Buenos Aires

Buenos Aires
Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires
Autonomous City of Buenos Aires
From top: 9 de Julio Avenue, the Colon Theatre, the Floralis Generica, Caminito, Libertador Avenue, the Women's Bridge, the National Congress, the Obelisk, the Cabildo, the Casa Rosada, tango dancers, skylines
Flag
Coat of arms
Buenos Aires is located in Argentina
Buenos Aires
Location in Argentina
Coordinates: 34°36′12″S 58°22′54″W / 34.60333°S 58.38167°W / -34.60333; -58.38167Coordinates: 34°36′12″S 58°22′54″W / 34.60333°S 58.38167°W / -34.60333; -58.38167
Country Argentina
Established 1536, 1580
Government
- Type Autonomous city
- Chief of Government Mauricio Macri
- Senators María Eugenia Estenssoro, Samuel Cabanchik, Daniel Filmus
Area
- City 203 km2 (78.5 sq mi)
- Land 203 km2 (78.5 sq mi)
- Metro 4,758 km2 (1,837.1 sq mi)
Population (2009 est.)[1]
- City 3,050,728
- Density 15,005/km2 (38,862.7/sq mi)
- Metro 13,356,715
- Metro density 2,807.2/km2 (7,270.54/sq mi)
Demonym porteño (m), porteña (f)
Time zone ART (UTC-3)
Area code(s) 011
HDI (2010) 0.953 – very high
Website buenosaires.gov.ar (Spanish) bue.gov.ar (English)
Buenos Aires (Spanish pronunciation: [ˈbwenoˈsaiɾes]) is the capital and largest city of Argentina, and the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after São Paulo.[2] It is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent. Greater Buenos Aires conurbation, which also includes several Buenos Aires Province districts, constitutes the third-largest conurbation in Latin America, with a population of around 13 million.
The city of Buenos Aires is not a part of the Buenos Aires Province, nor is it its capital; rather, it is an autonomous district. In 1880, after decades of political infighting, Buenos Aires was federalised and removed from Buenos Aires Province. The city limits were enlarged to include the towns of Belgrano and Flores (both are currently neighbourhoods of the city). The 1994 constitutional amendment granted the city autonomy, hence its formal name: Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires (English: Autonomous City of Buenos Aires). Its citizens first elected a Chief of Government (i.e. Mayor) in 1996; before, the Mayor was directly appointed by the President of the Republic. Buenos Aires is considered an Alpha World City as listed by the Loughborough University group's (GaWC) 2008 inventory.[3] People from Buenos Aires are referred to as porteños (people of the port).

History
First settlement
Seaman Juan Díaz de Solís, navigating in the name of Spain, was the first European to reach the Río de la Plata in 1516. His expedition was cut short when he was killed during an attack by the native Charrúa tribe in what is now Uruguay.
Buenos Aires shortly after its foundation 1536
Depiction of Juan de Garay and the second founding of Buenos Aires, 1580
The city of Buenos Aires was first established as Ciudad de Nuestra Señora Santa María del Buen Ayre[4] (literally "City of Our Lady Saint Mary of the Fair Winds") on 2 February 1536 by a Spanish expedition led by Pedro de Mendoza. The settlement founded by Mendoza was located in what is today the San Telmo district of Buenos Aires, south of the city center.
More attacks by the indigenous peoples forced the settlers away, and in 1541 the site was abandoned. A second (and permanent) settlement was established in 1580 by Juan de Garay, who arrived by sailing down the Paraná River from Asunción (now the capital of Paraguay). He dubbed the settlement "Santísima Trinidad" and its port became "Puerto de Santa María de los Buenos Aires."
Colonial history
From its earliest days, Buenos Aires depended primarily on trade. During most of the 17th and 18th centuries, Spanish ships were menaced by pirates, so they developed a complex system where ships with military protection were dispatched to Central America, cross the land, from there to Lima, Peru and from it to the inner cities of the viceroyalty. Because of this, products took a very long time to arrive in Buenos Aires, and the taxes generated by the transport made them prohibitive. This scheme frustrated the traders of Buenos Aires, and a thriving contraband industry developed. This also instilled a deep resentment in porteños towards the Spanish authorities.[4]
Sensing these feelings, Charles III of Spain progressively eased the trade restrictions and finally declared Buenos Ayres an open port in the late 1700s. The capture of Porto Bello by British forces also fueled the need to foster commerce via the Atlantic route, to the detriment of Lima-based trade. One of his rulings was to split a region from the Viceroyalty of Perú and create instead the Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata, with Buenos Aires as the capital. However, Charles's placating actions did not have the desired effect, and the porteños, some of them versed in the ideology of the French Revolution, became even more convinced of the need for Independence from Spain.
The May Revolution was a turning point in the politics of Buenos Aires.
During the British invasions of the Río de la Plata, British forces attacked Buenos Aires twice. In 1806 the British successfully invaded Buenos Aires, but an army from Montevideo led by Santiago de Liniers defeated them. In the brief period of British rule, the viceroy Rafael Sobremonte managed to escape to Córdoba and designated this city as capital. Buenos Aires became again the capital after its liberation, but Sobremonte could not reasume as viceroy. Santiago de Liniers, chosen as new viceroy, armed the city to be prepared against a possible new British attack, defeating the invasion attempt of 1807. The militarization generated in society changed the balance of power favourably for the criollo peoples, as well as the development of the Peninsular War in Spain. An attempt by the peninsular merchant Martín de Álzaga to remove Liniers and replace him with a Junta was defeated by the criollo armies. However, by 1810 it would be those same armies who would support a new revolutionary attempt, successfully removing the new viceroy Baltasar Hidalgo de Cisneros. This is known as the May Revolution, which is in present day celebrated as a national holiday. This event started the Argentine War of Independence, and many armies left Buenos Aires to fight the diverse strongholds of royalist resistance, with varying levels of success. The government was held first by two Juntas of many members, then by two triumvirates of only three members, and finally by an unipersonal office, the Supreme Director. Formal independence from Spain was declared in 1816, in the Congress of Tucumán. Buenos Aires managed to endure the whole Spanish American wars of independence without falling again into royalist rule.
Historically, Buenos Aires has been Argentina's main venue for liberal and free-trade ideas, while many of the provinces, especially to the northwest, advocated a more conservative Catholic approach to political and social issues. Much of the internal tension in Argentina's history, starting with the centralist-federalist conflicts of the 19th century, can be traced back to these contrasting views. In the months immediately following the 25 May Revolution, Buenos Aires sent a number of military envoys to the provinces with the intention of obtaining their approval. Many of these missions ended in violent clashes, and the enterprise fueled the tensions between the capital and the provinces.
In the 19th century the city was blockaded twice by naval forces: by the French from 1838 to 1840, and later by a joint Anglo-French expedition from 1845 to 1848. Both blockades failed to force the city into submission, and the foreign powers eventually desisted from their demands.
1854: Enactment of the Buenos Aires Constitution.
1920: Bustling Florida Street
1920: Leandro Alem business district
Standard Bank's local headquarters (formerly BankBoston's)

Modern history
During most of the 19th century, the political status of the city remained a sensitive subject. It was already capital of Buenos Aires Province, and between 1853 and 1860 it was the capital of the seceded State of Buenos Aires. The issue was fought out more than once on the battlefield, until the matter was finally settled in 1880 when the city was federalised and became the seat of government, with its Mayor appointed by the President. The Casa Rosada became the seat of the President.
1900: Eduardo Madero's new docklands
An aerial view of the city's northside; two out of three Porteños live in apartment buildings.
In addition to the wealth generated by the fertile pampas, railroad construction in the second half of the 19th century increased the economic power of Buenos Aires as raw materials flowed into its factories. Buenos Aires became a multicultural city that ranked itself with the major European capitals. The Colón Theater became one of the world's top opera venues. The city's main avenues were built during those years, and the dawn of the 20th century saw the construction of South America's then-tallest buildings and first underground system.
By the 1920s Buenos Aires was a favoured destination for immigrants from Europe, particularly Spain and Italy, as well as from Argentina's provinces and neighbouring countries. Shanty towns (villas miseria) started growing around the city's industrial areas during the 1930s, leading to pervasive social problems which contrasted sharply with Argentina's image as a country of riches. A second construction boom from 1945 to 1980 reshaped downtown and much of the city.
Buenos Aires was the cradle of Peronism: the pivotal demonstration of 17 October 1945 took place in Plaza de Mayo.[5] Industrial workers of the Greater Buenos Aires industrial belt have been Peronism's main support base ever since, and Plaza de Mayo became the site for demonstrations and many of the country's political events; on 16 June 1955, however, a splinter faction of the Navy bombed the Plaza de Mayo area, killing 364 civilians (see Bombing of Plaza de Mayo). This was the only time the city was attacked from the air, and the event was followed by a military uprising which deposed President Perón, three months later (see Revolución Libertadora).
In the 1970s the city suffered from the fighting between left-wing revolutionary movements (Montoneros, E.R.P. and F.A.R.) and the right-wing paramilitary group Triple A, supported by Isabel Perón, who became president of Argentina in 1974 after Juan Perón's death.
The military coup of 1976, led by Jorge Rafael Videla, only escalated this conflict; the "Dirty War" resulted in 30,000 desaparecidos (people kidnapped and killed by the military during the years of the junta).[6] The silent marches of their mothers (Mothers of the Plaza de Mayo) are a well-known image of Argentines suffering during those times.
The dictatorship also drew up plans for a network of freeways intended to relieve the city's acute traffic gridlock. The plan, however, called for a seemingly indiscriminate razing of residential areas and, though only three of the eight planned were put up at the time, they were mostly obtrusive raised freeways that continue to blight a number of formerly comfortable neighborhoods to this day.
The city was visited by Pope John Paul II twice: in 1982, due to the outbreak of the Falklands War (Spanish: Guerra de las Malvinas/Guerra del Atlántico Sur), and a second visit in 1987, which gathered some of the largest crowds in the city's history. The return of democracy in 1983 coincided with a cultural revival, and the 1990s saw an economic revival, particularly in the construction and financial sectors.
On 17 March 1992 a bomb exploded in the Israeli Embassy, killing 29 and injuring 242. Another explosion, on 18 July 1994 destroyed a building housing several Jewish organizations, killing 85 and injuring many more, these incidents marked the beginning of Middle Eastern terrorism to South America.
Following a 1993 agreement, the Argentine Constitution was amended to give Buenos Aires autonomy and rescinding, among other things, the president's right to appoint the city's mayor (as had been the case since 1880). On 30 June 1996, voters in Buenos Aires chose their first elected mayor (Chief of Government).
On 30 December 2004 a fire at the República Cromagnon nightclub killed almost 200 people, one of the greatest non-natural tragedies in Argentine history.
The Chinese Arch in Buenos Aires' Chinatown reflects the continuing importance of immigration in Argentina
Corrientes Avenue, reflective of a second construction boom between 1945 and 1980
Galerías Pacífico is one of numerous city landmarks restored since 1990
Partial view of Puerto Madero, a section developed over former docklands over the past decade
Government and politics
Government structure
The Executive is held by the Chief of Government (Spanish: Jefe de Gobierno), elected for a four-year term together with a Deputy Chief of Government, who presides over the 60-member Buenos Aires City Legislature. Each member of the Legislature is elected for a four-year term; half of the legislature is renewed every two years. Elections use the D'Hondt method of proportional representation. The Judicial branch is composed of the Supreme Court of Justice (Tribunal Superior de Justicia), the Magistrate's Council (Consejo de la Magistratura), the Public Ministry, and other City Courts. The Article 61 of the 1996 Constitution of the City of Buenos Aires states that "Suffrage is free, equal, secret, universal, compulsory and non-accumulative. Resident aliens enjoy this same right, with its corresponding obligations, on equal terms with Argentine citizens registered in the district, under the terms established by law."[7]
Legally, the city enjoys less autonomy than the Provinces[citation needed]. In June 1996, shortly before the City's first Executive elections were held, the Argentine National Congress issued the National Law 24.588 (known as Ley Cafiero, after the Senator who advanced the project) by which the authority over the 25,000-strong Argentine Federal Police and the responsibility over the federal institutions residing at the City (e.g., National Supreme Court of Justice buildings) would not be transferred from the National Government to the Autonomous City Government until a new consensus could be reached at the National Congress. Furthermore, it declared that the Port of Buenos Aires, along with some other places, would remain under constituted federal authorities.[8]
Beginning in 2007, the city has embarked on a new decentralization scheme, creating new Communes (comunas) which are to be managed by elected committees of seven members each.
Recent political history
In 1996, following the 1994 reform of the Argentine Constitution, the city held its first mayoral elections under the new statutes, with the mayor's title formally changed to "Head of Government". The winner was Fernando de la Rúa, who would later become President of Argentina from 1999 to 2001.
De la Rúa's successor, Aníbal Ibarra, won two popular elections, but was impeached (and ultimately deposed on 6 March 2006) as a result of the fire at the República Cromagnon nightclub. Jorge Telerman, who had been the acting mayor, was invested with the office. In the 2007 elections, Mauricio Macri won the second-round of voting over Daniel Filmus, taking office on 9 December 2007.

