.) the seat of the Chinese rulers of Vietnam. Hanoi was occupied briefly by French in 1873 and it became the capital of French Indochina after 1887. 9 Vientian Lao People's Democratic Republic Vientiane is the administrative capital and the largest city of Laos, in the north central part of the country on the Mekong River. Vientiane possesses diverse light industries and is a trading center of forest products, textiles, and hides. 10 Phnom Penh Kingdom of Cambodia Phnom Penh is the capital of Cambodia, in SW part of the contry, at the confluence of the Mekong and Tonle Sap rivers. Phnom Penh was founded in the 14th cent. and became Khmer capital after the abandonment of Angkor. It became the capital of Cambodia in 1867. The cultural and commercial center as well as political capital of Cambodia. 11 Bangkok Kingdom of Thailand Bangkok is the capital of Thailand, in SW part of the contry, on the east bank of the Chao Phraya River, near the Gulf of Thailand. Thailand's largest city and one of the leading cities of Southeast Asia.

Bangkok is home to the regional headquarters of the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), as well as many other international businesses and organizations. 12 Kuala Lumpur Malaysia Kuala Lumpur is the capital of Malaysia, located in the southern part of Malay Peninsula, at the confluence of the Klang and Gombak rivers. Malaysia's chief inland city, Kuala Lumpur is the country's commercial and transportation hub. 13 Singapore Republic of Singapore Singapore , officially called Republic of Singapore, consists of the mainland of Singapore and about 50 small adjacent islands at the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, SE Asia. Its Capital, Singapore city is the largest city and histrically played an impoetant role as a key junction of trade between Pacific Ocean and Indian Ocean. 14 Jakarta Republic of Indonesia Jakarta is the capital and largest city of Indonesia located in NW Java island, at the mouth of the canalized Ciliwung River, on Jakarta Bay. It is the country's administrative, commercial, industrial, and transportation center. 15 Yangon Union of Myanmar Yangon, formerly Rangoon, is the capital of Myanmar and of Yangon div., located in the south central of Myanmar, on the Yangon River.

The name of Yangon, meaning "the end of war" was given in 1755, ever since the city has been developed as a port city, the center of commercial activities. Central part of the city was constructed according to the city planning in 1952, when beautiful grid street scape was developed. 16 Dhaka People's Republic of Bangladesh Dhaka is the capital of Bangladesh, located in the high populated delta prone to floods on a channel of the Dhaleswari River, in the heart of the world's largest jute-growing region, and the industrial, commercial, and administrative center of Bangladesh. The city achieved glory as the 17th-century Mughal capital of Bengal and became the capital of Pakistan in 1971. 17 Katmandu Kingdom of Nepal Katmandu is the capital of Nepal, central Nepal in a fertile valley of the E Himalayas. It is the administrative, business, and commercial center of Nepal. Great many western tourists visit Katmandu, many of them mountain climbers. Tourism and trade with India led to a rapid increase in Katmandu's population and to the expansion of paved streets and sewage systems.

18 New Delhi India Delhi is located in the middle of Delhi plain, where Yamuna River crosses. New Delhi, the capital of India, and Delhi (or Old Delhi) are the chief urban centers. Government buildings are concentrated in New Delhi, which has organized streets with greens and parks. 19 Islamabad Islamic Republic of Pakistan Islamabad is the capital of Pakistan, in NE part of the country, just NE of Rawalpindi, the former interim capital. Construction of Islamabad [city of Islam] as the capital to replace Karachi began in 1960. 20 Kabul Islamic State of Afganistan Kabul is the capital of Afghanistan and its largest city and economic and cultural center, in the east part of the country, on the Kabul River. It is strategically located in a high narrow valley, between mountain ranges that commands the main approaches to the Khyber Pass. A tunnel under the Hindu Kush mountains links Kabul to the Tajikistan border. 21 Tashkent Republic of Uzbekistan Tashkent is the capital of Tashkent region and of Uzbekistan, in the foothills of the Tian Shan mts. The largest and one of the oldest cities of Central Asia, it is the economic heart of the region.

