Where is the largest square in the world located? The largest square in Europe. The largest cities in the world by area
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, the inhabitants of which are employed, as a rule, outside Agriculture. Assignment locality to the category "city" is made out in the legislative order; 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".
At the same time, from general rules always exist 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.
Chongqing (China). Most Big city in the world by territory
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 high density population in all or most of the city, and in small towns, this is usually 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.
New York (USA). More than 35% of the city's territory is water
It is also a frequent variant of cities that are large in territory, but with a small population - cities with one main source of income (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, with a low population density, which is typical for cities. australia.
Brisbane (Australia). Most of the inhabitants of this city of 2 million live in private homes.
There are more than 200 different countries in the world, in which there is a huge variety of urban settlements, differing from each other in area and population. In our article you can get acquainted with the list of the largest world cities.
Rating by area
chongqing
Chongqing is large and ancient city China, even though it is not the capital of this country. Its area is 82400 sq. km, so it is among the top most densely populated cities in the world. Chongqing was built about 3000 thousand years ago. The architecture of Chongqing is quite peculiar and unique, because it combines two eras at once: modern skyscrapers and buildings, as well as ancient buildings and structures of the Ming and Qing dynasties (for example, the Dazu rock reliefs, the temple of the arhats, the Diaoyu fortress, Furong cave). Chongqing has a fairly developed infrastructure, there are about 5 automobile manufacturing plants, many small factories, famous world companies.
chongqinghangzhou
Hangzhou is one of the provincial cities of China, located 200 km from Shanghai. Hangzhou ranks second in terms of area - 16,900 sq. km. Currently, this city is the main supplier of tea in all of China; the main number of tea plantations in the country is concentrated here. Also, coming here, you can look at the unique Xihu Lake, visit natural parks and reserves, for example, the National Tea Museum, the flower and fish contemplation park, Songchen Park, as well as historical architectural monuments - the city's railway station, the six harmonies Liuhe pagoda, the Baochu pagoda .
Beijing
Beijing is the capital of the People's Republic of China, as well as the third largest city in the world - 16801 sq. km. Beijing is the largest railway and road junction, the largest political, economic and historical center of the country. The architecture of the city is striking in its diversity: here you can see a huge number of ancient buildings, monuments and national parks, for example, the Forbidden City, the Temple of Heaven, the National Museum of China, the Imperial Summer Palace, the Beijing TV Tower.
Brisbane
Brisbane is the largest Australian city with a total area of 15,800 sq. km, located in the state of Queensland on the banks of the Brisbane River of the same name. This city is considered an important economic center. Brisbane's architecture combines modern houses and skyscrapers, as well as the old colonial style. Here you can see, for example: the Story Bridge, the Brisbane Botanical Garden, the island of sunken ships, the Sir Thomas Brisbane Planetarium.
Sydney
Sydney is a large administrative, political and economic center of Australia with a total area of 12,200 sq. km, located on the southeastern shore of Sydney Harbor Bay, which is part of the Tasman Sea. This city is the capital of the state of New South Wales. The architecture of Sydney is made in the colonial style, but there are also modern monuments and buildings, as in any other metropolis. In Sydney you can see, for example: the Opera House, the house of Queen Victoria, the Royal Botanic Gardens, the Maritime Museum, the Taronga Zoo.
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital of the state of Victoria, Australia. The total area of the settlement is 10,000 sq. km. Melbourne is located in the southern part of the country on the banks of the Yarra River. The city is the "sports and cultural" center of Australia. Melbourne's architecture combines Victorian and modern style. Tourists can visit many museums, national parks, gardens, see the most beautiful buildings and structures, for example: the ring tram, the Royal Botanical Garden, an open zoo, Federation Square, a monument of memory, a princess theater.
Kinshasa
Kinshasa is the capital of the Republic of the Congo, located on the banks of the Congo River. The area of the city is 9960 sq. km. About 60% of the urban area is occupied by poor rural buildings, as well as green spaces. Tourists visiting Kinshasa can visit the following attractions: Albertine Rift Crater Lakes, Bonobo Chimpanzee Nursery, Lukaya Park, Kinsuka Falls.
