What is the largest city in the world and where is it located? The largest cities in the world by area: rating, list, description and features What is the largest city in terms of population

The largest city in the world can be determined by 2 main criteria:

1. Population. The number of residents of the permanent population of the city within its boundaries.
2. City area. The area of ​​the city in square kilometers within the administrative boundaries of the city.

Photo: Chongqing (China). The largest city in the world

In this case, the largest city in the world, both in terms of territory and population, is China. Chongqing city with the territory 82 403 km² and population 30 165 500 Human. Full official name of the city: Chongqing City and it largest city in the world.

It is the absolute leader in both main criteria of the largest city. Many countries of the world occupy an area smaller than the city of Chongqing in China, and the closest in size to the territory of the state Czech Republic - 78,866 km² with a population of 10.6 million people, it ranks 115th in the world among countries in terms of area.

Urbanized area and Central Chongqing.

At the same time, the so-called urban area Chongqing, which is informally referred to as the "main urban area" is 1473 km² or 1.79% of the entire city. The central part of the urbanized area is called Central Chongqing, whose area is 472.8 km², the population density here is 17 000 people per square kilometer, and the population of Central Chongqing is 8 165 500 Human.

Suburban and rural areas.

The rest of the city area 80 930 km² or 98.21% of the entire city area is located in suburban and rural areas with a density of 268 person per 1 sq. km.

Agglomeration of the largest city in the world.

The population of the agglomeration (the territory of the city together with the suburbs) of Chongqing is 52 100 100 Human. According to this indicator, the Chongqing agglomeration is also the largest agglomeration in the world.

List of TOP 10 largest cities in the world by population:

1. chongqing, China = 30,165,500 people
2. Shanghai, China = 24,150,000 people
3. Beijing, China = 21,148,000 people
4. Tianjin, China = 14,425,000 people
5. Istanbul, Türkiye = 13,854,740 people
6. Guangzhou, China = 13,438,972 people
7. Tokyo, Japan = 13,370,198 people
8. Karachi, Pakistan = 13,205,339 people
9. Mumbai, India = 12,478,447 people
10. Moscow, Russia = 12,380,664 people

The most populous city in the world

You can also highlight such a criterion as population density or the average number of residents living in 1 square kilometer of the city.

Photo: Manila (Philippines). The most populous city in the world

According to this criterion most populous city in the world: Manila city in the Philippines ( 41 514 person/km²). At the same time, the population of Manila is: 1 780 148 people, and the total area of ​​the city: 42.88 km².

If the largest city in the world by area, the Chinese city of Chongqing, had the same high population density as the Philippine Manila, then almost half of the world's population.

In the meantime, the population density of Chongqing is 366 people per sq. km., which is 113 times less than in Manila.

Travel is opening, this is an acquaintance with new people and a new culture, this is communication and knowledge - knowledge of the world and oneself. Someone appreciates peace and solitude, going to the protected corners of the wild, while others like the bustle of megacities, the pulse of freeways and the lights of big cities.

The largest cities in the world

When it comes to the largest city, we can distinguish several settlements. If one city can be considered the largest in terms of population, then another - in terms of its length.

Million cities

At present, there are almost millionaire cities in every country. But there are countries that include 10 or more such cities, for example, China, India, Russia, Indonesia, Japan, Nigeria, South Korea.

1. Largest city in terms of population Tokyo- the capital of Japan, a city of historical monuments and skyscrapers. The population is 37.5 million people.

Shanghai- Eastern Capital. Opium wars, British and Japanese occupations, fierce battles during the years of the revolution and the domination of the triads had a chance to survive Shanghai.

The city withstood all the tests with honor, turning into a huge modern metropolis.

The first settlements on the site of Shanghai arose at the beginning of the 8th century, but it received the status of a city only in 1553 and remained in the shadows until the 19th century, which is the reason for the relatively small number of historical sights in modern Shanghai. However, he has something to surprise visitors - being actually the largest city in the world (more 24.2 million inhabitants), it plays the role of the most important economic, transport, industrial and cultural center of China and the world.