22 Tehran Islamic Republic of Iran Tehran is the capital of Iran, in north part of the country, near Mt. Damavand. It is Iran's largest city and its administrative, commercial, and industrial center. Meherabad international airport is located in the center of the image, and Azadi Tower (Freedom Tower) , which was built for the celebrations of the 2500th anniversary of the monarchy, is located at the junction of the roads from the airport, and acts as a gateway to the capital. 23 Baghdad Republic of Iraq Baghdad is the capital of Iraq, located in the central Iraq, on both banks of the Tigris River. The city was founded (762) on the west bank of the Tigris by the Abbasid caliph Mansur, who made it his capital. The period of its utmost glory is reflected in the Thousand and One Nights, in which many of the tales are set in Baghdad. Now, the city's principal economic activity is oil industry, as a result, Baghdad experienced rapid economic and population growth. 24 Riyadh Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Riyadh is the capital and the largest city of Saudi Arabia, located in the Nejd district, central part of Saudi Arabia.

Situated in an oasis, Riyadh is the nation's educational, administrative, financial, and transportation center. Oil refining is the main industry. 25 Jerusalem State of Israel Jerusalem is the capital of Israel. It is situated on a ridge of 760 m high that lies west of the Dead Sea and the Jordan River. Jerusalem is the center of administrative, religious, educational, cultural, and market activities. Tourism and construction are the city's major industries. 26 Cairo Arab Republic of Egypt Cairo is the capital of Egypt in NE part of the country. The city includes two islands in the Nile, Zamalik (Gezira) and Roda (Rawdah), which are linked to the mainland by bridges. Cairo is the largest city in the Middle East and in Africa. It is Egypt's administrative center and, along with Alexandria, the heart of its economic activities. 27 Tunis Republic of Tunisia Tunis is the capital of Tunisia, in NE part of the county, on the Lake of Tunis. Access to the Gulf of Tunis (an arm of the Mediterranean) is by a canal terminating at a subsidiary port, Halq al Wadi (La Goulette). Tunis has notable mosques, the Univ.

of Tunis, and a national museum. The ruins of Carthage are located nearby, to the northeast in the right of the image. 28 Casablanca Kingdom of Morocco Casablanca is the largest city and principal port of Morocco, located in the western parth of Morocco, on the Atlantic Ocean. It accounts for more than half of Morocco's industrial production. During World War II, Casablanca was the scene of one of the three major Allied landings in North Africa (Nov., 1942) and the conference between Franklin Delano Roosevelt and Winston Churchill was held (Nov., 1943). 29 Johannesburg Republic of South Africa Johannesburg is the largest city in South Africa, the center of its important gold-mining industry, its manufacturing and commercial center, and the hub of its transportation network. Gold mining is the sprawling city's chief industry. Manufactures include cut diamonds, industrial chemicals, plastics, cement, electrical, electronic, and mining equipment, paper and paper products, glass, food products, and beer. 30 Istanbul Republic of Turkey Istanbul is the largest city in Turkey on both sides of the Bosporus at its entrance into the Sea of Marmara.

Its name was officially changed from Constantinople to Istanbul in 1930; before A.D. 330 it was known as Byzantium. In cities adjacent to Europe, Overseas Establishments, hotels, restaurants and shops are concentrated, while old cities adjacent to Asia has landmark constructions represented by Blue Mosque, Ayasofya, Topkapi Sarayi and Kapali Carsi, commemorating Greek, Rome and Ottman Enpire. 31 Athens Hellenic Republic Athens is the capital of Greece, eastern central Greece, on the plain of Attica, between the Kifisos and Ilissus rivers, near the Saronic Gulf. Mt. Aigaleos, Mt. Parnis , Mt. Pendelikon , and Mt. Hymettus are lined in a semicircle with the city at its center. The capital of Attica prefecture, Athens is the largest city in Greece and it is administrative, economic, and cultural center. In the city there are many landmarks, major one is the acropolis which dominates the city and on which stand the remains of the Parthenon. 32 Kiev Ukraine Kiev is the capital of Ukraine with a port on the Dnieper River.

