The most populous cities in the world. List of cities in the world by population Which of these cities is the most populous?

Which cities are the most populated, why is Moscow called “non-rubber” and how many Czech Republics or Belgium can be freely accommodated in it? Who is more numerous, the Chinese in Shanghai, the Japanese in Tokyo or the Kazakhs in Kazakhstan? Statistics provide answers even to such tricky questions.

The most populated cities in Russia

For example, for 2013, Rosstat issues the following positions based on population size.

In first place is Moscow, where 11.9 million people officially live. And another five million live either temporarily or completely illegally, but it is already more difficult to count them. Even if we take only the officially registered population, it turns out that Moscow alone has more residents than many European countries as a whole, and even some countries combined.

There is a constant influx of residents, people come to earn a living. There are a lot of migrants, but Moscow is still predominantly a Russian city.

The second largest city in terms of population is St. Petersburg. There are three times fewer residents than in Moscow and its suburbs, about five million or so. Like Moscow, St. Petersburg is one of the ten largest cities in Europe. There are relatively few migrants there.

Novosibirsk with its one and a half million people is still in third place. This city is also a kind of country record holder for growth rates: with its age of just over a hundred years, it grew to a million-plus population very quickly.

Ural Ekaterinburg is rapidly catching up with the Siberian capital: 1.43 million for 2013.

The most populated cities in Europe

In second place is London, where there are 8.3 million inhabitants. Two hundred years ago, London was the most populous city in the world. St. Petersburg, with its 5 million people, ranks third in Europe.

In fourth place is Berlin, the capital of Germany, which is also the most populous city in its country. Of the 4 million inhabitants, more than 10 percent are foreigners, mostly Muslims, and Berlin's Turkish community of one hundred and fifty thousand members is the largest in the world, not counting Turkey itself. In general, Berlin can already be called a truly multicultural city.

The fifth position is occupied by the capital of Spain, Madrid, with a population of 3.3 million inhabitants. The Spaniards also have problems similar to the Germans: the influx of population comes exclusively from migrants from Arab countries.

The most populated cities in the world in 2013

Shanghai leads by a huge margin with almost 24 million residents, and if you include its associated suburbs, there are 26 million Chinese, and not just Chinese. It is noteworthy that a hundred years ago Shanghai was almost a village where mainly fishermen lived, and in the 21st century it is one of the largest seaports and river transit points, the economic, commercial and cultural center of the country, and in the global financial world its position is quite high. Shanghai continues to grow and develop, but mostly it is either densification or growth upward and deeper.

The second largest city in the world is also located in China. Beijing, with a population of 20.7 million, is the capital of the People's Republic of China.

The Pakistani city of Karachi with a population of 18 million people is in third place.

The fourth populous city is also Asian: the capital of Thailand, Bangkok. Population: 15 million inhabitants according to official data.

Fifth – again Asia, Japan. 13.2 million live in Tokyo. But if we take into account the entire Tokyo agglomeration, the city will come out on top in the world: 38 million people! A surprising number considering the small size of the entire country. This is more than in the “trans-Ural” part of Russia; in the same huge Kazakhstan, half as many people live. This makes clear the Japanese desire for minimalism and the microscopic area of ​​their housing. Interestingly, immigration in the country is limited by law, and the overwhelming majority of residents are ethnic Japanese.

In sixth place is the capital of India, Delhi, with 12.6 million people.

Seventh - Indian Mumbai, 12.5 million people.

Eighth place is our Moscow, almost 12 million.

Ninth - Sao Paulo, Brazil, 11.3 million.

Tenth – Bogota, Colombia, 10.7 million.

That's not all there is to say about densely populated cities. .
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List of cities in the world by population with a population of more than 4 million people as of January 2015. There are 3 cities with a population of more than 20 million people and 16 cities with a population of more than 10 million people. The largest cities are Shanghai (24,150,000 people), Karachi (23,500,000) and Beijing (21,150,000). Among the largest cities there are two Russian ones: Moscow (10th place) and St. Petersburg (43rd place). The table shows the population of cities excluding suburbs.

Cities by population

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

Top 10 most populous cities in the world:

1. Shanghai

Shanghai is the largest city in China and one of the largest cities in the world, located in the Yangtze River Delta. One of the four cities under central control of the People's Republic of China, an important financial and cultural center of the country, as well as the world's largest seaport. By the beginning of the 20th century. Shanghai has grown from a small fishing town into the most important city in China and the third financial center in the world after London and New York. In addition, the city became a center of popular culture, vice, intellectual debate and political intrigue in Republican China. Shanghai is the financial and commercial center of China.