Karachi- the heart of the East. Amazing tropical climate, crystal waters of the Arabian Sea, ancient forts, ruins of medieval settlements and, at the same time, modern financial corporations, the largest industrial enterprises and the best education system in the Islamic world - all this is the city of Karachi, located in southern Pakistan.

The population of the city exceeds 23.5 million people. The city is replete with historical, cultural and religious monuments, it has many parks, beaches and hotels. Thanks to this, Karachi is one of the most attractive tourist centers in the East.

Beijing- the modern capital of China (21.7 million inhabitants) - one of the oldest cities.

The legendary city of Ji, once located on the site of modern Beijing, was founded early 1st millennium BC, and in 473 BC. became the capital of the Yan kingdom. That is why Beijing is now not only a political, but also an educational, scientific, cultural center of China, annually attracting millions of tourists and thousands of foreign students.

Read about the most beautiful and famous sights in the world at.

The top four are followed by:

• Delhi- the capital, population 16.5 million people;
• Lagos- the largest city in Nigeria and Africa, more than 16 million inhabitants;
• Tianjin- the third largest city in China, population - 15.2 million;
• - the capital, the largest industrial and cultural center of Turkey, 14.2 million people;
• Guangzhou- a metropolis in the south of China, the population reaches 13.1 million people;
• - the capital and largest city of Russia, the 1st most populous city in Europe and the 10th in the world, more than 12.3 million inhabitants.

The largest in terms of area

A less common way to compare the size of cities is by their land area.

Among all cities in the world, the championship in terms of area belongs to the Chinese city chongqing- 82.4 thousand square meters. km.

It is followed by two more Chinese metropolitan areas: hangzhou And Beijing. Their areas are 16.8 and 16.4 thousand square meters, respectively. km.

After them come:

1. Brisbane, Australia - 15.8 thousand sq. km;
2. Asmara, Eritrea - 15.1 thousand sq. km;
3. Chengdu, China - 12.4 thousand sq. km;
4. , Australia - 12.3 thousand sq. km;
5. Tianjin, China - 11.9 thousand sq. km;
6. Melbourne, Australia - 10.0 thousand sq. km;
7. Kinshasa, Congo - 10.0 thousand sq. km.

The longest

The classification of cities by length, or by the greatest geometric distance from one of its edges to the other, is used extremely rarely and indicates not so much the size of the city as the features of its layout. Usually extended cities are located near the coastline, in mountainous or hilly areas, in areas of natural resource deposits.

The longest city in the world is the capital. The city is surrounded by mountains on all sides. With an area of ​​​​1.5 thousand square meters. km, the length from its northern to southern edge is 200 km.

The second place is occupied by the longest city in Russia, stretching along the Black Sea coast - - the length of the city from the Shepsi River to the border with is 148 km.

"Bronze" gets Krivoy Rog located in the south of Ukraine. With an average width of 20 km, its length is 126 km.

They can also boast of great length:

• Beijing, China - 107 km;
• Tokyo, Japan - 92 km;
• Volgograd, – 90 km;
• Canberra, – 90 km.

Do you know how the largest mountains in the world were formed? Read about their education and location in.

Major tourist centers

Today, tourism occupies one of the leading positions in the world economy.

More popular

According to official statistics, most often it becomes an object of visiting tourists. The capital receives up to 20 million foreign tourists annually, and the city's tourism income exceeds 15 billion US dollars.

They go to London for the sake of historical, architectural and religious sights, mass cultural events.

The second place is occupied by the capital and largest city - Bangkok, which annually comes to 19 million tourists. Bangkok is one of the fastest growing cities in the world, both geographically and economically.

Visitors to Bangkok are attracted by the city's rich historical and religious heritage, museums and Buddhist temples. In addition, the developed entertainment industry, restaurant and hotel business are supported by the authorities on the highest level which also has a positive effect on the influx of foreign tourists.

"City of Love" - ​​located in, took third place in this rating with an attendance of 16 million people. Paris is famous for its masterpieces of architecture from various historical periods, museums and art galleries, gardens and parks.

Modern metropolitan areas

The most technologically advanced city in the world can be safely called seoul, capital . A city of skyscrapers, a city that brings together dozens of the largest industrial corporations working in the field of modern technologies, and thousands of small firms. And at the same time, he managed to remain environmentally friendly and comfortable for his residents.