Naypyidaw
Naypyidaw is the capital of Myanmar, located near the former capital city of Yangon. The total area of the urban district is 7060 sq. km. Naypyidaw's informal name is "Royal Country". The architecture of the city is built in a typical Asian style. The main historical monument is the "Golden Tower" - a Buddhist temple. Also tourists can visit: Mahabodhi temple, zoological garden, botanical park.
Istanbul
Istanbul is located on the shores of the Bosphorus Strait and is one of the largest cities in Turkey, with a total area of 5461 sq. km. This city is considered the former capital of the Roman and Byzantine empires. Istanbul is a famous tourist center. There are a huge number of palaces, mosques, historical churches and other places of magnificent beauty, for example: Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, the Suleymaniye Mosque, the Golden Horn, the Bosphorus.
Anchorage
Anchorage is a city located in the state of Alaska, USA. The area of the city territory is 4415 sq. km. Anchorage is the northernmost city in the United States and is the largest transportation hub. The main attractions of Anchorage are: the deer farm, the village of Ekluta, the headquarters of the Iditarod.
Karachi
Karachi is a major port in the southern part of Pakistan with a total area of 3530 sq. km. Karachi is the financial, banking and industrial center of the country. Several automobile plants, textile factories are located here, and publishing activities are well developed. The main tourist places of the city of Karachi are: St. Patrick's Cathedral, the railway station, the Three Swords monument, the Ranikot Fort.
Moscow
Moscow is the capital Russian Federation, whose area is 2500 sq. km. The city is a major economic, industrial and educational center of the country. In Moscow, you can visit quite a lot of interesting and unique historical places, for example: Red Square, the Kremlin, the Cathedral of Christ the Savior, big theater, Circus on Tsvetnoy Boulevard, Novy and Stary Arbat.
Ranking by population
Shanghai
Shanghai is one of the most populous cities in China, with a population of 24.1 million. Shanghai is located on the banks of the Yangtze River in the eastern part of the country. The city is one of the most important economic, industrial and cultural centers of China, as well as the world's largest seaport. Famous sights of Shanghai are, for example: the Oriental Pearl TV Tower, the French Quarter, the Bund, the Jin Mao Tower.
Lima
Lima is the capital of Peru, located on the Pacific Ocean at the foot of the Andes. The population is 11.9 million people. Lima is the economic, political, cultural and historical center of the country. The city has a well-developed tourism industry. Millions of tourists from all over the world come here every year. The main attractions of Lima are: Cathedral, Lima balconies, Government Palace, Larco Museum, University of San Marcos, Memorial Cemetery.
Sao Paulo
Sao Paulo or "Latin American Chicago" is a city located in the southeastern part of Brazil, with a population of 10.8 million people. São Paulo was formed by a group of Jesuits (members of the Catholic society). The city is named after the Apostle Paul. Sao Paulo has a huge number of modern skyscrapers, offices, industrial zones, as well as various architectural monuments and reserves (the most popular are the Singing Sands, the Cathedral, the Butantan Reserve).
mexico city
Mexico City is the capital of Mexico with a population of 8.8 million. This city is the main political, economic and cultural center of the country. Mexico City is a very beautiful and colorful city, which is rich in a wide variety of attractions, for example: the Palace of Fine Arts, Chapultepec Palace, Constitution Square, the Cathedral of Mexico City, the Basilica of the Virgin Mary of Guadalupe, the National Palace.
New York
New York is a large US city located on the Atlantic Ocean. The population is 8.5 million people. New York City is sometimes referred to as the "Big Apple" and is an important economic, industrial, and tourist center. The most popular cultural and historical sites of the city are: the Statue of Liberty, the Manhattan district, the central station, the central park, Broadway street, Brighton Beach.
Bogota
Bogotá is the capital of Colombia and one of the oldest cities in the country. The number of inhabitants is 8 million people. The city is divided into 4 main areas: northern, southern, central and El Occidente (part of Bogota, which is inhabited exclusively by wealthy people and billionaires). Most popular places: National Museum of Colombia, Bogota Cathedral, Faenza Theatre, José Celestino Mutiz Botanical Garden.