National representation

Buenos Aires is represented in the Argentine Senate by three senators (as of December 2007: María Eugenia Estenssoro, Samuel Cabanchik and Daniel Filmus).[9] The people of Buenos Aires also elect 25 national deputies to the Argentine Chamber of Deputies.
City Hall
The Municipal Legislature
The Palace of Justice
Argentine Congress
Demographics
Population growth since 1740
See also: Demographics of Argentina
Census data
In the census of 2001 there were 12,129,819 people residing in the city and 31 surrounding districts, making metro Buenos Aires home to one in three Argentines.[10] The population density in Buenos Aires proper was 13,680 inhabitants per square kilometer (34,800 per mi2), but only about 2,400 per km2 (6,100 per mi2) in the suburbs. The racial makeup of the city is 88.9% White, 7% Mestizo, 2% Asian and 1% Black.[11]
The population of Buenos Aires proper has hovered around 3 million since 1947, due to low birth rates and a slow migration to the suburbs. The surrounding districts have, however, expanded over fivefold (to around 10 million) since then.[10]
The 2001 census showed a relatively aged population: with 17% under the age of fifteen and 22% over sixty, the people of Buenos Aires have an age structure similar to those in most European cities. They are older than Argentines as a whole (of whom 28% were under 15, and 14% over 60).[12]
Two-thirds of the city's residents live in apartment buildings and 30% in single-family homes; 4% live in sub-standard housing.[13] Measured in terms of income, the city's poverty rate was 8.4% in 2007 and, including the metro area, 20.6%.[14] Other studies estimate that 4 million people in the metropolitan Buenos Aires area live in poverty
The city's resident labor force of 1.2 million in 2001 was mostly employed in the services sector, particularly social services (25%), commerce and tourism (20%) and business and financial services (17%); despite the city's role as Argentina's capital, public administration employed only 6%. Manufacturing still employed 10%.[13]

Districts
Main article: Barrios of Buenos Aires
The city is divided into 48 barrios or, districts, for administrative purposes.[16] The division was originally based on Catholic parroquias (parishes), but has undergone a series of changes since the 1940s. A newer scheme has divided the city into 15 comunas (communes).[17]
Palermo: the city's most populous area
Recoleta: the 2nd-most populous area
Caballito: the 3rd-most populous area
Origin
The Spaniards' Club in the city's Montserrat section is one of many founded by immigrants.
See also: Immigration in Argentina
The majority of porteños have European origins, with Italian and Spanish descent being the most common, from the Calabrian, Ligurian, Piedmont, Lombardy and Neapolitan regions of Italy and from the Galician, Asturian, and Basque regions of Spain.[18][19]
Other European origins include German, Swedish, Dutch, Greek, Irish, Norwegian, Portuguese, French, Russian, Croatian, English and Welsh. In the 1990s there was a small wave of immigration from Romania and Ukraine.[20] There is a minority of old criollo stock, dating back to the Spanish colonial days. The Criollo and Spanish-aboriginal (mestizo) population in the city has increased mostly as a result of immigration, from countries such as Bolivia, Peru and Paraguay, since the second half of the 20th century.
Important Syrian-Lebanese and Armenian communities have had a significant presence in commerce and civic life since the beginning of the 20th century.
The Jewish community in Greater Buenos Aires numbers around 250,000, and is the largest in Latin America. Most are of Northern and Eastern European Ashkenazi origin, primarily Russian, German and Polish Jews, with a significant Sephardic minority, mostly made up of Syrian Jews.[21]
The first major East Asian community in Buenos Aires was the Japanese, mainly from Okinawa. Traditionally, Japanese-Argentines were noted as flower growers; in the city proper, there was a Japanese near-monopoly in dry cleaning. Later generations have branched out into all fields of economic activity. Starting in the 1970s there has been an important influx of immigration from China and Korea.
The 93% of the people is white, 4% mestizo (a mix between Europeans and Natives) and 2% other groups (Africans, Chineses, etc.).
British and American expatriates
The Metropolitan Cathedral
Since 2004 an increasing number of American and British citizens are moving to Buenos Aires, possibly due to the lower cost of living, many of them opening up businesses and some restaurants have become English-speaking favourites.[22]

Religion

Most inhabitants are Roman Catholic, though studies in recent decades found that fewer than 20% are practicing.[23] Buenos Aires is the seat of a Roman Catholic metropolitan archbishop (the Catholic primate of Argentina), currently Jorge Cardinal Bergoglio. There are Protestant, Orthodox Christian, Muslim, and Jewish minorities. The Metropolitan Cathedral holds the coffin of General José de San Martín, a hero of independence wars, inside a mausoleum under military guard. The church has a E. Walcker pipe organ from the nineteenth century in pristine condition that is used daily. The retable was manufactured by Indians under the direction of Jesuits. The church has venetian floors and walls decorated with baroque themes. The Sancta-Sanctorum is a copy of St.Peter's baldaccino on a minor scale, and reserved for prayer, and made of pink marble and bronze. This church is one of the principal touristic attractions in Buenos Aires.

Geography
1888 German map of Buenos Aires
Satellite image of Río de la Plata
The limits of Buenos Aires proper are determined in the eastern part and north-east by the Rio de la Plata, in the southern part and southeast by the Riachuelo and to the northwest, west and Southwest by Avenida General Paz, a 24 km (15 mi) long highway that separates the province of Buenos Aires from the 203 km2 that form the city.
The city of Buenos Aires lies in the pampa region, except for some zones like the Buenos Aires Ecological Reserve, the Boca Juniors (football) Club "sports city", Jorge Newbery Airport, the Puerto Madero neighborhood and the main port itself; these were all built on reclaimed land along the coasts of the Rio de la Plata (the world's largest river).[24]
The region was formerly crossed by different creeks and lagoons, some of which were refilled and others tubed. Among the most important creeks are Maldonado, Vega, Medrano, Cildañez and White. In 1908 many creeks were channeled and rectified, as floods were damaging the city's infrastructure. Starting in 1919, most creeks were enclosed. Notably, the Maldonado was tubed in 1954, and currently runs below Juan B. Justo Avenue.
Panorama of Buenos Aires Waterfront seen from the Río de la Plata

Climate
Further information: Climate of Argentina
The city has a humid subtropical climate ("Cfa" by Köppen classification) with four distinct seasons and an annual temperature of 17.2 °C (63.0 °F). The warmest month is January, with a daily average of 24.1 °C (75.4 °F). Relative Humidity tends to be high throughout the year (around 72%), making summer's heat index to be higher than actual temperature. The highest temperature ever recorded was 40.6 °C (105.1 °F) on 29 January 1957.[25] Spring (September to November) and Autumn (March to May) are generally mild, with averages of 17 °C (63 °F). Because of humidity, Buenos Aires is noted for having moderate to heavy fogs during autumn and winter.[26]
July is the coldest month, with 9.6 °C (49.3 °F) on average with cold spells coming from Antarctica being common almost every year. With the strong winds of the south (from Antarctica) and the elevated humidity, in winter in Buenos Aires the temperature feels most cold of the real temperature (if the real temperature is 10°C, it feels like 6.9°C). The lowest temperature ever recorded in central Buenos Aires (Buenos Aires Central Observatory) was −5.4 °C (22 °F) on 9 July 1918.[27] The last snowfall (see July 2007 Argentine winterstorm) occurred on 9 July 2007 when the entry of a massive polar cold snap made as a result the coldest winter of Argentina in almost thirty years, where severe snowfalls and blizzards hit the country. It was the first major snowfall in the city in almost 89 years [28] (since 22 June 1918[29]).
The city gets 1,242.6 mm (49 in) of rainfall per year.[30] Rain can be expected at any time of year and hailstorms are not unusual.
Buenos Aires Stock Exchange
Buenos Aires is the financial, industrial, commercial, and cultural hub of Argentina. Its port is one of the busiest in South America; navigable rivers by way of the Rio de la Plata connect the port to north-east Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay and Paraguay. As a result it serves as the distribution hub for a vast area of the south-eastern region of the continent. Tax collection related to the port has caused many political problems in the past.
The economy in the city proper alone, measured by Gross Geographic Product (adjusted for purchasing power), totalled US$ 84.7 billion (US$ 28,200 per capita) in 2006 [33] and amounts to nearly a quarter of Argentina's as a whole.[34] Metro Buenos Aires, according to one well-quoted study, constitutes the 13th largest economy among the world's cities.[35] The Buenos Aires Human Development Index (0.923 in 1998) is likewise high by international standards.[36]
The city's services sector is diversified and well-developed by international standards, and accounts for 76% of its economy (compared to 59% for all of Argentina's).[32] Advertising, in particular, plays a prominent role in the export of services at home and abroad. The financial, business and real-estate services sector is the largest, however, and contributes to 31% of the city's economy. Finance (about a third of this) in Buenos Aires is especially important to Argentina's banking system, accounting for nearly half the nation's bank deposits and lending.[32] Nearly 300 hotels and another 300 hostels and bed & breakfasts are licensed for Tourism in Buenos Aires, and nearly half the rooms available were in four-star establishments or higher.[37]
Manufacturing is, nevertheless, still prominent in the city's economy (16%) and, concentrated mainly in the southside, it benefits as much from high local purchasing power and a large local supply of skilled labor as it does from its relationship to massive agriculture and industry just outside the city limits themselves. Construction activity in Buenos Aires has historically been among the most dramatic indicators of national economic fortunes (see table at right), and since 2006 around 3 million m² (32 million ft²) of construction has been authorized annually.[32]
To the west of Buenos Aires is the Pampa Húmeda, the most productive agricultural region of Argentina produces wheat, soybeans and corn (as opposed to the dry southern Pampa, mostly used for cattle farming and more recently production of premium Buenos Aires wines). Meat, dairy, grain, tobacco, wool and leather products are processed or manufactured in the Buenos Aires metro area. Other leading industries are automobile manufacturing, oil refining, metalworking, machine building and the production of textiles, chemicals, clothing and beverages.
The city's budget, per Mayor Macri's 2009 proposal, will include US$4.4 billion in revenues and US$4.6 billion in expenditures. The city relies on local income and capital gains taxes for 61% of its revenues, while federal revenue sharing will contribute 11%, property taxes, 9%, and vehicle taxes, 6%. Other revenues include user fees, fines and gambling duties. The city devotes 26% of its budget to education, 22% for health, 17% for public services and infrastructure, 16% for social welfare and culture, 12% in administrative costs and 4% for law enforcement. Buenos Aires maintains low debt levels and its service requires less than 3% of the budget.[38]