The largest city of Ukraine, Kiev is the industrial, commercial, and cultural center. Known to Russians as the "mother of cities,Åh Kiev is one of the oldest towns in the north Europe. Lying amid hills along the Dnieper and filled with gardens and parks, Kiev is one of Europe's most beautiful cities, as well as a treasury of medieval art and architecture. 33 Moscow Russian Federation Moscow is the capital of Russia and the administrative center of the Central district, in the western central European Russia, on the Moskva River near its junction with the Moscow Canal. In the city, roads spread in concentric circles with Kremlin at the center, dividing the city into several divisions. The outermost division is allocated as a residental area. A loop road surrounding the area is the boundary of the city. 34 St. Petersburg Russian Federation Sankt Petersburg, the second largest city and former capital in Russia, formerly named Leningrad at the head of the Gulf of Finland on both banks of the Neva River and on the islands of its delta. The city's main thoroughfare is the celebrated Nevsky Prospekt.

On it are the high-spired admiralty building; the Winter Palace; the Hermitage museum; the huge domed Cathedral of St. Isaac ; and the equestrian statue of Peter the Great. 35 Rome Republic of Italy Rome is the capital of Italy and see of the pope, whose residence, Vatican City , is a sovereign state within the city of Rome. Rome is also the capital of Latium, a region in central part of Italy, and of Rome prov. It lies on both banks of the Tiber and its affluent, the Aniene, in the Campagna di Roma, between the Apennine Mts. and the Tyrrhenian Sea. Called the Eternal City, it is one of the world's richest cities in history and art as well as one of its cultural, religious, and intellectual centers. 36 Paris French Republic Paris is the capital of France on the Seine River. It is the commercial and industrial focus of France and a cultural and intellectual center in the world. Paris is divided into roughly equal sections by the Seine. On the right (northern) bank are the Bois de Boulogne, Arc de Triomphe, Place de la Concorde, Opera and Louvre.

The left bank, with the Sorbonne, the French Academy,is the governmental and the intellectual section. 37 Berlin Federal Republic of Germany Berlin is the capital of Germany, coextensive with Berlin state , NE Germany, on the Spree and Havel rivers. Formerly divided into East Berlin and West Berlin , the city was reunified along with East and West Germany on Oct. 3, 1990. The large Tiergarten park in central Berlin contains the reconstructed Reichstag building with its glass dome and the Berlin zoo. Landmark of the city includes Charlottenburg castle, Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial church, Reichstag and Philharmonic Hall. 38 Wien Republic of Austria Wien (Vienna) is the capital and largest city of Austria and administrative seat of Lower Austria, in NE part of the country, on the Danube River. The city plays an important role as a major riverfront town in Europe. The former residence of the Holy Roman emperors and, after 1806, of the emperors of Austria, Wien is one of the great historic cities of the world and a melting pot of the Germanic, Slav, Italian, and Hungarian peoples and cultures.

39 London United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland London is the capital of Great Britain, in SE part of England, on both sides of the Thames River. Greater London consists of the "City of London", or "City" and 32 boroughs. The City is the commercial center; it is also referred to as the "Square Mile" because of its areal feature. The 13 inner boroughs that surround the City are Westminster, Camden, Islington, Hackney, Tower Hamlets, Greenwich, Lewisham, Southwark, Lambeth, Wandsworth, Hammersmith and Fulham, Kensington and Chelsea. 40 Madrid Spain Madrid is the capital of Spain located in the central part of the country, and the center of its own autonomous region, on the Manzanares River. Its landmarks include the huge royal palace, opera house, the Buen Retiro park and three superb art museums, the Prado, which houses one of the finest art collections in the world; the Queen Sofia Museum of modern art; and the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum; housed in the renovated Villahermosa Palace.

41 Lisbon Portuguese Republic Lisbon is the capital of Portugal on the Tejo River where it broadens to enter the Atlantic Ocean. Lisbon is Portugal's largest city and its cultural, administrative, commercial, and industrial hub. Delta at the mouth of Tejo river provided the optimum location as a harbor in Europe for handling large trades, which led to develop into a major cruise port. In 1966 , one of the world's longest suspension bridges was completed across the Tejo. 42 Vancouver Canada Vancouver is a city in SW British Columbia, Canada, on Burrard Inlet of the Strait of Georgia, opposite Vancouver Island and just north of the Wash. border. It is the largest city on Canada's Pacific coast, the center of the third largest metropolitan area in Canada, and the nation's chief Pacific port, with an excellent year-round harbor. At Point Grey in metropolitan Vancouver is the Univ. of British Columbia in the lower left of image, and Stanley Park, the largest among the city's parks, is in the top of peninsula in the center of ithe mage.