Future technologies are integrated not only in business and industrial centers, but also in educational institutions, residential areas, even on city streets. These are ubiquitous free wireless technologies, intelligent lighting and video surveillance systems, entertainment technologies and much more.

In second place - Tokyo, a city where the ancient traditions and futuristic ambitions of the Japanese people coexist in an amazing way. Odaibo, the scientific and technological center of Tokyo, is a completely man-made island with multi-tiered bridges, huge ultra-modern buildings and a unique street lighting system.

Bullet trains run in Tokyo, fully robotic factories operate, and the latest electronic devices and software are developed.

The third place belongs Dubai- a city in, which has become a real oasis in the sun-scorched Arabian desert. famous not only for its huge skyscrapers, this city has its own special harmony, unity with nature, a person here is not a consumer, but a creator. The city has excelled in the use of renewable energy resources, robotic buildings and vehicles.

Dubai operates the world's only unmanned passenger bus route.

Where is the warmest place?

In the ranking of "the warmest cities in the world" we awarded the first place to the resort Alanya in, located on the Mediterranean coast surrounded by the Taurus Mountains. The mountains protect Alanya from northern winds, which, combined with the subtropical climate, keeps the average temperature within + 37 ... + 42 degrees in summer and 23-26 degrees in winter.

The ancient history of the city, its fortresses and towers will appeal to lovers of antiquity, and Alanya offers vacationers developed industry services and entertainment.

• In second place - Puerto del Rosario, "Port of Roses", which is located on the island of Fuerteventura as part of. This is a small resort town that is perfect for lovers of a quiet, measured beach holiday. The summer temperature in Puerto del Rosario is +32…+39 degrees, in winter it drops to +17…+25.
• The third place rightfully belongs to the resort Safaga located on the Egyptian coast. Safaga is the most important sea passenger port, a famous center for surfing and windsurfing. The city has many beaches, hotels, health centers, and restaurants of Safaga, offering exquisite delicacies from rare seafood, attract gourmets from all over the world. The temperature is within +30…+44 degrees in summer and +16…+23 in winter.

Less sought after places

And small towns are popular among tourists. Lovers of measured rest travel precisely in small towns filled with an atmosphere of warmth and comfort.

small towns

According to the Guinness Book of Records, the status of the smallest city in the world belongs to fortified city of Hum located in . The town was erected on the top of a hill in the 11th century and at its best accommodated 400-450 inhabitants, but now only 23 people live in it.

Despite the tiny size of the city, he retained rich cultural heritage. Tourists are attracted by temples with ancient frescoes, a museum and fortifications of Huma. You can stay in a small city hotel.

Of particular interest is the famous restaurant, which serves a strong home-made tincture with medicinal herbs, the recipe of which, according to local residents, is more than two thousand years old.

1. The second place belongs to the Czech city with an unpronounceable name - Rabstein nad Strzeloy, built in 1337 in . Surrounded by picturesque forests, the town keeps the ruins of a medieval fortress, an ancient stone bridge, a mill and a baroque, which, according to legend, is inhabited by ghosts. The population of the city is 25 people.
2. In third place is a small city Melnik located in the southwest. The city is built on the slopes of chalk cliffs, it has more than 100 monuments of culture and architecture of the Middle Ages: monasteries, fortresses, churches, bridges, houses and baths. Melnik was founded in the 12th century and little has changed since then. Thanks to this, the city has become the home of many ethnic festivals, which attract tourists from all over the world. 390 people live in Melnik.

northern points

The title of the northernmost city belongs to Longyearbyen, which is located in the Svalbard archipelago. The population of this city, located just 1300 km from the North Pole, is 2040 people. Longyearbyen was founded in 1905 as a center for coal mining, but over time lost its importance as a source of coal.

Now the city attracts researchers and tourists with its harsh arctic climate and beautiful scenery - it is surrounded by mountains, hills and fjords.

Barrow, a small town in the very north of Alaska, comes second on this list. The distance to the North Pole is 2100 km, and the average annual temperature in the city is -11.3 degrees, in summer it rises to +2 ... +8. Barrow has a population of 4,212. The city is an important scientific center in the United States, where the nature of the tundra and the Arctic Ocean is studied.