Culture
Strongly influenced by European culture, Buenos Aires is sometimes referred to as the "Paris of South America".[4][39]
Argentine cultural icon Geniol head in vintage advertising poster by Lucien-Achille Mauzan.
Buenos Aires is the site of the Teatro Colón, an internationally-rated opera house.[40] There are several symphony orchestras and choral societies. The city has numerous museums related to history, fine arts, modern arts, decorative arts, popular arts, sacred art, arts and crafts, theatre and popular music, as well as the preserved homes of noted art collectors, writers, composers and artists. The city is home to hundreds of bookstores, public libraries and cultural associations (it is sometimes called "the city of books"), as well as the largest concentration of active theatres in Latin America.[41] It has a world-famous zoo and Botanical Garden, a large number of landscaped parks and squares, as well as churches and places of worship of many denominations, many of which are architecturally noteworthy.[40]
Every April in the city is celebrated the Buenos Aires International Book Fair, is one of the top-five book fairs in the world, oriented to the literary community as well as to the general public.
Regina Theatre, on Santa Fe Avenue.
Teatro Colón (Columbus Theatre)
The National Symphony Orchestra performs at the University of Buenos Aires Law School
Language
Known as Rioplatense Spanish, Buenos Aires' Spanish (as that of other cities like Rosario and Montevideo, Uruguay) is characterised by voseo, yeísmo and aspiration of s in various contexts. It is heavily influenced by the dialects of Spanish spoken in Andalusia and Murcia. A phonetic study conducted by the Laboratory for Sensory Investigations of CONICET and the University of Toronto showed that the prosody of porteño is closer to the Neapolitan language of Italy than to any other spoken language.
In the early 20th century, Argentina absorbed millions of immigrants, many of them Italians, who spoke mostly in their local dialects (mainly Neapolitan, Sicilian and Genoan). Their adoption of Spanish was gradual, creating a pidgin of Italian dialects and Spanish that was called cocoliche. Its usage declined around the 1950s.
Many Spanish immigrants were from Galicia, and Spaniards are still generically referred to in Argentina as gallegos (Galicians). Galician language, cuisine and culture had a major presence in the city for most of the 20th century. In recent years, descendants of Galician immigrants have led a mini-boom in Celtic music (which also highlighted the Welsh traditions of Patagonia).
Yiddish was commonly heard in Buenos Aires, especially in the Balvanera garment district and in Villa Crespo until the 1960s. Korean and Chinese have become significant since the 1970s. Most of the newer immigrants learn Spanish quickly and assimilate into city life.
The Lunfardo argot originated within the prison population, and in time spread to all porteños. Lunfardo uses words from Italian dialects, from Brazilian Portuguese, from African and Caribbean languages and even from English. Lunfardo employs humorous tricks such as inverting the syllables within a word (vesre). Today, Lunfardo is mostly heard in tango lyrics;[42] the slang of the younger generations has been evolving away from it.
See also: Belgranodeutsch

Architecture
Main article: Architecture of Argentina
Architectural styles converge at Diagonal Norte
The eclectic Bencich building is a Buenos Aires CBD landmark from the prosperous 1920s
The 1887 Palacio de Aguas Corrientes Building
Buenos Aires architecture is characterized by its eclectic nature, with elements resembling Barcelona, Paris and Madrid. Italian and French influences increased after the declaration of independence at the beginning of the 19th century, though the academic style persisted until the first decades of the 20th century.
Attempts at renovation took place during the second half of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th, when European influences penetrated into the country, reflected by several buildings of Buenos Aires such as the Iglesia Santa Felicitas by Ernesto Bunge; the Palace of Justice, the National Congress, and the Teatro Colón, all of them by Vittorio Meano.
The simplicity of the Rioplatense baroque style can be clearly seen in Buenos Aires through the works of Italian architects such as André Blanqui and Antonio Masella, in the churches of San Ignacio, Nuestra Señora del Pilar, the Cathedral and the Cabildo.
In 1912 the Basilica del Santisimo Sacramento was opened to the public. Totally built by the generous donation of Mrs. Mercedes Castellanos de Anchonera, Argentina's most prominent family, the church is an excellent example of French neo-classicism. With extremely high-grade decorations in its interior, the magnificent Mutin-Cavaillé coll organ (the biggest ever installed in an Argentine church with more than four-thousand tubes and four manuals) presided the nave. The altar is full of marble, and was the biggest ever built in South America at that time.
In 1919 started the construction of Palacio Barolo, South America's tallest building at that time. It was equipped with 9 elevators, a 20-metres high lobby hall with paintings in the ceiling and Latin phrases embossed in golden bronze letters. A 300,000-candle beacon was installed at the top (110 metres), making this building visible even from Uruguay. In 2009 the Barolo Palace gone under an exhausive restoration, and even the beacon was put operational again. It was the first Argentine skyscraper built with concrete (1919–1923).
In 1936 the Kavanagh building was inaugurated, with 120 metres height, 12 elevators (provided by Otis) and the world's first central air-conditioning system (provided by north-American company "Carrier"), is still an architectural landmark in Buenos Aires.
The architecture of the second half of the 20th century continued to reproduce French neoclassic models, such as the headquarters of the Banco de la Nación Argentina built by Alejandro Bustillo, and the Museo Hispanoamericano de Buenos Aires of Martín Noel. However, since the 1930s the influence of Le Corbusier and European rationalism consolidated in a group of young architects from the University of Tucumán, among whom Amancio Williams stands out. The construction of skyscrapers proliferated in Buenos Aires until the 1950s. Newer modern high-technology buildings by Argentine architects in the last years of the 20th century and the beginning of the 21st include the Le Parc Tower by Mario Álvarez, the Torre Fortabat by Sánchez Elía and the Repsol-YPF tower by César Pelli.

