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New Zealand
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Known as the "City of Sails", this is the largest city in New Zealand and the tallest structure in the Southern Hemisphere
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Auckland
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The southernmost capital in the world and the world's windiest city
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Wellington
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Nigeria
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Two natural monoliths, the Aso and Zuma Rock defines Nigeria's newly planned capital
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Abuja
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Largest Muslim-dominated city in Nigeria; once the center of its own Emirate
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Kano
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The largest city in Nigeria was originally founded on an Island of the same name
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Lagos
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North Korea
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Home to the biggest stadium in the world, the capital and largest city of North Korea
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Pyongyang
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Norway
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Fastest growing city in Europe at the turn of the millennium; #1 in terms of quality of life in Europe
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Oslo
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Oman
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The capital of Oman contains the city of Ruwi, which makes up most of its economic sector; once the center of a powerful Sultanate
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Muscat
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Pakistan
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Capital of Pakistan; home to Democracy Square and the Faisal Mosque; most of its citizens are predominantly wealthy
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Islamabad
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Also known as the "City of Lights", this is the largest city in Pakistan and formally one of the least safe cities in the world
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Karachi
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Known for the old city and Lollywood
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Lahore
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Palestinian Territories
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Been under a blockade since 2007
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Gaza
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Panama
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Bougainvillea plazas, neoclassical architecture and important canal city is the center of Panama and its capital
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Panama City
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Paraguay
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Capital of Paraguay and largest city in the country; one of the cheapest places for tourists to visit
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Asuncion
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Peru
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This capital city founded by Francisco Pizarro is one of the biggest cities in South America
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Lima
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Philippines
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This along with Quezon City and others makes up the largest metropolitan area in the Philippines; fastest growing city in Southeast Asia
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Manila
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Poland
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The old capital of Poland; and one of the many named European Capitals of Culture in 2000
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Krakow
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Capital of Poland; it also gained the new title of "Phoenix City" after the complete reconstruction after the World Wars
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Warsaw
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Portugal
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The capital of Portugal is home to a colonialist legacy, Fado, Sao Jorge Castle, the Belem Tower, and Rua Augusta Arch
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Lisbon
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2nd largest city in Portugal is known for its famous Port Wine in the cellars of its twin city, Vila Nova de Gaia
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Porto
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Qatar
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Set to hold the 2022 World Cup and largest city of Qatar; an offshoot of Al Bidda city originally
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Doha
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Romania
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The largest city in Romania is sometimes called "Little Paris" or "Paris of the East"
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Bucharest
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Known as the unofficial capital of Transylvania and second largest city in Romania
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Cluj-Napoca
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Called the "City of Flowers", this was the very first city in the world to be lit with electric street lamps in 1884
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Timișoara
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Russia
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Known as the capital of sports in Russia and the capital of the Tatar ASSR in the Soviet Union
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Kazan
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Home to the most famous Kremlin, Ostankino Tower, the Red Square and the largest metropolitan area in Europe
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Moscow
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The largest city in Asian Russia and one of the world's most renowned zoos
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Novosibirsk
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The largest city on Crimea; it was once a closed city in the USSR due to its strategic location on the Black Sea
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Sevastopol
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The second largest city in Russia; was founded by Peter the Great as a new planned capital of Russia
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St. Petersburg
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Largest city on the Pacific Ocean in Russia; terminus of the Trans-Siberian Railway
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Vladivostok
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Site of the Motherland Calls statue, and site of one of the longest and bloodiest battles in WW2
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Volgograd
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Rwanda
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Capital and largest city of Rwanda, recovered quickly after the 1991 civil war, which results in its new modern nickname the "Singapore of Africa"
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Kigali
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Saudi Arabia
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This city is considered different by its locals and the most "open" city in Saudi Arabia
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Jeddah
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The holiest city in Islam, home to the 2nd most expensive building in the world, the Masjid al-Haram Mosque
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Mecca
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Last burial ground of the last prophet of Islam; second most holy city in the Islamic World
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Medina
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Center of the first Saudi State
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Riyadh