Third place is occupied by another northern Norwegian city - Honningsvag, its population is 2436 people, and the distance to the pole is 2110 km. The city has a museum and an old stave church, and because of the magnificent scenery, it often hosts cruise ships.

Where is cheaper?

Tourists who want to save a significant amount of money choose the cheapest cities for their holidays:

• Experts called the cheapest city in the world Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan. The city is surrounded by mountains and forests, it has many gardens, parks, boulevards, historical and religious sites;
• Windhoek, the capital of Namibia, ranked second among the cheapest cities. It is famous for its Neo-Gothic architectural monuments, preserved from the time of German rule, as well as modern economic, cultural and educational institutions, which equated the city in terms of development with many European cities;

Save on travel with us! Read about where to go to relax inexpensively.

• City Karachi, which we wrote about as the second most populous city in the world, ranks third among the cheapest cities. In part, it is the cheapness that explains such popularity of Karachi among tourists.

Whatever you expect from a trip, it is always will surprise you, will always bring something new and unusual.

See video about the largest city in the world by population:

In every country in the world - a huge number of cities. Small and big, poor and rich, resort and industrial.

All settlements are remarkable in their own way. One is famous for its landscapes, the other is famous for entertainment, the third is for history. But there are also cities that are famous for their area. So, here are the largest cities in the world by area.

The largest city in the world

Chongqing is administratively divided into 19 districts, 15 counties and 4 autonomous counties. According to 2010 data, the population is 28,846,170 people. But more than 80 percent of the inhabitants live in rural areas; only 6 million people live in the city itself.

Chongqing is one of the ancient cities in China, with a history of more than 3,000 years. In the late Paleolithic era, primitive people already lived here. This is due to the fact that the city was founded on the spot where the Jialingjiang River flows into the full-flowing Yangtze.

The city is surrounded by three mountains: Dabashan in the north, Wushan in the east and Dalushan in the south. Because of the hilly landscape of the area, Chongqing was nicknamed the "mountain city" (Shancheng). It is located at an altitude of 243 meters above sea level.

The largest cities in the world

One of the largest is the New York agglomeration, formed around one major city, the core of New York. Its total area is 30,671 sq. km, the population is almost 24 million people. The Greater New York agglomeration also includes Northern New Jersey, Long Island, Newark, Bridgeport, the five largest New Jersey cities (Newark, Jersey City, Elizabeth, Paterson and Trenton) and six of the seven largest cities Connecticut (Bridgeport, New Haven, Stamford, Waterbury, Norwalk, Danbury).

Largest cities by area in North America

Second place goes to Los Angeles - the city of angels, located in the south of California, its area is 1302 square meters. km. The city is the center of Greater Los Angeles - an agglomeration with a population of over 17 million people. It is also better known as the center of the film industry and entertainment in the field of music and computer games.

The largest city in North America by area is Mexico City, the capital of Mexico. The area of ​​the city is almost 1500 sq. km, and 9 million people live in this territory, it is one of the most densely populated cities in the world. The city was built in a seismically hazardous zone, and earthquakes occur here quite often, which leads to low buildings and, accordingly, its length and area.

Once on the territory of the modern Mexican capital there was a settlement of the Aztec tribe, called Tenochtitlan. At the beginning of the 16th century, the Spanish conquerors founded a new city in its place, from which Mexico City grew.

Largest cities in South America

Sao Paulo is a city of contrasts, on the one hand it is the most modern city in Brazil, built up with glass and concrete skyscrapers (this is where the tallest building in the country is located - the Miranti do Vali skyscraper). On the other hand, the city traces its history back to the 16th century, and many “echoes of the past” have been preserved on its territory - ancient buildings, museums, churches, which are harmoniously combined with modern buildings.

Second place belongs to the city of Bogota - the capital of Colombia. The largest city in the country, its area is 1,587 sq. km. Bogotá was founded by Spanish colonizers in 1538. The city is located on the site of an Indian fortress called Bakata and became the capital of New Grenada, this is the name Quesada gave to the conquered territory. In 1598, Bogotá became the capital of the Captaincy General of Spain, and in 1739 of the Viceroyalty of New Grenada.