Education

The ubiquitous white smock of children at public schools is a national symbol of learning.
See also: Education in Argentina
Primary education
Primary education comprises the first two EGB cycles (grades 1–6). Because of the system that was in place until 1995 (7 years of primary school plus 5 or 6 of secondary school), primary schools used to offer grades 1–7. Although most schools have already converted to teach the 8th and 9th grades, others chose to eliminate 7th grade altogether, forcing the students to complete the 3rd cycle in another institution. Nevertheless, most primary schools in the city still adhere to the traditional 7 years primary school. EGB was never put in practice in Buenos Aires.
Secondary education
Secondary education in Argentina is called Polimodal ("polymodal", that is, having multiple modes), since it allows the student to choose his/her orientation. Polimodal is not yet obligatory but its completion is a requirement to enter colleges across the nation. Polimodal is usually 3 years of schooling, although some schools have a fourth year.
Conversely to what happened on primary schools, most secondary schools in Argentina contained grades 8th and 9th, plus Polimodal (old secondary), but then started converting to accept 7th grade students as well, thus allowing them to keep the same classmates for the whole EGB III cycle.
Main hall, University of Buenos Aires Law School.
In December 2006 the Chamber of Deputies of the Argentine Congress passed a new National Education Law restoring the old system of primary followed by secondary education, making secondary education obligatory and a right, and increasing the length of compulsory education to 13 years. The government vowed to put the law in effect gradually, starting in 2007.[43]
College education
See also: University reform in Argentina and List of Argentine universities
There are many state-run, taxpayer-funded universities in Argentina, as well as a number of private universities. The University of Buenos Aires, one of the top learning institutions in South America, has produced five Nobel Prize winners and provides taxpayer-funded education for students from all around the globe.[44] Buenos Aires is a major center for psychoanalysis, particularly the Lacanian school. Buenos Aires is home to several private universities of different quality, such as: Buenos Aires Institute of Technology, CEMA University, Favaloro University, Pontifical Catholic University of Argentina, University of Belgrano, University of Palermo, University of Salvador, and Torcuato di Tella University.
Tourism
Floralis generica sculpture at the Plaza Naciones Unidas (Plaza of the United Nations) in the Recoleta district
Main article: Tourism in Buenos Aires
According to the World Travel & Tourism Council,[45] tourism has been growing in the Argentine capital since 2002. In a survey by the travel and tourism publication Travel + Leisure Magazine in 2008, travelers voted Buenos Aires the second most desirable city to visit after Florence, Italy.[46]
Due to the increase in the number of tourists to Buenos Aires and its favourable climate, there are more and more possibilities and activities to suit every tourist on every budget. These include… sporting events, (football matches at the famous Boca stadium) tango tours of all calibre and to suit every audience (including dinner and museum), cultural tours (learn about Eva Peron, the most quaint cafes, museums, become familiar with the vast variety of old and modern architecture), pub crawls in the most popular neighbourhoods of Palermo and San Telmo (ideal for fellow travellers to meet one another).
The obelisk of Buenos Aires and the City Porteña financial district
Buenos Aires is extremely accessible, not only because of the integrated transport system (metro, train and buses), but also because tour operators have caught onto the tourist’s desire to see the city in different mediums – getting around with a downloaded MP3 audio guide, on an organised walking or bike tour, or on a sightseeing bus. English is widely spoken in Buenos Aires, but in the provinces communication can be a bit more difficult so nowadays Spanish lessons and courses of all levels and for varying purposes are readily available to help tourists really make the most of their stay. Since the city has become a top tourist destination, the cost of internal flights has drastically dropped in the last couple of years, and tourists can now enjoy the more remote, northern areas of Argentina for a good price.
Visitors may choose to visit a tango show, an estancia in the Province of Buenos Aires, or enjoy the traditional asado. New tourist circuits have recently evolved, devoted to famous Argentines such as Carlos Gardel, Eva Perón or Jorge Luis Borges. Due to the favorable exchange rate, its shopping centres such as Alto Palermo, Paseo Alcorta, Patio Bullrich, Abasto de Buenos Aires and Galerías Pacífico are frequently visited by tourists. Non-traditional tourist options such as downloadable MP3 tours of Buenos Aires and bike tours have recently gained popularity.
San Telmo is a frequently visited area south of the city, with its cobblestoned streets and buildings from the colonial era that attest to its long history. There are churches, museums, antique shops and "Antique Fairs" ('Ferias de Antigüedades') in historic Dorrego Square, where the streets on weekends are filled with performers such as tango dancers. The city also plays host to musical festivals, some of the largest of which are Quilmes Rock, Creamfields BA and the Buenos Aires Jazz Festival.
Puerto Madero and the historic Sarmiento Frigate
Plaza de Mayo and the Cabildo de Buenos Aires
Cafés along Avenida de Mayo
Notable streets
The Rose Garden Lake
Bohemian San Telmo
Club de Pescadores and pier on the Río de la Plata
The British Clock Tower
* Avenida Alvear passes through the upscale Recoleta area, and is the address for five-star hotels and embassies, many of them former mansions.
* Caminito, colorfully restored by local artist Benito Quinquela Martín
* Avenida Corrientes, a principal thoroughfare in Buenos Aires, and intimately tied to the Tango and Porteño culture
* Avenida del Libertador connects downtown to upscale areas in the northwest, passing by many of the city's best-known museums, gardens and cultural points of interest
* Avenida de Mayo is often compared with those of Madrid, Barcelona and Paris for its sophisticated buildings of Art Nouveau, Neoclassic and eclectic styles
* Florida Street, a downtown pedestrian street
* Avenida 9 de Julio, one of the widest avenues in the world; its name honors Argentina's Independence Day
Parks
* Parque Tres de Febrero (this park, one of the city's largest, is home to a rose garden and paddleboat lake)
* Botanical Gardens (among the oldest in Latin America and an easy walk to other Palermo-area sights)
* Buenos Aires Japanese Gardens (the largest of its type in the World, outside Japan)[47]
* Plaza de Mayo (surrounded by national and city government offices, this square has been central to many of Argentina's historical events)
* Plaza San Martín (central to the Retiro area, the leafy park is surrounded by architectural landmarks)
* Recoleta Cemetery (includes graves of many of Argentina's historical figures, including several presidents and scientists, as well many among Argentina's influential families)
* Buenos Aires Zoo (renown for its collection and the Hindu Revival elephant house)
Landmarks
Landmarks in Buenos Aires
* Cabildo (seat of government house during colonial times)
* Caminito (renowned for Benito Quinquela Martín's pastel hues and wall reliefs)
* Casa Rosada (the official seat of the executive branch of the Argentine government)
* Central Post Office (soon to be reopened as the Bicentennial Cultural Center)
* City Legislature (the monumental neoclassical building also houses two libraries and a museum)
* Kavanagh building (the Art Deco residential building was the first true skyscraper in Buenos Aires)
* Metropolitan Cathedral (mother church of the Archdiocese of Buenos Aires)
* National Congress (Argentine Parliament)
* National Library (the largest library in Argentina and one of the most important in the Americas)
* National Museum of History (original documents, former presidents' belongings and recreated historical rooms)
* The Obelisk (one of the city's iconic landmarks and a venue for various cultural activities and other events)
* Teatro Colón (an internationally-renowned opera house opened in 1908)
* The Water Company Palace (perhaps the world's most ornate water pumping station)
Sport
Bombonera Stadium · River Plate Stadium · Ducó Stadium · Maradona Stadium · Vélez Sársfield Stadium · Argentine Hippodrome of Palermo · Lawn Tennis Club · Polo Stadium · Race Circuit · Arena Obras Sanitarias · CeNARD · Estadio Ricardo Etcheverry
Transportation
Buenos Aires Belgrano Sur · Buenos Aires Subway · Constitution station · Federico Lacroze station · Jorge Newbery Airport · Ministro Pistarini International Airport · Once station · Retiro station · Tranvía del Este · Tren de la Costa
Shopping and entertainment
Abasto Mall · Avenida Theatre · Cervantes Theatre · Fishermen's Pier · Galerías Pacífico · Gran Rex Theatre · Luna Park Arena · Paseo La Plaza · Patio Bullrich · Opera Theatre · Parque de la Ciudad · La Trastienda Club
Streets & avenues
9 de Julio Avenue · Avenida Alvear · Avenida de Mayo · Avenida del Libertador · Callao Avenue · Caminito · Córdoba Avenue · Coronel Díaz Street · Corrientes Avenue · Figueroa Alcorta Avenue · Florida Street · General Paz Avenue · Leandro Alem Avenue · President Roque Sáenz Peña Avenue · Rivadavia Avenue · Santa Fe Avenue · Scalabrini Ortiz Avenue

Transport
Local roads and personal transport
Avenida General Paz in Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires is based on a rectangular grid pattern, save for natural barriers or the relatively rare developments explicitly designed otherwise (notably, the neighbourhood of Parque Chas). The rectangular grid provides for square blocks named manzanas, with a length of roughly 110 meters. Pedestrian zones in the city centre, like Florida Street are partially car-free and always bustling, access provided by bus and the Metro (subte) Line C. Buenos Aires, for the most part, is a very walkable city and the majority of residents in Buenos Aires use public transport.
Two diagonal avenues in the city centre alleviate traffic and provide better access to Plaza de Mayo. Most avenues running into and out of the city centre are one-way and feature six or more lanes, with computer-controlled green waves to speed up traffic outside of peak times.
The city's principal avenues include the 140-metre (459 ft)-wide 9 de Julio Avenue, the over-35 km (22 mi)-long Rivadavia Avenue,[48] and Corrientes Avenue, the main thoroughfare of culture and entertainment.
In the 1940s and 1950s the Avenida General Paz beltway that surrounds the city along its border with Buenos Aires Province and freeways leading to the new international airport and to the northern suburbs heralded a new era in Buenos Aires traffic. Encouraged by pro-automaker policies pursued towards the end of the Perón (1955) and Frondizi administrations (1958–62) in particular, auto sales nationally grew from an average of 30,000 during the 1920–57 era to around 250,000 in the 1970s and over 600,000 in 2008.[49] Today, over 1.8 million vehicles (nearly one-fifth of Argentina's total) are registered in Buenos Aires.[50]
Toll motorways opened in the late 1970s by then-mayor Osvaldo Cacciatore provided fast access to the city centre and are today used by over a million vehicles daily.[51] Cacciatore likewise had financial district streets (roughly one square kilometre in area) closed to private cars during daytime. Most major avenues are, however, gridlocked at peak hours. Following the economic mini-boom of the 1990s, record numbers started commuting by car and congestion increased, as did the time-honored Argentine custom of taking weekends off in the countryside.
Cycling
Cycling around Buenos Aires is becoming trendy. Several bicycle rental businesses offer excursions for locals and visitors throughout the city, generally accompanied by specialized multilingual guides. The tours include the Southern and Northern Circuits, and themed circuits which include literary, historical and cultural, ecologist and even tango related tours or historical tours. For newcomers biking is not recommended on main arteries and thoroughfares because of the heavy traffic.
Buenos Aires Subway entrance on Avenida de Mayo
The Buenos Aires Subway (locally known as subte, from "subterráneo" meaning underground or metro), is a high-yield system providing access to various parts of the city. Opened in 1913, it is the oldest subway system in the Southern Hemisphere and in the Spanish-speaking world. The system has six lines, named by letters (A to E, and H) There are 74 stations, and 52.3 km (32 mi) of route. An expansion program is underway to extend existing lines into the outer neighborhoods and add a new north-south line. Route length is expected to reach 89 km (55 mi) by 2011. Line "A" is the oldest one (service opened to public in 1913) and stations kept the "belle-époque" decoration, the trains still sport incandescent-bulb illumination and doors must be manually closed by the passengers, as in 1913. Daily ridership on weekdays is 1.7 million and on the increase.[52][53] Fares are cheap and are in fact cheaper than the city buses. The Buenos Aires Metro has six lines which also have links to the commuter rail.[54]
* Line A – Light Blue: Subte Line A is the oldest line of the Buenos Aires Metro. This historical line runs from Plaza de Mayo to Carabobo,[55] and is scheduled to be extended towards Nazca St.[56]
* Line B – Red: Line B of the Buenos Aires Metro runs from Leandro N. Alem Station to Los Incas (projected to Villa Urquiza).[57]
* Line C – Blue: The Line C of the Buenos Aires Metro runs from Retiro to Constitución terminus, opened on 9 November 1934, 4.4 km (2.7 mi).[58]
* Line D – Green: Subte Line D of the Buenos Aires Metro runs from Catedral to Congreso de Tucumán. The D Line opened on 3 June 1937 and has been expanded to the north several times. The line is currently 10.4 km (6.5 mi) long and runs approximately parallel to the Buenos Aires coastline.[59]
* Line E – Purple: Subte Line E runs from Bolivar Station to Plaza de los Virreyes, opened on 20 June 1944, currently with 9.2 km (5.7 mi).[60]
* Line H – Yellow: Line H runs from Once terminus to Caseros. It is also planned to run from Retiro to Nueva Pompeya once the remaining sections are constructed.[61]

Current renovation and expansion
The subway is currently undergoing renovation and expansion
* At Line A two new stations after Carabobo are under construction, being Nazca the new future terminal while newer metro carriages are slowly being introduced to handle the increased demand.
* On Line B Since 2004, work began to expand the line to Villa Ortúzar and Villa Urquiza.[62]
* On Line H further extensions are planned to run from Retiro to Nueva Pompeya once constructed. It will connect the Southern part of the city with the North, thus improving the flow to the centre of the city, and will be approximately 11 km (6.8 mi) long from end to end. The Line H will provide cross-connections with almost all the other lines.[63]
* On Line E work has begun in 2009 to expand the line up to Retiro.[64]