London
London is the capital of Great Britain, located on the banks of the River Thames. The population is 7.7 million people. London is the world's leading financial, industrial and cultural center. The main attractions of the city are: Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, British Museum, Tower Bridge, London Eye Ferris wheel, Tower, Westminster Abbey.
Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro is one of the major cities in Brazil with a population of 6.4 million. "Rio" is located on the coast of the Guanabar Bay, which flows into the Atlantic Ocean. Rio de Janeiro is a city of colors, carnivals, dances and endless smiles. The main attractions of the city are included in the list of objects protected by the World Organization of UNESCO: the statue of Jesus Christ, Sugar Loaf Mountain, Copacabana Beach.
St. Petersburg
St. Petersburg is the "northern" capital of Russia, one of the top largest cities in the country. The population is 5.3 million people. St. Petersburg is rich in history, only here a huge number of architectural monuments built in the style of early classicism and modernity have been collected. The most famous places in the city are: the Catherine Palace, the Winter Palace, the Church of the Intercession on Blood, the Kazan Cathedral, the Hermitage, the cruiser Aurora, Peterhof.
Barcelona
Barcelona is the capital of the autonomous republic of Catalonia, Spain. The population is 2 million people. The city is also the largest Mediterranean port and a tourist center in Europe. In Barcelona you can enjoy the views: Sagrada Familia, Park Güell, Tibidabo, Casa Batllo, National Palace, Casa Mila.
In our article, you got acquainted with the largest cities in the world in terms of area, as well as in terms of population. We also described the most famous sights of each city, which are usually visited by tourists.
Tiananmen Square
Sixty football fields and one million people can easily fit on this largest square in the world. This area, covering an area of 440,000 square meters, is located in Beijing and is called Tiananmen (Gate of Heavenly Peace, Tianan Men).
Construction of the forbidden city
The largest square in the world is part of the world's largest architectural ensemble - the residence of Chinese emperors, called the "Forbidden City".
Construction of the Forbidden City began in the early 15th century during the reign of Emperor Ju Di of the Ming Dynasty. To strengthen his power, Ju Di moved the Chinese capital from Nanjing to Beijing, and in 1406, under his leadership, work began on the construction of the imperial residence, which lasted almost fifteen years.
Residence of Chinese emperors
For more than five centuries, people have gathered in the square near the Gate of Heavenly Peace to hear the decrees of twenty-four emperors from the Ming and Qing dynasties. The last ruler to leave the Forbidden City in 1925 was Emperor Pu Yi of the Manchu Qing Dynasty.
The modern look of the square
Tiananmen Square acquired its modern look in 1958 during the reconstruction, timed to coincide with the tenth anniversary of the founding of the PRC. The Gate of Heavenly Peace, which gave the square its name, limits it from the north side. The wall with the gate has retained its original appearance, with one exception - on the platform of the Gate there is a giant portrait of the founder of the Chinese People's Republic- Comrade Mao Zedong. On the south side, the square is bounded by the line of the Front Gate (Jiangmen), of which only two towers have survived today.
Government buildings are located on the western side of the square, museums are on the eastern side.
The most significant part of the square is the Mausoleum of Mao Zedong (Commemoration House of Chairman Mao Zedong), located on it, open to the public since 1977.
The largest European square is Svoboda Square in Kharkov, Ukraine.
Olga Bondarenko, Samogo.Net
Challengers among cities
All European cities have their own large and small squares. Of course, the majority of small squares, no one argues about them - well, there is, so there is. But large areas often become the subject of heated debate, as many cities constantly claim the title of "the city with the largest urban area." AT different time these were: French Bordeaux with its "espland Cancons", Minsk with "Independence Square", Kharkov with "Freedom Square" and some others. But as it turned out, the largest city square in Europe is the Kuibyshev Square in the glorious city of Samara.
Pride of the Volga region
The territory occupied by this area is 17.4 hectares. A remarkable fact is that the square has the shape of a regular rectangle, which is very rare in the city, and its corners are decorated with beautiful squares. The unfortunate fact is that in order to build this wonderful square, it was necessary to blow up the no less wonderful Cathedral - the pride and beauty of the entire Volga region. However, the decisions taken by the party bodies in the thirties were not discussed, the cathedral was blown up.