This is a city of futuristic architecture, combined with colonial-style churches and insignificant historical buildings, inhabited by an unfavorable contingent: homeless people, thieves and robbers. Bogota and its suburbs are home to 7 million people, which is one sixth of the total population of Colombia. But Bogota is only the second largest city in South America.

The palm is occupied by Brasilia. The area of ​​the capital of the Republic of Brazil is 5802 square meters. km. True, it became the capital quite recently - on April 21, 1960, becoming the third capital of the country, after Salvador and Rio de Janeiro. The city was specially planned and built in the central part in order to use inactive areas, attract population and develop distant areas. The capital is located on the Brazilian plateau, far from the main political areas.

The construction of the city began in 1957 according to a unified plan focused on progressive construction technologies and the foundations of modern urban planning. It was conceived as an ideal city. In 1986, the city of Brasilia was named a "patrimony of mankind" by UNESCO.

The largest cities in Europe by area

London from a bird's eye view

But London ranks only third in the list of the largest cities in Europe. The second place is firmly entrenched in the capital of our Motherland - Moscow. Its area is 2510 sq. km, with a population of 12 million people, according to official figures. This is the largest city not only in Russia, but also in Europe, it is also among the top ten cities in the world in terms of population.

The city is not only the political and administrative, cultural and tourist center of the country, but an important transport hub for the whole country. The city is served by 5 airports, 9 railway stations, 3 river ports.

Istanbul is the largest city in Europe. One of the largest cities on the planet and the largest city in Turkey. Istanbul is the former capital of the Byzantine, Roman and Ottoman empires. The city is located on the banks of the Bosphorus. Its area is 5343 sq. km.

Until 1930, the internationally accepted name of the city was Constantinople. Another name, which is still used in the title of the Patriarch of Constantinople, is Second Rome or New Rome. In 1930, the Turkish authorities ordered that only the Turkish version of the name Istanbul be used. Russified version - Istanbul.

Africa's largest cities by area

Tourists choose it for its beautiful beaches and surfing. The city center is home to Old Dutch mansions and ornate Victorian buildings.

The largest city in Africa is Kinshasa - the capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, its area is almost 10 thousand square kilometers. Until 1966, this city was called Leopoldville. The population of Kinshasa is over 10 million people. But 60 percent of the city is sparsely populated rural areas that are within the city limits. Densely populated areas occupy a small part of the territory in the west of the city. Nevertheless, Kinshasa is the third largest city in the world by area.

The city is located on the Congo River, along its southern coast, stretching for a long distance. Opposite is the city of Brazzaville, the capital of the Republic of the Congo. This is the only place in the world where two capitals of different countries directly face each other on opposite banks of the river.

Kinshasa is also the second most French-speaking city in the world, behind only Paris. But judging by the rate of population growth, after some time it can overtake the French capital. This is a city of contrasts. Here, wealthy areas with skyscrapers, shopping centers and cafes coexist with slums of shacks and shacks.

The largest cities by area in Australia and Oceania

By the way, the city is the capital of New South Wales. Sydney was founded in 1788 by Arthur Philip, who came to the mainland with the First Fleet. This place is the first colonial European settlement in Australia. The city itself was named by the colonists in honor of Lord Sydney, who at that time was the Minister of the British Colonies.

The largest cities by area in Asia

Later, the Indo-Greek seaport of Barbaricon was formed. In 1729, the fishing town of Kalachi-jo-Gosh became a significant trading center. After 110 years there was a long period of British colonization. Local residents fought against the European invaders, but only in 1940 they were able to become part of an independent Pakistan.

Shanghai occupies almost twice as much territory as Karachi, its area is 6340 sq. km. It is the third largest city in China and the most densely populated, with a population of almost 24 million people. One of the largest ports in the world is located here, and in general the city is recognized as the largest trading center. The dynamically developing city can boast of its ancient history, it is also the first city in China to which European culture came.