Planned underground lines
New underground lines are planned and were presented by the Government of the City of Buenos Aires on 26 May 2007. There are currently three lines planned:
Line F would join Constitución Station with Plaza Italia and would have an extension of 7.6 km (4.7 mi). It would be transverse-radial, according to the section, with strong integration with the rest of the network.
Line G would connect the Retiro Station with the Cid Campeador and would have a length of 7.6 km (4.7 mi). It would be radial to connect the axes of high-density residential and commercial areas, and would bring the underground to the northwest of the city.
Line I would run from the Emilio Mitre (Line E) Station to Plaza Italia, a distance of 7.3 km (4.5 mi). It would be the outermost transverse line of the network and would link the neighborhoods of the north, center and south of the city and link with the radial lines far from the city centre.
Tramways
Retiro Rail Terminal
9 de Julio Avenue and Obelisk
Buenos Aires had an extensive street railway (tram) system with over 857 km (533 mi) of track, which was dismantled during the 1960s in favor of bus transportation and is now in the process of a slow comeback. The PreMetro or Line E2 is a 7.4 km (4.6 mi) light rail line that connects with Metro Line E at Plaza de los Virreyes station and runs to General Savio and Centro Cívico. It is operated by Metrovías. The official inauguration took place on 27 August 1987. The cost of building and fitting out the line was USD 5.4 million. An additional USD 4.6 million was allocated to the acquisition of a fleet of 25 light rail vehicles.
A new 2 km (1.2 mi) tramway (LRT), Tranvía del Este, runs across the Puerto Madero district. Extensions planned would link the Retiro and La Boca terminal train stations. Other routes are being studied. A Heritage streetcar maintained by tram fans operates on weekends, near the Primera Junta line A metro station in the Caballito neighbourhood.
Buses
There are over 150 city bus lines called Colectivos, each one managed by an individual company. These compete with each other, and attract exceptionally high use with virtually no public financial support.[65] Their frequency makes them equal to the underground systems of other cities, but buses cover a far wider area than the underground system. Colectivos in Buenos Aires do not have a fixed timetable, but run from 4 to several per hour, depending on the bus line and time of the day. With very cheap tickets and extensive routes, usually no further than four blocks from commuters' residences, the colectivo is the most popular mode of transport around the city.[65] Bus line operators must comply with city regulations on security and pollution control.
Electronic ticketing
Buenos Aires was affected for several years by an acute coin shortage that impacted the economy, banking, and transportation. Coins are still rationed by banks, and a thriving black market has been hoarding to sell coins illegally to retailers.[66] Merchants have been rounding prices up or down according to the amount of change a customer actually has, or bartering, and making up the difference with a menial item.[67]
Argentina's President announced on 4 February 2009 that Buenos Aires would be instituting electronic ticketing for the city's bus system. One of the benefits of this change is that it would help speed passengers on to the bus. People would no longer have to wait to be issued a printed receipt as they each enter the bus. Environmentally this should help reduce emissions of carbon dioxide and nitrogen because buses will not have to idle as long while passengers load, helping improve air quality in the city. The electronic ticket will eliminate the printed receipts thus lowering the amount of littering in the city. The city, in turn, would no longer have to process, collect, count, and transport coinage received in payment of some 11 million trips per day. The new ticketing system is still on implementing stage.[68]
Long-distance public transport
High-speed rail
See also: Buenos Aires-Rosario-Córdoba high-speed railway
A new high-speed rail line between Buenos Aires, Rosario and Córdoba, with speeds up to 320 km/h is planned.[72]
Long-distance bus terminal
The main terminal for long-distance buses is Retiro bus station, near Retiro railway station, from where buses depart for all parts of Argentina and for neighbouring countries.
Ferries
Buenos Aires is also served by a ferry system operated by the company Buquebus that connects the port of Buenos Aires with the main cities of Uruguay, (Colonia del Sacramento, Montevideo and Punta del Este). More than 2.2 million people per year travel between Argentina and Uruguay with Buquebus. One of these ships is a catamaran, which can reach a top speed of about 80 km/h (50 mph), making it the fastest ferry in the world.[73]
Airports



Sports
Luna Park Arena
Football is a passion for Argentines. Buenos Aires has the highest concentration of football teams of any city in the world (featuring no fewer than 24 professional football teams),[74] with many of its teams playing in the major league. The best-known rivalry is the one between Boca Juniors and River Plate; watching a match between these two teams was deemed one of the "50 sporting things you must do before you die" by The Observer.[74] Other major clubs include Club Atlético Independiente, San Lorenzo de Almagro, Vélez Sársfield, Huracán and Argentinos Juniors.
View of Estadio Pedro Bidegain, Stadium of San Lorenzo de Almagro
Diego Armando Maradona, born in Villa Fiorito, a villa miseria in the Lanús Partido (county) south of Buenos Aires, is widely hailed as one of the greatest football players of all time. Maradona started his career with Argentinos Juniors, later playing for Boca Juniors, the Argentina national football team and others (most notably FC Barcelona in Spain and SSC Napoli in Italy).[75]
Buenos Aires has been a candidate city for the Summer Olympic Games on three occasions: for the 1956 Games, which were lost by a single vote to Melbourne; for the 1968 Summer Olympics, held in Mexico City; and in 2004, when the games were awarded to Athens. However, Buenos Aires hosted the first Pan American Games (1951)[40] and was also host city to several World Championship events: the 1950 and 1990 Basketball World Championships, the 1982 and 2002 Men's Volleyball World Championships and, most remembered, the 1978 FIFA World Cup, won by Argentina on 25 June 1978, when it defeated the Netherlands by 3–1.
Juan Manuel Fangio won 5 Formula One World Driver's Championships, and was only matched by Michael Schumacher, with 7 Championships. The Buenos Aires Oscar Gálvez car-racing track hosted 20 editions of the Formula One Argentine Grand Prix between 1953 and 1998; its discontinuation was due to financial reasons. The track features local categories on most weekends.
The 2009 and 2010 Dakar Rally started and ended in the city.
Argentines' love for horses can be experienced in several ways: horse racing at the Hipódromo Argentino de Palermo racetrack, polo in the Campo Argentino de Polo (located just across Libertador Avenue from the Hipódromo), and pato, a kind of basketball played on horseback that was declared the national game in 1953.
Buenos Aires native Guillermo Vilas (who was raised in Mar del Plata) was one of the great tennis players of the 1970s and 1980s,[40] and popularized tennis in all of Argentina. He won the ATP Buenos Aires numerous times in the 1970s. Other popular sports in Buenos Aires are golf, basketball, rugby, and field hockey.
International relations
See also: List of twin towns and sister cities in South America
Twin towns — Sister cities
Buenos Aires is twinned with the following cities:
* Brazil Brasília, Brazil (since 2002)
* Brazil Porto Alegre, Brazil
* Brazil Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
* Brazil São Paulo, Brazil[76][77]
* Canada Ottawa, Canada
* Chile Santiago, Chile[77]
* People's Republic of China Beijing China (since 1993)[78]
* Colombia Bogotá, Colombia
* Colombia Medellín, Colombia
* Croatia Zagreb, Croatia (since 1998)[79]
* Czech Republic Prague, Czech Republic
* Dominican Republic Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
* Ecuador Quito, Ecuador
* Bolivia La Paz, Bolivia
* France Toulouse, France
* Germany Berlin, Germany (since 19 May 1994)[80]
* Greece Athens, Greece
* Israel Jerusalem, Israel (cooperation agreement)
* Israel Tel Aviv, Israel (since 1976)
* Italy Cagliari, Italy
* Italy Calabria, Italy (region)
* Italy Genoa, Italy
* Italy Lucca, Italy
* Italy Milan, Italy
* Italy Naples, Italy
* Italy Rome, Italy
* India Mumbai, India
* Japan Osaka, Japan
* Lebanon Beirut, Lebanon (since 2006)
* Netherlands Rotterdam, Netherlands
* Paraguay Asunción, Paraguay
* Peru Lima, Peru
* Poland Warsaw, Poland
* Portugal Lisbon, Portugal
* Serbia Belgrade, Serbia
* South Africa Cape Town, South Africa
* South Korea Seoul, South Korea
* Spain Almería, Spain
* Spain Barcelona, Spain
* Spain Bilbao , Spain
* Spain Cádiz, Spain
* Spain Madrid, Spain[81]
* Spain Oviedo, Spain (since 1983)
* Spain Salamanca, Spain
* Spain Santiago de Compostela, Spain
* Spain Seville, Spain
* Spain Vigo, Spain
* Switzerland Geneva, Switzerland
* Thailand Bangkok, Thailand
* Turkey Istanbul, Turkey[82]
* United Kingdom London, United Kingdom
* United States Miami, Florida, United States
* United States State of New Jersey, United States
* United States State of Ohio, United States
* Uruguay Montevideo, Uruguay

Bator
bator is a beautiful village in Tahseel kharian and District Gujrat.
situated near lalamusa.
bator is my village i live in bator.

Tirana

Tiranë
Municipality of Tirana
Bashkia e Tiranës
Tirana is located in Albania
Tirana
Location of Tirana within Tirana County
Coordinates: 41°19′48″N 19°49′12″E / 41.33°N 19.82°E / 41.33; 19.82
Country Albania
County Tirana County
District Tirana District
Municipal Units 11 Municipal Units
Founded 1614
Government
- Mayor Edi Rama (PS)
Area
- Total 41.8 km2 (16.1 sq mi)
Elevation 110 m (361 ft)
Population (2008)[1]
- Municipality 618,431
Time zone CET (UTC+1)
- Summer (DST) CEST (UTC+2)
Postal code 1001-1028[2]
Area code(s) +355 4
Car Plates TR
Website www.tirana.gov.al
Tirana (Albanian: Tiranë or Tirana) is the capital and the largest city of Albania. Modern Tirana was founded as an Ottoman town in 1614 by Sulejman Bargjini, a local ruler from Mullet, although the area has been continuously inhabited since antiquity. Tirana became Albania's capital city in 1920 and now it has a population of more than 600,000. The city is home to many universities and is the center of the political, economical, and cultural life of the country.

Geography
Tirana by Spot Satellite
The Municipality of Tirana lies on the river Ishëm, about 32 kilometers (20 mi) inland and is located at (41.33°N, 19.82°E) in Tirana District, Tirana County. Tirana's average altitude is 110 meters (361 ft) above sea level and its highest point measures 1,828 m (5,997.38 ft) at Mali me Gropa. The city is on the same parallel as Naples, Madrid and Istanbul and on the same meridian as Budapest and Krakow. In addition to Ishëm, the Tiranë river also runs through the city, whereas the Lanë river, that runs through much of the city, is a brook. The city also contains a total of four artificial lakes: the Tirana Artificial Lake around which was built the Big Park, the Kodër-Kamëz Lake, Farka Lake, and Tufina Lake.