Market reforms in Shanghai began in 1992, a decade later than in the southern provinces. Before this, most of the city's income went irrevocably to Beijing. Even after the tax burden was reduced in 1992, tax revenues from Shanghai accounted for 20-25% of revenues from all of China (before the 1990s, this figure was about 70%). Today Shanghai is the largest and most developed city in mainland China. In 2005, Shanghai became the world's largest port in terms of cargo turnover (443 million tons of cargo).

According to the 2000 census, the population of the entire Shanghai area (including the non-urban area) is 16.738 million people, this figure also includes temporary residents of Shanghai, whose number is 3.871 million people. Since the previous census in 1990, Shanghai's population has increased by 3.396 million people, or 25.5%. Men make up 51.4% of the city's population, women - 48.6%. Children under 14 years old make up 12.2% of the population, the age group 15-64 years old - 76.3%, elderly people over 65 - 11.5%. 5.4% of Shanghai's population is illiterate.

In 2003, there were 13.42 million officially registered residents in Shanghai, and more than 5 million more. live and work in Shanghai unofficially, of which about 4 million are seasonal workers, mainly from Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces. Average life expectancy in 2003 was 79.80 years (men - 77.78 years, women - 81.81 years).

Like many other regions of China, Shanghai is experiencing a construction boom. Modern architecture in Shanghai is distinguished by its unique style, in particular, the upper floors of high-rise buildings, occupied by restaurants, are shaped like flying saucers. Most of the buildings under construction in Shanghai today are high-rise residential buildings, varying in height, color and design. Organizations responsible for planning the development of the city are now increasingly focusing on the creation of green areas and parks within residential complexes to improve the quality of life of Shanghai residents, which is in keeping with the slogan of the World Expo 2010 Shanghai: “A better city - a better life.”

Historically, Shanghai was very Westernized, and now it is increasingly taking on the role of the main center of communication between China and the West. One example of this is the opening of the Pac-Med Medical Exchange, an information center for the exchange of medical knowledge between Western and Chinese health institutions. Pudong has houses and streets very similar to the business and residential areas of modern American and Western European cities. There are major international shopping and hotel areas nearby. Despite its high population density and large number of visitors, Shanghai is known for its very low crime rate towards foreigners.

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

2. Karachi

KARACHI, the largest city, main economic center and seaport of Pakistan, is located near the delta of the Indus River, 100 km from its confluence with the Arabian Sea. Administrative center of Sindh province. Population as of 2004: 10.89 million people. Originated in the early 18th century. on the site of the Baloch fishing village of Kalachi. From the end of the 18th century. under the rulers of Sindh from the Talpur dynasty, it was the main Sindh maritime and commercial center on the Arabian coast.

In 1839 it became a British naval base, in 1843-1847 - the capital of the province of Sind, and then the main city of the region, which was part of the Bombay Presidency. Since 1936 - the capital of the Sindh province. In 1947-1959 - the capital of Pakistan. The favorable geographical position of the city, located in a convenient natural harbor, contributed to its rapid growth and development during the colonial period and especially after the division of British India into two independent states in 1947 - India and Pakistan.

The transformation of Karachi into the main political and economic center of the country led to rapid population growth, mainly due to the influx of immigrants from outside: in 1947-1955. with 350 thousand people up to 1.5 million people. Karachi is the largest city in the country and is one of the largest cities in the world. The main trade, economic and financial center of Pakistan, seaport (15% of GDP and 25% of tax revenues to the budget).

About 49% of the country's industrial production is concentrated in Karachi and its suburbs. Factories: metallurgical plant (the largest in the country, built with the assistance of the USSR, 1975-85), oil refining, engineering, car assembly, ship repair, chemical, cement plants, pharmaceutical, tobacco, textile, food (sugar) industries (concentrated in several industrial zones : CITY - Sindh Industrial Trading Estate, Landhi, Malir, Korangi, etc.

The largest commercial banks, branches of foreign banks, central offices and branches of insurance companies, the stock and cotton exchange, offices of the largest trading companies (including foreign ones). International Airport (1992). The port of Karachi (cargo turnover over 9 million tons per year) serves up to 90% of the country's maritime trade and is the largest port in South Asia. Naval base.

The largest cultural and scientific center: university, research institutions, Aga Khan University of Medical Sciences, Hamdard Foundation Center for Oriental Medicine, National Museum of Pakistan, Navy Museum. Zoo (in the former City Gardens, 1870). Mausoleum of Quaid-i Azam M.A. Jinnah (1950s), Sindh University (founded in 1951, M. Ecoshar), Art Center (1960). Architecturally interesting are the central streets, built in the period between the world wars with buildings made from local pink limestone and sandstone.