The square was built for several years (1935-1938), at the same time the reconstruction of the adjacent quarters was carried out. However, when she appeared before the inhabitants of the city and a few of its guests in full glory, even the most notorious skeptics could not but admit that she was beautiful.
By the way, on Kuibyshev Square in 1941 they held a military parade similar to Moscow (November 7, 1941. Red Square).
Currently, Kuibyshev Square is an adornment of Samara, its pride and attraction. In addition to the fact that it is constantly visited by enthusiastic foreign tourists, it has become "indispensable" for local residents, they celebrate holidays here, make dates and ... hold rallies.
Freedom Square in Kharkov
The second largest area in Europe and the largest area in Ukraine considered the city's Freedom Square (the former name until 1992 - Dzerzhinsky Square), which is located in the city of Kharkov in Ukraine. Freedom Square was designed in the 20s of the twentieth century by architect Viktor Karpovich Trotsenko (1888-1978) and consists of rectangular and round parts that face Sumskaya Street and Lenin Avenue.
At present, the area occupies almost 12 hectares, its length is 750 m, the width of the rectangular part is 130 m, the diameter of the circle is 350 m.
A city square of such enormous size was conceived to emphasize the city of Kharkov as the political center and capital of Soviet Ukraine during 1919-1934. (in 1934 the capital of Ukraine was moved to Kyiv). It was planned to hold mass holidays, rallies, military parades, folk festivals on the square.
An example of social constructivism
In the center of Freedom Square in 1963, a monument to Lenin was erected, which still stands on the square today. Around the square there are buildings commensurate with its scale, among which a colossal building stands out - the House of State Industry (Derzhprom). This unique architectural and historical building was built in 1925-1928 and was the very first high-rise building in Ukraine. Today this building, as an example of early social constructivism, is included in the UNESCO Cultural Heritage List.
Buildings nearby
Near the square is also the building of the Kharkov national university named after V.N. Karazin - one of the largest and oldest higher educational institutions Ukraine, which was founded in 1805. There are about 3,000 auditoriums, scientific rooms and laboratories in the university building.
There is also an eight-story building of the Kharkiv Hotel near Svoboda Square.
Today, on this square, which was once named after the chief security officer Dzerzhinsky, various exhibitions, mass actions, parades and concerts are constantly held.
However, it is worth noting that this area is the largest only in Europe. The largest square in the world is the square in Beijing, which is called Tiananmen (Gate of Heavenly Peace, Tianan Men).
Alla Gelenidze, Anatoly Lisnyak, Samogo.Net
5 largest city squares in the world
© commons.wikimedia.org
© commons.wikimedia.org
© commons.wikimedia.org
© commons.wikimedia.org
© commons.wikimedia.org
© commons.wikimedia.org
© regiomontano.org
© commons.wikimedia.org
© commons.wikimedia.org
© elwinger.org
© commons.wikimedia.org
© commons.wikimedia.org
© commons.wikimedia.org
© commons.wikimedia.org
© Getty Images
© commons.wikimedia.org
© commons.wikimedia.org
© commons.wikimedia.org
Photo 1 of 18:© commons.wikimedia.org
Since ancient times, squares have played an important role in the life of every city. All the most important events - from various national holidays to various protests and rallies - necessarily took place there. In a word - life boils in these places.
And today the editors of the site offer to learn everything about the largest city squares: how they attract tourists and how you can get to them.
Medan Merdeka Square, Jakarta, Indonesia
Medan Merdeka Square, located in the Indonesian capital Jakarta, is also called Freedom Square. Built in 1810, the square is now considered the largest in the world. The square received its modern name in 1945 after the country gained independence from the Netherlands.
Residents of the capital are proud that Medan Merdeka Square has retained its original appearance since its foundation.
What is remarkable : conventionally, the area is divided into two parts:
Parks Zone (Taman Medan Merdeka) - it contains excellent Indonesian parks and a small pond.