History
Antiquity
The area now occupied by the city of Tirana has been populated since Paleolithic times[3] dating back 10,000 to 30,000 years ago, as evidence by tools that were found near Mount Dajt's quarry terrain, as well as inside the Cave of the Pellumba. As argued by various archaeologists Tirana and its suburbs are filled with Illyrian toponyms and legends as the city's precincts are some of the earliest regions in Albania to be inhabited.[4]
Various remains discovered in fortresses, churches, villages, and during urban constructions in and around Tirana provide evidence for continuous activity throughout much of human history. The oldest discovery in the area of Tirana was a mosaic, dating back to the 3-rd century A.D., with several other remains found at the Fountain of Shengjin near a medieval temple. A castle, possibly called Tirkan or Theranda, was built by Emperor Justinian in 520 AD and restored by Ahmed Pasha Toptani in the 18th century.[4] The area had no special importance in Illyrian and classical times. In 1510, Marin Barleti, an Albanian Catholic priest and scholar, in the biography of the Albanian national hero Skanderbeg, Historia de vita et gestis Scanderbegi Epirotarum principis (The story of life and deeds of Skanderbeg, the prince of Epirotes), referred to this area as a small village.[5]
Ottoman rule
Tirana's Bazaar seen in a postcard of 1902
The records of the first land registrations under the Ottomans in 1431-32 show that Tirana consisted of 60 inhabited areas, with nearly 2,028 houses and 7,300 inhabitants. The 1583 census records show that Tirana had 110 inhabited areas, with 2,900 houses and 20,000 inhabitants. Sulejman Bargjini, a local ruler, established the Ottoman town in 1614 with a mosque, a commercial centre and a hammam (Turkish sauna). The town was located along caravan routes and grew rapidly in importance until the early 19th century.
During this period, the Et'hem Bey Mosque built by Molla Bey of Petrela, began to be constructed. It employed the best artisans in the country and was completed in 1821 by Molla's son, who was also Sulejman Pasha's grandnephew. In 1800, the first new comers arrived in the settlement, the so-called ortodoksit. They were Vlachs from villages of Korçë and Pogradec who settled around the area of today's Park on the Artificial Lake.[6] Later, they started to be known as the llacifac and were the first Christians to arrive after the foundation of the town. In 1807, Tirana became the center of the Sub-Prefecture of Krujë-Tirana. After 1816, Tirana languished under the control of the Toptani family of Krujë. In 1865, Tirana became a Sub-Prefecture of the newly created Vilayet of Shkodër and Sanjak of Durrës. The Albanian language started to be taught in Tirana's schools in 1889. The patriotic club "Bashkimi" was founded in 1908 while on 28. November 1912, the national flag was raised in agreement with Ismail Qemali. During the Balkan Wars, the town was temporarily occupied by the Serbian army, and in 1914-15, it took part in uprising of the villages lead by Haxhi Qamili.
Capital city
St Mary's Roman Catholic Cathedral.
On February 8, 1920, Tirana was chosen as the temporary capital of Albania, which had acquired independence in 1912, by the Congress of Lushnjë.[7] The city retained that status permanently on December 31, 1925. From 1920 to 1924 Tirana experienced attacks from the army of the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes and the forces of Zogu at the Shkalla e Tujanit (Step of Tujan). The first regulatory plan of the city was compiled in 1923 by Eshref Frashëri, and completed by the Geographic Institute of Florence.[8] Durrës Street was opened in 1922 and called Nana Mbretneshë (Mother Queen). Many houses and surrounding properties were demolished to make way for it. In 1924, Tirana was the center of the Revolution of June lead by Fan S. Noli. Since 1925, when they were banned in Turkey, the Bektashis, an order of dervishes who take their name from Haji Bektash, a Sufi saint of the 13th and 14th centuries, made Tirana their primary settlement. The city was the venue where the Pact of Tirana was signed. The existing parliamentary building was raised in 1924 and first served as a club for officers. It was there, in September 1928, that King Zog I was crowned King.
Monarchy and war
Fascist era building now used as the Ministry of Interior
The former building of Tirana's Municipality.
The center of Tirana was the project of Florestano de Fausto and Armando Brasini, well known architects of the Benito Mussolini period in Italy. The Royal Palace (Palace of the Brigades), the Town Hall, the government ministry buildings, and the National Bank are their work. Dëshmorët e Kombit (National Martyrs) Boulevard was built in 1930 and named "Zogu I Boulevard". In the communist period, the part from Skanderbeg Square up to the train station was named "Stalin Boulevard". In 1939, Tirana was captured by Fascist forces. In November 1941, Enver Hoxha with other Albanian communists founded the Communist Party of Albania. The town became the center of the Albanian communists' in mobilizing the people of Tirana to fight against the Italian fascists and later Nazi Germans, while spreading ideological propaganda. The town was liberated after a fierce battle between the Communists and the people of Tirana against the German forces, on November 17, 1944. The Nazis eventually withdrew and the communists seized power.
Under communist rule
Enver Hoxha's mausoleum
Following the communist takeover, the city experienced a significant period of development. In terms of urbanization, the city witnessed the creation of socialist-styled apartment complexes and factories. In the 1960s, the historical identity of the city faced a critical moment as the central square was redesigned. As a result, a number of buildings of cultural and historical significance were demolished to make way for the formation of present-day Skanderbeg Square. The Old Bazaar used to be located near the modern Palace of Culture. The National Historical Museum was built on the grounds of the former building of the Municipality of Tirana, which was destroyed in the 1960s. The building that used to house the Parliament of Albania during King Zog's reign was turned into a children's theater and named the Dolls Theater.
Politically, a number of high-profile figures visited the city. In 1959, Soviet president Nikita Khruschev came to Tirana, and he laid the first brick on the foundations for the new Palace of Culture. In 1964, the Premier of the People's Republic of China, Zhou Enlai, met with Enver Hoxha. In 1985, Tirana served as the venue for the ceremonies after Hoxha's death. Four years later, Oskar Fischer, Minister for Foreign Matters of the German Democratic Republic, visited Tirana.
Transition period
The post communist period is described to have been the worst one in terms of the urban development of the city. Tirana experienced a chaotic development as high rise buildings started to be constructed without planning, and illegal structures rose on public areas. New informal districts started to form around the city as internal migrants gathered from around the country. During this period Tirana was transformed from a centrally planned economy to a market oriented economy. All the buildings and the apartments were denationalized. A modern water-supply system and electrical-supply system was built during 1992–1996. These systems form the backbone of the modern Tirana.
Rebirth
The rehabilitation in the area around Lana river
The city experienced radical changes at the turn of the millennium. In 2000, a massive political campaign began to beautify and to liberate public space, which was previously occupied by illegal commercial establishments. The campaign, called Return to Identity, included the transformation of river banks, of parks, and of other public structures to their state before 1990. The overall infrastructure has improved as considerable number of roads have been reconstructed. More parks and squares have also been built giving Tirana a more "European" look. Common spaces between apartment buildings have been targeted by a subsequent campaign in bringing back green spaces and a vast number of illegal buildings have been demolished. It is observed that some existing green spaces are used for the construction of skyscrapers and multi-functional centres. Apartment buildings are being built on grounds of former residential houses. Tirana's mayor, Edi Rama, has led an initiative to paint the façades of Tirana's buildings in bright colours, although interiors of those building are still falling into ruins.[9][10]
There are future regulatory and building plans for Tirana. Some of them include: Skanderbeg's Square Rehabilitation, The Zone of the Lake, Priority Zone "E", etc.
Climate
Tirana has a typical Mediterranean climate, with hot, dry summers and cool, wet winters.
Demographics
As of 2008, the city's urban population was officially estimated at 618,431.
In 1703, Tirana had about 4,000 inhabitants and by 1820 the number tripled to 12,000. The first census, conducted in 1923 (a few years after Tirana became capital city of Albania) showed a total population of 10,845. During the 1950s, Tirana experienced rapid industrial growth, and the population increased to about 137,000 by 1960. After the end of communist rule in 1991, Tirana experienced its fastest population growth when people from rural areas moved to the capital in search of a better life. In 1990, Tirana had 250,000 inhabitants, but the large-scale influx since then from other parts of the country has increased the population to well over 600,000.
Health
The largest hospital in Tirana is called Mother Theresa Hospital (Qëndra Spitalore Universitare Nënë Tereza), which is associated with University of Tirana, Faculty of Medicine. The Hospital is a 1,456-bed facility that offers comprehensive inpatient tertiary care to over 12,000 patients annually. The hospital is currently undergoing major changes in infrastructure and equipment.
Culture
Culture of Albania
"Taivani" one of Tirana's most popular restaurants
Dajti Mountain overlooking Tirana
Petrela Castle near Tirana
National Historical Museum
The main cultural and artistic institutions of Tirana are the National Theater, the National Theatre of Opera and Ballet of Albania, the National Gallery of Figurative Arts of Albania (Galeria Kombëtare e Arteve), and the Ensemble of Folk Music and Dances. Another cultural event includes performances of renown world composers performed by the Symphonic Orchestra of the Albanian Radio and Television. The city has been a venue for the Tirana Biennale and Tirana Jazz Festival.
Tirana is home to historical and cultural sites:
* Tirana Castle (Kalaja e Tiranës), the historical core of the capital
* The Clock Tower of Tirana (Kulla e Sahatit)
* Tirana's Mosque of Et'hem Bej (Xhamia e Tiranës)
* Tabak Bridge (Ura e Tabakëve)
* Terzi Bridge (Ura e Terzive)
* Skanderbeg Square as a monumental ensemble
* Church of Kroi of Shëngjin (Kisha e Kroit të Shëngjinit)
* Prezë Castle (Kalaja e Prezës)
* Petrelë Castle (Kalaja e Petrelës)
* Kapllan Pasha's Grave (Varri i Kapllan Pashës)
Tirana has 8 public libraries, one being the National Library of Albania (Biblioteka Kombëtare), 5 museum-houses and 56 cultural monuments.[13]
Education
Education in Albania
Tirana is host to the University of Tirana, Polytechnic University of Tirana, Agricultural University of Tirana, Academy of Physical Education and Sports, Academy of Music and Arts of Albania, the Academy of Sciences of Albania, and the Skanderbeg Military University, national and international academic research institutions, as well as NGOs.
Tirana has seen the creation of a vast number of private academic institutions, including University of New York, Tirana, Luarasi University, Zoja e Këshillit të Mirë, Academy of Film and Multimedia "Marubi".
Districts
Main article: List of Tirana's neighborhoods
The Municipality of Tirana is divided into 11 smaller administrative units referred to as Njësi Bashkiake (Municipal Units). These are made up of their own mayor and council, and sometimes are also known as Mini-Bashki (Mini-Municipality).
In 2000, the centre of Tirana, from the central campus of Tirana University up to Skanderbeg Square was declared the place of Cultural Assembly, and given special claims to state protection. In the same year, the area began a process of restoration under the name ‘Return to Identity’. The area to the west of the university, adjacent to Shën Prokopi Park, was formerly reserved for the occupation of important government and party officials. It remains a desirable residential area.
Economy
Tirana is Albania's major industrial centre. It has experienced rapid growth and established many new industries since the 1920s. The principal industries include agricultural products and machinery, textiles, pharmaceuticals, and metal products.
Tirana began to develop in the beginning of the 16th century, when a bazaar was established, and its craftsmen manufactured silk and cotton fabrics, leather, ceramics and iron, silver, and gold artifacts. Sited in a fertile plain, the Tirana area exported 2,600 barrels of olive oil and 14,000 packages of tobacco to Venice by 1769. In 1901, it had 140,000 olive trees, 400 oil mills, and 700 shops. The TID tower at 85 meters is being constructed in the city. It will redefine architecture in Albania. Tirana has also huge malls, such as City Park at 3km²
Environment
Street in Tirana
The city suffers from problems related to overpopulation, such as waste management, lack of running water and electricity as well as extremely high levels of air pollution from the 300,000 cars moving around the city. The problem is exacerbated by aging infrastructure. Despite the problems, Tirana has also experienced a very rapid growth in the construction of new buildings.[14] In recent years pollution has worsened as the number of cars has increased by several orders of magnitude. These are mostly older, diesel cars that pollute much more than the newer models in circulation elsewhere in Europe. Additionally, most of the fuel used in Albania contains larger amounts of sulfur and lead than that allowed in European Union countries. In recent years pollution from construction has become a major concern for the inhabitants of the city. Another peril to the city comes from untreated solid waste. The National Park (former Saint Prokopius Park), a vast forested park in the outskirts of the city, has some effect on absorbing CO2 emissions. Tirana is cleaned by government workers everyday, and trees have been planted around many sidewalks. Mayor Edi Rama has promised that he will plant 100,000 more trees in Tirana. He has claimed that by 2012-2014 Tirana will have the cleanest air in the Balkans. This will increase Albania's life expectancy. So far over 2000 trees have been planted.
Media
Tirana is the media hub of Albania. The city is home to the headquarters of the Albanian Radio and Television (RTSH), Albania's public broadcaster, and national commercial broadcasters such as Top Channel and TV Klan. Numerous radio stations operate in the capital, the most notable being Radio Tirana, followed by commercial Top Albania Radio and Plus 2 Radio. Tirana is home to the publication of a vast number of dailies: Shqip, Zëri i Popullit, Shekulli, Gazeta Shqiptare and Koha Jonë being the most famous.
Sports
KF Tirana, Partizani Tirana, and Dinamo Tirana
Tirana is the major centre for sport in Albania and Tirana's football clubs have won more championships than any other clubs in Albania. Tirana has two stadiums, the Qemal Stafa Stadium, that holds around 20,000 spectators and the Selman Stërmasi stadium which holds around 12,000 spectators. The Tirana sportive infrastructure is developing fast because of municipality and MTKRS investments. From 2007 Tirana Municipality has built up to 80 sport gardens in most of Tirana neighbourhoods.
Transport
Municipal, national and international transport links have developed over recent years as demand has increased. Until recent years, overland connections through Greece and Montenegro have had various problems with bureaucracy or security. The city serves as the meeting point for national roads SH1, SH2 and SH3. Tirana is yet to build an outer ring road that would drastically reduce traffic in the city. The following section is liable to change and is only indicative.
Bus
Local transport within Tirana is by bus or taxi. Group taxis (known as 'furgons') running multiple passengers operate on many pre-determined but unofficial routes and departure times are dictated by when sufficient passenger numbers justufy running costs. Coach and minibus services also run, again according to demand, to the coast and northern and southern Albania from different locations in Tirana. International coach services connect to Greece, via Korçë or Kakavije, to Kosovo via the new Durrës-Morine highway, and to the Republic of Macedonia via Struga.
Rail
Albanian Railways
There are regular passenger services to Durrës and Pogradec, via Elbasan. The Tirana Railway Station is north of Skanderbeg Square, alongside the coach terminal at the north end of Boulevard Zogu I. There are no international passenger services, although there is a freight-only railway through Shkodër to Montenegro (though this is currently disused).
Air
Tirana International Airport Mother Theresa (Nënë Tereza in Albanian), also known as Rinas Airport, was reconstructed in 2007. It is located 15 kilometres northwest of the city, off the road to Durrës. Airlines using Rinas include Albanian Airlines. Flights run to Athens, London, Rimini, Bari, Genoa, Rome, Bologna, Munich, Frankfurt, Istanbul, Vienna among other places. It is one of the biggest airports in the region. Several foreign airlines also serve Rinas Airport: Alitalia (from Rome and Milan), British Airways (from London Gatwick Airport), Austrian Airlines (from Vienna), Adria Airways (Ljubljana), Jat Airways (Belgrade), Lufthansa (Munich), Malev (Budapest), Olympic Air (Athens), Hemus Air (Sofia) and Turkish Airlines (Istanbul). In summer there is a direct charter flight from JFK, New York.
Sea
Tirana is served by the port of Durrës, that is 36 km distant from the capital. Passenger ferries from Durrës sail to Trieste, Ancona, Otranto, Brindisi, Bari, Lecce, Genoa (Italy), Zadar, Dubrovnik (Croatia), Maribor, Koper (Slovenia), Gdansk (Poland), Bar (Montenegro), Corfu (Greece) and others.
Notable people of Tirana
Below are some of the most notable personalities born in Tirana or that spent most of their lives in Tirana:
* Abdi bej Toptani, signatory of the Albanian Declaration of Independence
* Albert Brojka - Former Tirana Mayor
* Aleksandër Meksi - Former Prime Minister
* Bamir Topi - current President of Albania
* Beqir Balluku - Former member of the Politburo he was accused as organizer of a coup d'etat in 1974, and sentenced to death.
* Blendi Nallbani- football player
* Edi Rama - current Tirana Mayor
* Elsa Lila - singer
* Erjon Bogdani - football player
* Essad Pasha - politician
* Fatos Nano - former Prime Minister of Albania
* Inva Mula - opera singer
* Kledi Kadiu - dancer and actor who lives and works in Italy
* Leka, Crown Prince of Albania - heir of King Zog I
* Masiela Lusha - actress, poet, and writer
* Murat bej Toptani, signatory of the Albanian Declaration of Independence
* Pandeli Majko - twice Prime Minister of Albania
* Rexhep Meidani - former President of Albania
* Saimir Kumbaro - film director
* Sali Kelmendi - Former Tirana Mayor
* Vedat Kokona - Albanian translator
* Klodiana Shala - Athlete