The territory of another Chinese city of Guangzhou is slightly larger than the area of ​​Shanghai, and is 7434.4 square meters. km on land and 744 sq. km at sea. It is the capital of Guangdong Province. With a population of over 13 million, Guangzhou is the fourth largest city in China after Shanghai, Beijing and Tianjin. It has more than 2000 years of history, and it was from here, from Canton (this was the former name of the city of Guangzhou) that the famous "Silk Road" began. Ships with outlandish Chinese goods - silk, porcelain and the like - departed from its trading port.

The largest city by area in the world

Beijing has almost always been the seat of many emperors in its 3,000-year history, and has retained its status as the center of the country to this day. Imperial palaces, tombs, temples and parks have been preserved here. It honors ancient Chinese traditions, regularly restoring ancient buildings, along with sprawling new districts and skyscrapers. Beijing is also considered the safest city in the world. On the Know Everything website, you can also read an article about the most populated cities in the world. And the list of the largest cities by area does not always coincide with the list of the largest cities by population.
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or the largest cities in the world by area they occupy in square kilometers

What is a city?

The encyclopedic dictionary gives the following interpretation: « City- a locality whose inhabitants are usually employed outside of agriculture. The assignment of a settlement to the category "city" is formalized by law; At the same time, the criterion for the size of the population of the city differs - from 200 people in Iceland before 30 thousand people in Japan ...... In Russia, the city must have at least 12 thousand inhabitants and at least 85% of the population employed outside of agriculture".

Moreover, from the general rules, there are always exceptions, in particular in Russia so far the smallest in terms of population and wherein with city status is the new city Innopolis, with a population at the time of obtaining city status in 2012 of only 10 people, and as of January 01, 2016 with a population of 96 people.

What area is included in the concept of "largest city"?

The main sources of data on the size of the territory of cities are statistical bodies, and for statistical purposes, each city is primarily an administrative unit (municipality).

In other words - area controlled by the city government and is called a city or urban district.

Hence, situations arise when in 1st place among largest cities in the world by area Chinese city stands chongqing, in which most of the territory is agricultural land, around the former city border. In this case, the expansion of the administrative boundaries of the city is associated with the desire of the administration to urbanize rural areas, increasing the population density.

Therefore, in the list of the largest cities in terms of area occupied by the territory, one can meet very small cities in terms of population of 20,000 - 30,000 people, and at the same time, the territory occupied by them is comparable to multi-million cities- the only difference is that in multi-million cities there is a high population density over the entire or most of the city, and in small cities, as a rule, this is the area around the main building with a low population density.

What is included in the territory of the city. Examples.

The largest cities in the world by area in square kilometers may include in their administrative boundaries, in addition to land territory, Also water area. This is most typical for cities on the water, in particular in the American New York, where the area of ​​water is more than 35% of the total area of ​​the city.

Also, a frequent variant of large cities, but with a small population - cities with one main source of income (mining of coal, ore and other minerals), when a relatively large area of ​​mining, where few people live, is included in administrative boundaries of the city.

A similar example is mountain ranges, territories of nature reserves, natural parks adjacent to the territory of the city, as well as cities in which residents live mainly in private houses and, accordingly, have a low population density, which is typical for cities. australia.

The ratings of the most-most are compiled according to many criteria: beauty, height of buildings, population, history of foundation, etc. However, we decided to compare all the major cities in the world in terms of size and head the list: "The largest cities in the world by area." Of course, agglomerations and districts will not be taken into account here.

First place: Sydney

The first on our list, oddly enough, is Sydney, whose area occupies 12,144 square kilometers. It is the largest city in Australia, although it has a relatively small population of only 4.5 million. The city was founded in 1788, as the first European settlement on the mainland, and was named after Lord Sydney, who at that time held the post of Minister for the Colonies. Residential areas occupy a relatively small area here - 1.7 square meters. km, and the rest of the space is parks, reserves, gardens and the Blue Mountains. The city is famous for its swan-like opera house, Harbor Bridge and beaches.

Runner-up: Kinshasa

The next in the ranking of the largest cities in the world in terms of area is Kinshasa, with 10,550 square kilometers in the asset. It is the capital of the African Democratic Republic of the Congo, located on the river of the same name. Almost twice as many people live here than in Sydney - 9464 thousand in just 40% of the city. In addition, Kinshasa ranks second among all cities in Africa in terms of population and is the silver medalist in the list of French-speaking cities in terms of population. According to statisticians, it is likely that Kinshasa will become the most densely populated city on the planet by 2075.