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Senegal
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Founded by the Portuguese, it is the largest city and capital of Senegal; once the capital of the short lived Mali Federation
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Dakar
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Serbia
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One of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world and largest city/capital in Serbia
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Belgrade
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Singapore
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This city-state is considered one of the 4 Asian Tigers; has one of the highest standards of living in the world
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Singapore
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Slovakia
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Once the capital of Hungary, the only national capital that borders two sovereign states
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Bratislava
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South Africa
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Location of the Supreme Court in South Africa, "City of Roses"
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Bloemfontein
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First permanent residence founded in South Africa by settlers; one of the capitals of South Africa and 2nd largest city
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Cape Town
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KwaNatal Zulu city indirectly founded from a shipwreck off the coast
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Durban
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Also called Nelson Mandela Bay, one of the most popular holiday destinations in South Africa for its beaches and safari
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Gqeberha
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The "City of Gold", largest and most wealthy city in South Africa
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Johannesburg
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Host of the 2010 FIFA World Cup; 8th richest city in Africa and one of the capitals of South Africa
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Pretoria
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South Korea
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Major technology centers in this capital/largest city in South Korea include the Gangnam and Digital Media City
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Seoul
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Spain
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Center of the Catalonia movement, is the 5th largest metropolitan area in the EU
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Barcelona
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2nd largest metropolitan agglomeration in the EU and largest in Spain, center of the monarchy after Spain was united
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Madrid
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Home of the Casa de Contratación and world expositions like the Ibero-American Exposition and Expo '92
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Seville
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Capital of the Second Spanish Republic and home to the Fallas Festivals
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Valencia
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Sri Lanka
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Largest city and economic center of Sri Lanka; includes the nation's capital, Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte inside in the urban area
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Colombo
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Sudan
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Largest city by metropolitan area in Sudan, technically its twin city, Omdurman is larger in city-proper
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Khartoum
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Sweden
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Largest port in the nordic countries was founded by Gustavus Adolphus in 1621
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Gothenburg
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Home to some of the most prestigious colleges in Europe; hosts the annual Nobel Prize ceremonies
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Stockholm
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Switzerland
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Main economic center and 2nd biggest city in Switzerland
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Geneva
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Among the world's largest financial centers, despite its relativity small size
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Zurich
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Syria
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In ruins because of the Syrian Civil War; still the largest city and capital of Syria
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Damascus
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Taiwan
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This capital of Taiwan twinned with the port city of Keelung
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Taipei
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Tanzania
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Largest city in Tanzania, once the capital of the country until 1973 where it was moved to Dodoma
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Dar es Salaam
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Once the center of the sultanate on the island of the same name; its historic center is called Stone Town (A World Heritage Site)
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Zanzibar
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Thailand
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Largest primate city in the world; one of the most traveled to cities in the world
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Bangkok
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Tunisia
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Avenue Habib Bourguiba is located in the center of the capital of Tunisia, also built over the ancient city of Carthage
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Tunis
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Turkey
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Capital of Turkey and 2nd largest in the country; much Roman and Ottoman architecture is preserved in the city
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Ankara
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Previously known as Constantinople; has been part of the Roman, Byzantine, Latin, and Ottoman Empires
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Istanbul
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Previously known as Smyrna, this third largest city of Turkey has a recorded history of over 3000 years of recorded urban history
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Izmir
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Uganda
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One of the most rapidly developing cities in Eastern Africa with a growth rate of 4.03%
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Kampala
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Ukraine
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The largest city and capital of Ukraine; once completely destroyed in the Mongol Invasions and now damaged in a recent war
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Kyiv
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Referred as the South Capital; this city was founded by Catherine The Great that oddly has more Mediterranean architecture than Russian
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Odessa
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United Arab Emirates
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The largest city in the United Arab Emirates, home to the Burj Khalifa and more than 2% of the Persian Gulf's economy
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Dubai
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United Kingdom
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Site of Titanic's construction and largest city in Northern Ireland