Business center of Karachi - Shara-i-Faisal streets, Jinnah Road and Chandrigar Road with buildings mainly from the 19th and 20th centuries: the High Court (early 20th century, neoclassical), the Pearl Continental Hotel (1962), architects W. Tabler and Z. Pathan), State Bank (1961, architects J. L. Ricci and A. Kayum). To the northwest of Jinnah Road is the Old Town with narrow streets and one- and two-story houses. In the south is the fashionable area of ​​Clifton, built up mainly with villas. Buildings from the 19th century also stand out. in the Ingothic style - Frere Hall (1865) and Empress Market (1889). Saddar, Zamzama, Tariq Road are the main shopping streets of the city, where hundreds of shops and stalls are located. There are a significant number of modern multi-storey buildings, luxury hotels (Avari, Marriott, Sheraton) and shopping centers.

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

3.Istanbul

One of the main reasons for the transformation of Istanbul into a world metropolis was the geographical location of the city. Istanbul, located at the intersection of 48 degrees north latitude and 28 degrees east longitude, is the only city in the world that is located on two continents. Istanbul lies on 14 hills, each of which has its own name, but now we won’t bore you with listing them.

The following should be noted - the city consists of three unequal parts, into which it is divided by the Bosphorus and the Golden Horn (a small bay 7 km long). On the European side: the historical peninsula located in the south of the Golden Horn, and in the north of the Golden Horn - the districts of Beyolu, Galata, Taksim, Besiktas, on the Asian side - the "New City". There are numerous shopping and service centers on the European continent, and mostly residential areas on the Asian continent.

Overall, Istanbul, 150 km long and 50 km wide, has an approximate area of ​​7,500 km. But no one knows its true borders; it is about to merge with the city of Izmit in the east. With continuous migration from villages (up to 500,000 per year), the population is rapidly increasing. Every year, 1,000 new streets appear in the city, and new residential areas are built in the west-east axis.

The population is constantly increasing by 5% per year, i.e. Every 12 years it doubles. Every 5 residents of Turkey live in Istanbul. The number of tourists visiting this wonderful city reaches 1.5 million. The population itself is unknown to anyone; officially, according to the last census, 12 million people lived in the city, although now this figure has increased to 15 million, and some claim that 20 million people already live in Istanbul.

Tradition says that the founder of the city in the 7th century BC. There was a Megarian leader, Byzantus, to whom the Delphic oracle predicted where it would be better to establish a new settlement. The place really turned out to be very successful - a cape between two seas - the Black and Marmara, half in Europe, half in Asia. In the 4th century AD. Roman Emperor Constantine chose the settlement of Byzantium to build the new capital of the empire, which was named Constantinople in his honor.

After the fall of Rome in 410, Constantinople finally established itself as the undisputed political center of the empire, which since then was no longer called Roman, but Byzantine. The city reached its greatest prosperity under Emperor Justinian. It was a center of fabulous wealth and unimaginable luxury. In the 9th century, the population of Constantinople numbered about a million people!

The main streets had sidewalks and canopies, and were decorated with fountains and columns. It is believed that a copy of the architecture of Constantinople is represented by Venice, where bronze horses taken from the Constantinople Hippodrome after the sack of the city by the Crusaders in 1204 are installed on the portal of St. Mark's Cathedral. As of 2009, the population of this city was 16,767,433, area 2,106 km2, population density 6,521 people. per km.kv

4.Tokyo

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

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

Although the Tokyo area has been inhabited by tribes since the Stone Age, the city began to play an active role in history relatively recently. In the 12th century, local Edo warrior Taro Shigenada built a fort here. According to tradition, he received the name Edo from his place of residence. In 1457, Ota Dokan, ruler of the Kanto region under the Japanese shogunate, built Edo Castle. In 1590, Ieyasu Tokugawa, the founder of the shogun clan, took possession of it. Thus, Edo became the capital of the shogunate, while Kyoto remained the imperial capital. Ieyasu created long-term management institutions.

The city grew quickly and by the 18th century became one of the largest cities in the world. In 1615, Ieyasu's armies destroyed their opponents, the Toyotomi clan, thereby gaining absolute power for about 250 years. As a result of the Meiji Restoration in 1868, the shogunate came to an end; in September, Emperor Mutsuhito moved the capital here, calling it the “Eastern Capital” - Tokyo. This has sparked debate over whether Kyoto can still remain the capital. In the second half of the 19th century, industry began to develop rapidly, then shipbuilding.