International relations
Twin towns — Sister cities
Tirana is twinned with:
* Turkey — Ankara, Turkey[15]
* Greece — Athens, Greece[15]
* Spain — Barcelona, Spain[15][16]
* People's Republic of China — Beijing China (since 2005) [15][17]
* Belgium — Brussels, Belgium[15]
* Romania — Bucharest, Romania[15]
* Turkey — Bursa, Turkey[15]
* Canada — Cobourg, Canada[15]
* Italy — Florence, Italy[15]
* Italy — Genoa, Italy[15]
* United States — Grand Rapids, USA[15]
* Ukraine — Kiev, Ukraine[15]
* Spain — Madrid, Spain[15]
* France — Marseille, France[15]
* Russia — Moscow, Russia[15]
* France — Paris, France[15][18]
* Czech Republic — Prague, Czech Republic
* Kosovo — Pristina, Kosovo[15]
* Italy — Rome, Italy[15]
* South Korea — Seoul, South Korea[15]
* Bulgaria — Sofia, Bulgaria[15]
* Sweden — Stockholm, Sweden[15]
* Italy — Turin, Italy[15]
* Lithuania — Vilnius, Lithuania[15]
* Croatia — Zagreb, Croatia[15]
* Spain — Zaragoza, Spain[15]
* Montenegro — Podgorica, Montenegro[15]
* Montenegro — Ulcinj, Montenegro[15]

Seoul
Seoul
서울
— Special City —
Seoul Special City
transcription(s)
- Hangul 서울특별시
- Hanja 서울特別市 [1]
- Revised Romanization Seoul Teukbyeolsi
- McCune-Reischauer Sŏul T'ŭkpyŏlsi


Coordinates: 37°34′08″N 126°58′36″E / 37.56889°N 126.97667°E / 37.56889; 126.97667Coordinates: 37°34′08″N 126°58′36″E / 37.56889°N 126.97667°E / 37.56889; 126.97667
Country South Korea
Region Seoul National Capital Area
Districts
25
Dobong District (도봉구; )
Dongdaemun District (동대문구; )
Dongjak District (동작구; )
Eunpyeong District (은평구; )
Gangbuk District (강북구; )
Gangdong District (강동구; )
Gangnam District (강남구; )
Gangseo District (강서구; )
Geumcheon District (금천구; )
Guro District (구로구; )
Gwanak District (관악구; )
Gwangjin District (광진구; )
Jongno District (종로구; )
Jung District (중구; )
Jungnang District (중랑구; )
Mapo District (마포구; )
Nowon District (노원구; )
Seocho District (서초구; )
Seodaemun District (서대문구; )
Seongbuk District (성북구; )
Seongdong District (성동구; )
Songpa District (송파구; )
Yangcheon District (양천구; )
Yeongdeungpo District (영등포구; )
Yongsan District (용산구; )
Government
- Type Seoul Metropolitan Government
- Mayor Oh Se-hoon
Area.
- Special City 605.25 km2 (233.7 sq mi)
Population (2009)
- Special City 10,464,051
- Density 17,288/km2 (44,775.7/sq mi)
- Metro 24,472,063
- Demonym Seoulite,서울시민(Seoul simin)
- Dialect Seoul
Flower Forsythia
Tree Ginkgo
Bird Magpie
Website seoul.go.kr
Seoul (Korean pronunciation: [sʌ.ul] ( listen)), officially the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest city of South Korea. A megacity with a population of over 12 million, it is one of the largest cities in the world[4] The Seoul National Capital Area, which includes the Incheon metropolis and most of Gyeonggi province, has 24.5 million inhabitants,[5] and is the world's second largest metropolitan area. Almost half of South Korea's population live in the Seoul National Capital Area, and nearly a quarter in Seoul itself, making it the country's foremost economic, political, and cultural center.
Seoul is located on the Han River in the center of the Korean Peninsula, and was settled in 18 B.C. when Baekje, one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea, established its capital in what is now south-east Seoul. The city then became the capital of Korea during the Joseon Dynasty and the Korean Empire.
Seoul is considered to be a global city. It is one of the world's top ten financial and commercial centers, home to large conglomerates[8] such as Samsung, LG and Hyundai-Kia. In 2008, Seoul was named the world's sixth most economically powerful city by Forbes.com[9] In 2007, Mercer Human Resource Consulting ranked Seoul 87th in the world among major cities for quality of life.
Seoul has a technologically advanced infrastructure.[11][12] Its Digital Media City has been a test-bed for various IT and multimedia applications.[13] Seoul was the first city to feature DMB, a digital mobile TV technology and WiBro, a wireless high-speed mobile internet service. It has a fast, high-penetration 100Mbps fibre-optic broadband network, which is being upgraded to 1Gbps by 2012.[14] Seoul Station houses the 350 km/h KTX bullet train and the Seoul Subway is the third largest in the world, with over 200 million passengers every year.[15] Seoul is connected via AREX to Incheon International Airport.
Seoul was chosen to be the World Design Capital for 2010 by the International Council of Societies of Industrial Design.
Contents

Name
The city has been known in the past by the names Wirye-seong (위례성; , Baekje era), Hanju (한주; , Silla era), Namgyeong (남경; , Goryeo era), Hanseong (한성; , Baekje and Joseon era), Hanyang (한양; , Joseon era), Keijo (경성; , Japanese colonial era).[16] Its current name originated from the Korean word meaning "capital city," which is believed to be derived from the word, Seorabeol (서라벌; ), which originally referred to Gyeongju, the capital of Silla.[17]
Unlike most place names in Korea, "Seoul" has no corresponding hanja (Chinese characters used in the Korean language). The recently chosen Chinese name for Seoul is (simplified), (traditional) (Shǒuěr), which sounds somewhat similar to "Seoul" when pronounced in Mandarin Chinese.