43 New York United States of America New York city is the largest city in the United States and one of the largest in the world, on New York Bay at the mouth of the Hudson River. It consists five boroughs, Queens, Brooklyn, State Island, Bronx and Manhattan. Except for Bronx, all the other boroughs are located on island. Central park, which spreads in the central part of Long Island, is said to be the first public buildings to have applied landscape architecture in the U.S. history. 44 Washington D.C. United States of America Washington, D.C. is the capital of the United States , coextensive with the District of Columbia, on the Potomac River. The city is the center of a metropolitan area extending into Maryland and Virginia. Washington is the legislative, administrative, and judicial center of the United States but has little industry; its business is mainly involved in the government, and hundreds of thousands of people are employed in the metropolitan area. 45 San Francisco United States of America San Francisco is a city in western California, on the tip of a peninsula between the Pacific Ocean and San Francisco Bay, which are connected by the strait known as the Golden Gate.

The city is the heart of the San Francisco Bay region and with along Oakland and San Jose, the city comprises the fourth largest metropolitan area in the United States. 46 Los Angels United States of America Los Angeles is a city in south California. It has the second largest population in US cities and it is one of the largest cities as the hub of industries, commercials, transportations, finances and international trades. Two mountain ranges, the Santa Monica and Verdugo, cut across the center of the city. The east end of the Santa Monica Mountains is seen in the upper left of the image. 47 Mexico City United Mexican States Mexico City is the capital and largest city of Mexico located in the center of the country. Mexico City forms the core of the Federal District and is the commercial, industrial, financial, political, and cultural center of the nation. Population has increased rapidly in a city that had already spread out into many residential sections called colonias. 48 Brasilia Federative Republic of Brazil Brasilia is the capital city and federal district of Brazil located in the southwest of Goias state. Inaugurated in 1960, it is situated in the highlands of central Brazil, and its modern public buildings stand out in sparsely settled countryside.

The city was laid out (1957) in the shape of an airplane by the Brazilian architect Lucio Costa. Government services, small-scaled industry, food services, and construction are important factors for the country's economy. 49 Rio de Janeiro Federative Republic of Brazil Rio de Janeiro is the capital of Rio de Janeiro state, in SE Brazil, on Guanabara Bay of the Atlantic Ocean. The second largest city and former capital of Brazil, it is the cultural center of the country as well as financial, commercial, communication, and transportation hub. Rio has one of the world's most beautiful natural harbors. It is surrounded by low mountain ranges, which extend to the waterside, across the city. 50 Buenos Aires Argentine Republic Buenos Aires is the capital of Argentina located in the east central part of Argentina, on the Rio de la Plata. One of the largest cities in Latin America, Buenos Aires is Argentina's chief port and financial, industrial, commercial, and social center. Area around a port in the right part of the image is the place where the people first settled. Since then, the city has expanded in semicircle form.

51 Santiago Republic of Chile Santiago is the capital of Chile and of Metropolitana de Santiago region, on the Mapocho River. It is the political, commercial, and financial heart of the nation. The city was founded and named Santiago de Nueva Estremadura on Feb. 12, 1541, by Pedro de Valdivia. Laid out according to Valdivia's plan in a gridiron pattern between the hill of Santa Lucia and the Mapocho, a mountain torrent, Santiago has spread over a broad valley plain and it is one of the largest cities in South America. 52 Canberra Commonwealth of Australia Canberra is the capital of Australia, in the Australian Capital Territory, located in SE Australia. The city was first settled in 1824, and chosen as the capital in 1908. In 1913, Canberra officially became the second capital of the commonwealth (succeeding Melbourne); however, although the Parliament first met there in 1927, the transfer of federal functions was not completed until after World War II and the Parliament House, on Capitol Hill, was not opened until 1988.

Question: What's the largest capital city without a river, and also the oldest capital of its continent?
Answer: Mexico City