The Tokyo-Yokohama railway was built in 1872, and the Kobe-Osaka-Tokyo railway in 1877. Until 1869 the city was called Edo. On September 1, 1923, a major earthquake (7-9 on the Richter scale) occurred in Tokyo and the surrounding area. Almost half of the city was destroyed, and a strong fire broke out. About 90,000 people became victims. Although the reconstruction plan turned out to be very expensive, the city began to partially recover. The city was again seriously damaged during World War II. The city was subjected to massive air attacks.

More than 100,000 residents died in one raid alone. Many wooden buildings burned down, and the old Imperial Palace was damaged. After the war, Tokyo was occupied by the military, and during the Korean War it became a major military center. Several American bases still remain here (Yokota military base, etc.). In the mid-20th century, the country's economy began to rapidly revive (what was described as an "Economic Miracle"), in 1966 it became the second largest economy in the world. The revival from war traumas was proven by the holding of the Summer Olympic Games in Tokyo in 1964, where the city showed itself favorably on the international stage.

Since the 70s, Tokyo has been overwhelmed by a wave of labor from rural areas, which led to further development of the city. By the end of the 80s, it became one of the most dynamically developing cities on Earth. On March 20, 1995, a sarin gas attack occurred in the Tokyo subway. The terrorist attack was carried out by the religious sect Aum Shinrikyo. As a result, over 5,000 people were injured, 11 of them died. Seismic activity in the Tokyo area has led to discussions about moving the capital of Japan to another city. Three candidates have been named: Nasu (300 km north), Higashino (near Nagano, central Japan) and a new city in Mie province, near Nagoya (450 km west of Tokyo).

A government decision has already been received, although no further action is being taken. Currently, Tokyo continues to develop. Projects to create artificial islands are being consistently implemented. The most notable project is Odaiba, which is now a major shopping and entertainment center.

5. Mumbai

The history of the emergence of Mumbai - a dynamic modern city, the financial capital of India and the administrative center of the state of Maharashtra - is quite unusual. In 1534, the Sultan of Gujarat ceded a group of seven unwanted islands to the Portuguese, who, in turn, gave them to the Portuguese princess Catarina of Braganza on the day of her wedding to King Charles II of England in 1661. In 1668, the British government surrendered the islands leased to the East India Company for 10 pounds of gold per year, and gradually Mumbai grew into a center of trade.

In 1853, the first railway line on the subcontinent was built from Mumbai to Thane, and in 1862, a colossal land development project turned seven islands into a single whole - Mumbai was on the path to becoming the largest metropolis. During its existence, the city changed its name four times, and for those who are not experts in geography, its former name is more familiar - Bombay. Mumbai, after the historical name of the area, reverted to its name in 1997. Today it is a vibrant city with a distinct character: a major industrial and commercial center, it still has an active interest in theater and other arts. Mumbai is also home to the main center of the Indian film industry - Bollywood.

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

6. Buenos Aires

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

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

The population of the capital of Argentina proper is 3,050,728 (2009, estimate) people, which is 275 thousand (9.9%) more than it was in 2001 (2,776,138, census). In total, 13,356,715 people live in the urban agglomeration, including numerous suburbs immediately adjacent to the capital (2009 estimate). Residents of Buenos Aires have a half-joking nickname - porteños (literally, residents of the port). The population of the capital and its suburbs is growing rapidly, including due to the immigration of guest workers from Bolivia, Paraguay, Peru and other neighboring countries.

The city is very multinational, but the main division of communities occurs along class lines, and not along racial lines as in the United States. The majority of the population is Spanish and Italian, descendants of both the settlers of the Spanish colonial period from 1550-1815 and the larger wave of European immigrants to Argentina from 1880-1940. About 30% are mestizos and representatives of other nationalities, among which the following communities stand out: Arabs, Jews, English, Armenians, Japanese, Chinese and Koreans; there is also a large number of immigrants from neighboring countries, primarily from Bolivia and Paraguay, and more recently from Korea , China and Africa.

During the colonial period, groups of Indians, mestizos and black slaves were visible in the city, gradually disappearing into the southern European population, although their cultural and genetic influences are still noticeable today. Thus, the genes of modern residents of the capital are quite mixed compared to white Europeans: on average, the genes of residents of the capital are 71.2% European, 23.5% Indian and 5.3% African. Moreover, depending on the quarter, African admixtures vary from 3.5% to 7.0%, and Indian admixtures from 14.0% to 33%.

