What’s bigger than a city? In today’s world of ever-growing urbanization and rapid population growth, exploring the concept of "something bigger than a city" becomes increasingly fascinating. Join us as we delve into the world of megascapes, megalopolises, and other impressive human settlements.
So, what’s bigger than a city?
We typically define a city as a large and permanent urbanized area with a recognizable boundaries and a large enough population to support a broad range of economic, residential, and recreational activities. So, what can potentially surpass the scale and infrastructure of a city? Before we dive into the more advanced concepts, let’s look at some interesting smaller forms of urban settlements.
Conurbation (Large Urban Area)
- A conurbation can refer to a large population agglomeration – multiple cities or towns without defined boundaries, forming one contiguous urban area.
- Example: The UK’s West Midlands conurbation is a significant urban network.
- These areas do not necessarily have a "single" city, often encompassing multiple towns with separate identities.
The Hierarchy of Urbanity:
| Level | Description | Range |
|---|---|---|
| Village | Relatively small | Less than 5,000 |
| Town | Medium-sized | 5,000–20,000 |
| City | A more substantial | More than 20,000 |
| Metropolis or Mega-city | Very Large (often over 2,000,000 inhabit.) | More than a few million |
Enter Megalopolis – Something Bigger than a City
- A metropolis can be part of a larger megalopolis, a geographic confluence where distinct towns merge, forming a massive concentration of population and economic strength.
- Example: BosWash, a megalopolis stretching from Boston and Washington D.C. – both major cities.
Other Examples of Megalopolis:
| Megalopolis | Combines Cities | People |
|---|---|---|
| BosWash | Boston, Washington | 10 million |
| Northeast Corridor (NEC) | New York City–Philadelphia–Boston | +2 million |
| Southern California Megalpolis (SCM) | Los Angeles, San Jose | +10 million+ |
The Largest Megascapes:
| Number | Megalopolis | Population Range (approx.) | Major Cities | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pearl River Delta (PRD) China |
<5 million More than 50 million |
||
| 2 | Tokyo-Yokohama Japan |
<13 million More than 37 million |
||
| 3 | Zlín–Ostrava–Prague (TOP) Czechia & Slovakia |
<25 million More than 15 million |
||
| 4 | Beijing-Shanghai-Tianjin-Shanghai Metropolitan triangle China |
<30 million | Less than 50 | Beijing, Shanghai |
| 5 | South Korea’s Gwangyeong-Busan region | <5 millions | More than | 10 million |
For cities with populations exceeding 4,000,000 in 2020[12]:
| Rank | City | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tokyo, Japan | >38,140,000 |
| 2 | Delhi, India | ≥ 29,280,000 |
| 3 | Sao Paulo, Brazil | ≥ 20,970,000 |
| 4 | Mexico City | ≥ 22,300,000 |
| 5 | Shanghai, China | >24,160,000 |
Dubai and Japan: A City Comparison
| Feature | Dubai, UAE | Tokyo, Japan (Megalopolis: >37.4 mn.) |
|---|---|---|
| Population within Urban Area | >2.5 mn. | ~38 mn. + |
Consequences in Demography, Economy, Health and Environment
1: Growth and urbanization require adapting infrastructure, transportation network.
2: In an megalopolis – a diverse economies will emerge, each one.
3:
We have explored the broader realm of urbanization as well as the larger picture by examining megascopes. We have discovered The Hierarchy of urbanity, Conurbation- metropolis-megaloplois. We look into the world of Japan Tokyo-Yokohama metropolitan area.
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