Monument Zone (Ruang Agung) - area with monuments.
The inhabitants of Jakarta have their own division, and it is connected with four roads, which are laid on the territory of the square. They call these areas parks:
- North Medan Merdeka Park - part of the park with a monument to Prince Diponegoro (the leader of the uprising against the Dutch colonialists) and a monument to the Indonesian poet Chairil Anwar.
- Park "East Medan Merdeka" - part of the square near the main station of the capital. In this part of the territory there is a pond and a monument to the Indonesian woman hero.
- South Medan Merdeka Park boasts a garden of 33 rare plants that represent Indonesia's 31 provinces and two special districts.
- Park "Western Medan Merdeka" - a fountain with magnificent night illumination.
Around Medan Merdeka Square are important Indonesian buildings: the State Secretariat, Merdeka Palace, the Supreme Court, the Ministry of the Interior, the Ministry of Culture and many others.
How to get there: Be aware that Jakarta has no subway or surface rail transport. The only public transport is buses.
On the main highways there are road lines along which large passenger buses run - these are the express lines of the BRT (bus rapid transit) system of TransJakarta. The direction of travel is written on the bus in two languages: Indonesian and English. Choose the one that says "Gambir Station" - it is located near the central square.
Reviews of tourists: “BRT bus stops are reminiscent of subway stations with platforms and turnstiles. Bus terminal BRT Harmony at the beginning of Gadzhi Mada street. Stops and buses can get crowded, especially during rush hours. After driving another block, we find ourselves on Medan Merdeka (Independence Square) - a huge space of proper planning, ”says the etceterini tourist on his blog etceterini.livejournal.com.
Tiananmen Square, Beijing, China
Beijing's Tiananmen Square can be a real find for all lovers of Soviet culture. After all, this is the area where the largest number Soviet flags.
The territory of Tiananmen Square is 440 thousand square meters and this is one of the largest indicators in the world. The name of the square comes from the name of the Tiananmen Gate, which means "Gate of Heavenly Peace."
In fact, the expression "main gate" refers to a whole complex of buildings in the south of Tiananmen Square. The main buildings are the Main Sun Gate (Zhenyangmen) and the Tower of the Archers.
What is remarkable : The square is located between two Chinese ancient monuments of the era of emperors - the Tiananmen Gate and the Qianmen Gate.
Also on the square is the mausoleum of one of the founders and long-term leader of the CPC and China, Mao Zedong. Therefore, if you are not lucky enough to visit the mausoleum of another Soviet leader in Moscow, you can visit the mausoleum of Mao Zedong.
Above the main entrance to the museum hangs a white marble plaque with golden hieroglyphs: "Mao's House of Memory". There are four groups of sculptures around the mausoleum. From the east there is a sculpture reflecting the period of the New Democratic Revolution (New Democratic Revolution) 1919-1949.
On the west side, there is a sculpture commemorating the great achievements of the Chinese people during the period of socialist construction since 1949. The sculptures in front of the southern entrance depict workers, peasants, soldiers, scientists, engineers and children. The building is surrounded by 44 octagonal columns made of yellow granite.
Tiananmen Square is located near the National Museum of China - the largest in the country. Its area is over 70,000 square meters. It is located in the eastern part of Tiananmen Square.
The museum stores about 620 thousand valuable exhibits covering the history of the state for more than 5000 years. Individual exhibits date back to prehistoric times, such as the 1.7 million year old Yuanmo Man.
The next attraction of Tiananmen Square is the National Heroes Monument. This monument is dedicated to the men and women who died fighting for Chinese independence.
Advice: do not behave defiantly on the square - the square is controlled by plainclothes policemen.
Entrance to the square is free, climbing to the Tiananmen podium - 15 yuan.
How get there: Buses No. 1, 4, 20, 52 and 57 (Tiananmen Square stop).
- Dignities and clothes of Orthodox priests and monasticism
- Healers and fortune tellers - why do people go to them?
- During confession. Preparation for confession. List of sins for confession. How to dress for confession
- Praise of the Most Holy Theotokos Praise of the Mother of God with an akathist what they pray for