The official language in the capital is Spanish. Other languages ​​- Italian, Portuguese, English, German and French - have now practically fallen out of use as native languages ​​due to the mass assimilation of immigrants in the second half of the 19th - early 19th century. XX centuries, but are still taught as foreign languages. During the period of the massive influx of Italians (especially Neapolitans), the mixed Italian-Spanish sociolect Lunfardo became widespread in the city, which gradually disappeared, but left traces in the local linguistic version of the Spanish language (See Spanish in Argentina).

Among the city's religious population, the majority are adherents of Catholicism, a small part of the capital's residents profess Islam and Judaism, but in general the level of religiosity is extremely low, since a secular-liberal way of life predominates. The city is divided into 47 administrative districts, the division was initially based on Catholic parishes, and remained so until 1940.

7. Dhaka

The name of the city is derived from the name of the Hindu goddess of fertility Durga or from the name of the tropical tree Dhaka, which produces valuable resin. Dhaka is located on the northern bank of the turbulent Buriganda River almost in the center of the country and is more similar to the legendary Babylon than to the modern capital. Dhaka is a river port in the Ganges Brahmaputra delta, as well as a center for water tourism. Although travel by water is quite slow, water transport in the country is well developed, safe and widely used.

The oldest section of the city, lying north of the coastline, is an ancient trading center of the Mughal Empire. In the Old City there is an unfinished fortress - Fort LaBad, dating back to 1678, which houses the mausoleum of Bibi Pari (1684). It is also worth paying attention to the more than 700 mosques, including the famous Hussein Dalan, located in the old City. Now the old City is a vast area between the two main water transport terminals, Sadarghat and Badam Tole, where the experience of observing the daily life of the river is especially charming and interesting. Also in the old part of the city there are traditional large oriental bazaars.

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

8. Manila

Manila is the capital and main city of the Central Region of the Republic of the Philippines, which occupies the Philippine Islands in the Pacific Ocean. In the west, the islands are washed by the South China Sea, in the north they adjoin Taiwan through the Bashi Strait. Located on the island of Luzon (the largest in the archipelago), Metro Manila includes, in addition to Manila itself, four more cities and 13 municipalities.

The name of the city comes from two Tagalog (local Filipino) words "may" meaning "to appear" and "nilad" - the name of the original settlement located along the banks of the Pasig River and the bay. Before the Spanish conquest of Manila in 1570, the islands were inhabited by Muslim tribes who acted as intermediaries in Chinese trade with South Asian merchants. After a fierce struggle, the Spaniards occupied the ruins of Manila, which the natives set fire to escape from the invaders. After 20 years, the Spaniards returned and built defensive structures.

In 1595, Manila became the capital of the Archipelago. From this time until the 19th century, Manila was the center of trade between the Philippines and Mexico. With the arrival of Europeans, the Chinese were limited in free trade and repeatedly rebelled against the colonists. In 1898, the Americans invaded the Philippines, and after several years of war, the Spanish ceded their colony to them. Then the American-Philippine War began, which ended in 1935 with the independence of the islands. During the period of US domination, several enterprises in the light and food industries, oil refining plants, and the production of building materials were opened in Manila.

During World War II, the Philippines was occupied by the Japanese. The state gained final independence in 1946. Currently, Manila is the main seaport, financial and industrial center of the country. Factories in the capital produce electrical equipment, chemicals, clothing, food, tobacco, etc. The city has several markets and shopping centers with low prices, attracting visitors from all over the Republic. In recent years, the role of tourism has been growing.

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

9. Delhi

Delhi is the capital of India, a city with 13 million people that most travelers cannot miss. A city in which all the classical Indian contrasts are fully manifested - grandiose temples and dirty slums, bright celebrations of life and quiet death in the gateways. A city in which it is difficult for an ordinary Russian person to live for more than two weeks, after which he will begin to quietly go crazy - the incessant movement, general bustle, noise and din, the abundance of dirt and poverty will become a good test for you.

Like any city with a thousand-year history, Delhi has many interesting places worth visiting. Most of them are located in two districts of the city - Old and New Delhi, between which is the Pahar Ganj district, where most independent travelers stay. Some of the most interesting attractions in Delhi include the Jama Masjid, Lodhi Garden, Humayun Tomb, Qutab Minar, Lotus Temple, Lakshmi Narayana Temple, military fortresses Lal Qila and Purana Qila.

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

10. Moscow

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

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

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

February 15, 2013 | Categories: Places , Topper