Third place: Buenos Aires

Buenos Aires, the capital of Argentina, is also in the top three, with 4,000 square kilometers to spare. The list of the largest cities in the world by area could not ignore this beautiful and ancient settlement of Europeans in South America. The name of the capital has been preserved since the seventeenth century, and before that, since 1536, it was called the City of the Holy Trinity and the Port of Our Lady Holy Mother of the Good Winds. But it was too long for both locals and visitors, so it was shortened to a modern version. Another curiosity is the double foundation of the city. The first time was in 1536, but five years later the Indians burned it to the ground. In 1580, the Spaniards rebuilt it again, adding it to their empire. And only in 1776, when the viceroyalty of Rio de la Plata was formed, did it become the new capital.

Fourth place: Karachi

Another former capital takes an honorable fourth place - this is Karachi. Its size is 3530 square kilometers, and until 1958 it served as the capital of Pakistan. But the population here is noticeably higher than that of the previous nominees - 18 million people. The city is the main industrial, cultural and financial center of the country, and also occupies a leading position in the provision of higher education in South Asia and throughout the Islamic world. Now the capital has been moved to Rawalpindi, but life continues to rage in this huge city, which remains the constantly beating heart of the hundreds of thousands of people living in it.

Fifth place: Alexandria

Alexandria, once founded by Alexander the Great during his conquests, occupied the fifth position and became a cultural and religious center for millions of people who lived in antiquity. The list of the 10 largest cities in the world by area could not but include this pearl of Egypt, given that its size is 2680 square kilometers. It stretches along the Mediterranean coast from the north and is washed by the green waters of the Nile from the south and east. It truly is a majestic spectacle. Now it is a major tourist center, annually hosting pilgrims who are eager to touch history and look at the world through the eyes of ancient people.

Sixth place: Ankara

Ankara, with an area of ​​2500 square kilometers, confidently stops in sixth place. The capital of Turkey has a population of 4.9 million and is one of the oldest Asian cities. It has been known since the seventh century BC, as it was at the crossroads of important economic routes between West and East. The city became the capital only by 1919, when the government and the residence of the Sultan settled there.

7th place: Istanbul

And here is the second (it would be more correct to say, the first) large city in Turkey - Istanbul, which occupies 2106 square kilometers. The top largest cities in the world by area simply could not do without it. It is located on the banks of the Bosphorus Strait and has one of the most ancient stories. At first it was known as Constantinople, the capital of the Holy Roman Empire. Wars began and ended here, questions about the redrawing of the political map of the world were resolved, a new religion was born, in the end. At one time, a very long time ago, there was not a single event that would not affect this place in one way or another.

Eighth place: Tehran

The largest cities in the world by area gradually fill our Top 10. There are only three places left in it, and Tehran, the capital of Iran, a major financial and political center, is on the eighth step. Its area - 1881 square kilometers, and it includes both plains and mountainous areas, and from the south the edge of the city rises to the desert of Cairo. This place is elongated along the mountain range, which explains its large area, and the difficult living conditions next to different climatic zones determine the densely populated capital.

Ninth place: Bogotá

On the honorable, penultimate place, Bogotá is located, occupying 1590 square kilometers. It is located more than two thousand meters above sea level, and if you look at the map, the red line of the equator passes just above this place. Despite this, the air temperature here does not rise above 15 degrees Celsius, and frequent earthquakes remind residents of how high they climbed in search of the best place to settle.

Tenth place: London

The list with the title "The largest cities in the world by area" closes London, the capital of Great Britain. Its size is 1580 square kilometers. It is the largest city in Foggy Albion and on the entire European continent, with a population of over 8 million people. It is located on the zero meridian, and it is from it that time is counted all over the planet.

Fun fact, but if you add up the space occupied by these cities, you get about 1 percent of the total land surface on our planet. The largest cities in the world by area are important cultural, political and financial centers around the world, which makes their role even more important in the history of the world.