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Belfast
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Manufacturing powerhouse in the Industrial Revolution which in return gave the city lots of interworking canals for trade
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Birmingham
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Home of the Cabot Tower and the Floating Harbour, this southern English city is also called "Brizzle"
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Bristol
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Capital and largest city in Wales in South Glamorgan County
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Cardiff
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Home of Arthur's Seat and a castle of the same name of the capital of Scotland
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Edinburgh
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|
Largest city and cultural hub in Scotland, it is also a technically a port city on the River Clyde
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Glasgow
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|
Known for its famous football league and being the birthplace of the Beatles; site of the oldest Black and Chinese communities in Europe
|
Liverpool
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Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, London Eye, and Trafalgar Square are all in this former capital of the largest empire of the world
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London
|
|
The world's first industrialized city and the UK's second largest city by metropolitan population
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Manchester
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United States
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Played a historical role in the 1960 Civil Right Movements and has the most passenger traffic out of any Airport
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Atlanta
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Home of Fort McHenry and known for its Inner Harbor. Also referred as "The Charm City"
|
Baltimore
|
|
The largest city in New England; had a very famous tea party
|
Boston
|
|
Site of the first battle of the American Civil War; 3rd largest metropolitan area in South Carolina behind Greenville and Columbia
|
Charleston
|
|
The largest city in North Carolina and fastest growing metropolitan area from 2004 to 2014
|
Charlotte
|
|
The famous Willis (Sears) Tower is located in the 3rd largest metropolitan area in the United States
|
Chicago
|
|
The largest metropolitan area in Ohio and the first city founded after the American Revolution
|
Cincinnati
|
|
The largest city on Lake Erie which is home to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame
|
Cleveland
|
|
This northern Texan city, twinned with Forth Worth, is home to 10 of the Fortune 500 companies in the city limits
|
Dallas
|
|
The "Mile High City" (not to be confused with Maseru) is the largest city in Colorado
|
Denver
|
|
The largest city in Michigan is the home city of the "Big Three" auto manufacturers in the US
|
Detroit
|
|
Known as "H-Town", "Space City" and "Bayou City" also houses the Mission Control Center
|
Houston
|
|
Coined itself as the "Entertainment Capital of the World" but is morealess known as "Sin City"
|
Las Vegas
|
|
Home of the Hollywood Sign, Hollywood Boulevard and the second largest city in the United States
|
Los Angeles
|
|
Tennessee city which is a historical center of the blues, country and rock and roll; home of Graceland and Beale Street
|
Memphis
|
|
Cuban cultural center of the United States also coins itself as the "Cruise Capital of the World"
|
Miami
|
|
The largest city in Wisconsin known for its historical brewing and Summerfest
|
Milwaukee
|
|
World-renowned city in the US South for its French Quarter, Creole Culture, and huge historical impact on US history
|
New Orleans
|
|
Wall Street & Statue of Liberty are some of the major features in the largest city in the USA and the largest Anglophone-speaking city in the world
|
New York City
|
|
The largest city in Pennsylvania is home to Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell
|
Philadelphia
|
|
Rapidly growing and spread out capital of Arizona
|
Phoenix
|
|
Known as "Steel City" and the "City of Bridges", it's rapidly changing to become a hub in health care and technology
|
Pittsburgh
|
|
Headquarters of the LDS church and largest city in Utah
|
Salt Lake City
|
|
Originally founded as a Spanish Mission, it is the location of the Alamo and the oldest city in Texas
|
San Antonio
|
|
The Birthplace of California often associated with the United States Navy
|
San Diego
|
|
Home of the Golden Gate Bridge, famous bay and historical center of liberalism in the United States
|
San Francisco
|
|
Home of the Space Needle and birthplace of Grunge Music
|
Seattle
|
|
Known as the "Gateway to the West", it also has the smallest national park in the USA surrounding the Gateway Arch
|
St. Louis
|
|
This 2nd biggest metropolitan area in Florida combines with St. Petersburg to make the Greater Bay Area
|
Tampa
|
|
Capital of the United States, home of the Washington Monument, Lafayette Square, and The White House
|
Washington
|
|
|
|
|
Uruguay
|
|
Capital of Uruguay revolving around the Plaza de la Independencia
|
Montevideo
|
|
|
|
|
Uzbekistan
|
|
Originally an independent city state in early history; now the largest city in Uzbekistan and capital; once the 4th largest city in the USSR
|
Tashkent
|
|
|
|
|
Venezuela
|
|
Venezuela's capital and largest city; the final resting place of Simon Bolivar
|
Caracas
|
|
|
|
|
Vietnam
|
|
New capital of Vietnam after the Vietnam War; UNESCO called it the "City of Peace" in 1999
|
Hanoi
|
|
Largest city in Vietnam; named after a revolutionist and leader in the Vietnam War
|
Ho Chi Minh City
|
Why are you including Pretoria when the much larger and more impactful Johannesburg is so close-by (Or Islamabad, for that matter)? Just because it's one of the three capitals? Then why are you including former capital Almaty over Dodoma, Ulaanbaatar, or Naypyidaw? Because of its historical significance? Then why are you including Gaza over Aleppo, Corinth,Timbuktu, Jilin?
For any given reason, it feels like the choices are very odd. For the sum of reasons, and considering other choices, it feels even stranger. Why does Egypt get its third city before Iran's second? Why do Bolivia and Colombia get two each before Yemen gets one? Why does South Africa have more cities than Brazil?
So what exactly *is* the criteria? Just "name these 250 World Cities"? Because it is a very odd list, and one that several times made me go check the hints just because I had no idea *why* a city in that location would be considered one "everyone should know" over a few dozen missing ones. Unfortunately, I did not find an answer for that question, but I'd love to hear one.
I don't really find anything inherently wrong with the selections because its not a definitive list. I could make a 1000 version one and there would still be a level of subjection no matter what I choose.
So there's no criteria besides the fact that these urban areas are at least recognizable for something or prominent for a large region or nation. As an American in the Pacific Northwest, I will always have a different view on what's prominent or not than someone in one of the many countries in Europe, or China, or South Africa, or even my neighbor.
As long as you learned something that's all that really matters to me.
Great job and a nomination from me :)
There's a rather large amount of USA and Canadian cities. Do you really think 12% of the most important cities are in the US?
Feels odd when a lot of European countries only have a couple of answers, but much more history. And for somewhere like Luxor or Bamako or Timbuktu or York or Bordeaux or Nagoya or Florence or Busan (etc.) to miss out over Cleveland or Memphis (not even the Egyptian one!) is frankly laughable, sorry.
But I appreciate the effort as a lot of these are interesting clues.
Also should the Cancun clue read "renowned" or am I missing something?
I feel like I jammed in as many European cities as possible without it feeling crowded, more would have been overkill. Say what you want for my selections, everyone has their own takes on what they'd pick. Sure there are a lot of Northern American cities, but many people come from that area that uses JetPunk so I don't find it a big deal.
This quiz aims to give additional information and provide a reasonably easy challenge to JetPunkers and a moderate challenge for people not accustomed to geography.