History

Settlement began in Baekje, Wirye-seong, in 17 BC. The location of that site is thought to be within the boundaries of modern day Seoul, and the remains may be at Pungnap Toseong or Mongchon Toseong. It became the capital of the Joseon Dynasty in 1394. In the Japanese colonization period in the early 20th century, during which time the city was called Gyeongseong (경성; ; Japanese: Keijō), many historical and traditional parts of Seoul were changed.[citation needed] After independence from Japan in 1945, Koreans renamed the city Seoul. In 1949, Seoul was separated from Gyeonggi Province and was granted status as "Seoul Special City". In 1950, during the Korean War, Seoul was occupied by North Korean troops and the city was almost entirely destroyed. The city was retaken by UN Forces on March 14, 1951. Since then, the city boundary has steadily grown into surrounding administrative divisions of Gimpo, Goyang, and Shiheung counties. The current boundaries were established in 1995.

Seoul from Bukhansan
Seoul is in the northwest of South Korea. Seoul proper comprises 605.25 km², with a radius of approximately 15km, roughly bisected into northern and southern halves by the Han River. The Han River and its surrounding area played an important role in Korean history. The Three Kingdoms of Korea strove to take control of this land, where the river was used as a trade route to China (via the Yellow Sea). However, the river is no longer actively used for navigation, because its estuary is located at the borders of the two Koreas, with civilian entry barred. The city is bordered by eight mountains, as well as the more level lands of the Han River plain and western areas.

Climate
Seoul lies in the border region between a humid subtropical and humid continental climate (Köppen climate classification Cwa/Dwa), depending on the definition. Summers are generally hot and humid, with the East Asian monsoon taking place from June until July. August, the warmest month, has an average temperature of 22.1 to 29.5 °C (72 to 85 °F) with higher temperatures possible. Winters are often relatively cold with an average January temperature of -6.1 to 1.6 °C (21 to 34.9 °F) and are generally much drier than summers, with an average of 28 days of snow annually.

Administrative divisions
Gu of Seoul
Seoul is divided into 25 gu (구; ) (district).[20] The gu vary greatly in area (from 10 to 47 km²) and population (from less than 140,000 to 630,000). Songpa has the most people, while Seocho, the largest area. The government of each gu handles many of the functions that are handled by city governments in other jurisdictions. Each gu is divided into "dong" (동; ) or neighbourhoods. Some gu have only a few dong while others like Jongno-gu have a very large number of distinct neighborhoods. Gu of Seoul consist of 522 administrative dongs (행정동) in total.[20] Dong are also sub-divided into 13,787 tong (통; ), which are further divided into 102,796 ban in total.
Seoul Districts
* Dobong District (도봉구; )
* Dongdaemun District (동대문구; )
* Dongjak District (동작구; )
* Eunpyeong District (은평구; )
* Gangbuk District (강북구; )
* Gangdong District (강동구; )
* Gangnam District (강남구; )
* Gangseo District (강서구; )
* Geumcheon District (금천구; )
* Guro District (구로구; )
* Gwanak District (관악구; )
* Gwangjin District (광진구; )
* Jongno District (종로구; )
* Jung District (중구; )
* Jungnang District (중랑구; )
* Mapo District (마포구; )
* Nowon District (노원구; )
* Seocho District (서초구; )
* Seodaemun District (서대문구; )
* Seongbuk District (성북구; )
* Seongdong District (성동구; )
* Songpa District (송파구; )
* Yangcheon District (양천구; )
* Yeongdeungpo District (영등포구; )
* Yongsan District (용산구; )

Demographics
Seoul proper is noted for its population density, which is almost twice as concentrated as New York and eight times greater than Rome, though slightly less than that of Paris. The density of its metropolitan area is the highest in the OECD.[21] Nearly all of Seoul's residents are Korean, with some small Chinese and Japanese minorities. As of 2009, the city’s population is 10,464,051.[3] The number of foreigners living in South Korea is 1,149,493 in 2009 according to the Korea Immigration Service, constituting 2.2% of the population.[22]
The two major religions in Seoul are Buddhism and Christianity. Other religions include Shamanism and Confucianism, the latter seen more as a pervasive social philosophy rather than a religion.

Economy
See also: Economy of South Korea
Samsung Headquarters
As the headquarters for Samsung, LG, Hyundai, Kia and SK, Seoul has become a major business hub. Although it accounts for only 0.6 percent of South Korea's land area, Seoul generates 21 percent of the country's GDP.[23]
Finance
A relatively large number of transnational companies are headquartered in Seoul.[24] International banks with branches in Seoul include Citigroup, Deutsche Bank, HSBC, Goldman Sachs, JP Morgan, Barclays, Grupo Santander, UBS, Credit Suisse, UniCredit, Société Générale, Calyon, BBVA, Macquarie Group, ING Bank and Standard Chartered. The Korea Exchange Bank is also headquartered in
Shopping

The largest market in South Korea, the Dongdaemun Market, is located in Seoul. Myeongdong is a shopping and entertainment area in downtown Seoul with mid- to high-end stores, fashion boutiques and international brand outlets. The nearby Namdaemun Market, named after the Namdaemun Gate, is the oldest continually running market in Seoul. Sinchon is a shopping area that caters mainly to a younger and university student crowd.
Insadong is the cultural art market of Seoul, where traditional and modern Korean artworks, such as paintings, sculptures and calligraphy are sold. Hwanghak-dong Flea Market and Janganpyeong Antique Market also offer antique products. Some shops for local designers have opened in Samcheong-dong, where numerous small art galleries are located. Itaewon caters mainly to foreign tourists and American soldiers based in the city. The Gangnam district is one of the most affluent areas in Seoul and is noted for the fashionable and upscale Apgujeong-dong and Cheongdam-dong areas and the COEX Mall. Wholesale markets include Noryangjin Fisheries Wholesale Market and Garak Market. The Yongsan Electronics Market is the largest electronics market in Asia. The Gasan Digital Complex also has an extensive variety of electronic products.

Architecture
Seoul City Hall.
The traditional heart of Seoul is the old Joseon Dynasty city, now the downtown area, where most palaces, government offices, corporate headquarters, hotels, and traditional markets are located. Cheonggyecheon, a stream that runs from west to east through the valley before emptying into the Han River, was for many years covered by concrete, but was recently restored through an urban revival project. The most historically significant street in Seoul is Jongno, meaning "Bell Street," on which one can find Bosingak, a pavilion containing a large bell. The bell signaled the different times of the day and therefore controlled the four major gates to the city. The only time it is usually rung now is at midnight on New Year's Eve, when it is rung thirty-three times. It was, however, rung on the day that President Kim Dae-jung took office. To the north of downtown is Bukhan Mountain, and to the south is the smaller Namsan. Further south are the old suburbs of Yongsan-gu and Mapo-gu. Across the Han River are the newer and wealthier areas of Gangnam-gu, Seocho-gu and surrounding neighborhoods.
Historical architecture

Gyeongbokgung palace.
Seoul has many historical and cultural landmarks. In Amsa-dong Preshistoric Settlement Site, Gangdong-gu, neolithic remains were excavated and accidentally discovered by a flood in 1925. Urban and civil planning was a key concept when Seoul was first designed to serve as a capital in the late 14th century. The Joseon Dynasty built "Five Grand Palaces" in Seoul: Changdeokgung, Changgyeonggung, Deoksugung, Gyeongbokgung and Gyeonghuigung, all of which are located in the district of Jongno-gu and Jung-gu. Among them, Changdeokgung was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1997 as an "outstanding example of Far Eastern palace architecture and garden design". The main palace, Gyeongbokgung. is currently being restored to its original form. The palaces are considered exemplary architecture of the Joseon period. Beside the palaces, Unhyeongung is known for being the royal residence of Regent Daewongun, the father of Emperor Gojong at the end of the Joseon Dynasty.
Seoul has been surrounded by walls that were built to regulate visitors from other regions and protect the city in case of invasion. Pungnap Toseong is a flat earthen wall built at the edge of the Han River which is widely believed to be the site of Wiryeseong. Mongchon Toseong (몽촌토성; ) is another earthen wall built during the Baekje period which is now located inside the Olympic Park. The Castle Walls of Seoul (서울성곽; 서울城郭) are the remaining walls of Seoul from the Joseon Dynasty.
Although many walls and fortresses were demolished, some palace and fortress gates have played a role in the city's heart such as Sungnyemun and Heunginjimun. The gates are more commonly known as Namdaemun (South Great Gate) and Dongdaemun (East Great Gate). Namdaemun was the oldest wooden gate until a 2008 arson attack, and is currently undergoing reconstruction. Situated near the gates are the traditional markets and largest shopping center, Namdaemun Market and Dongdaemun Market.
There are also many buildings constructed with international styles in the late-19th and early-20th centuries. The Independence Gate was built in 1897 to inspire an independent spirit from Sinosphere. Seoul Station was opened in 1900 as Gyeongseong Station.
Modern architecture

Street in Seoul
Gangnam district in Seoul
Major modern landmarks in Seoul include the Korea Finance Building, N Seoul Tower, the World Trade Center and the seven-skyscraper residence Tower Palace. These and various high-rise office buildings, like the Seoul Star Tower and Jongno Tower, dominate the city's skyline. Due to its high density, Seoul has a vast array of skyscrapers; the city council is now planning a series of new highrises, including a 640-meter business center in Sangam Digital Media City district and the 523-meter Lotte World 2 Tower in the Jamsil (pronounced "Jam-shil") district of Songpa-gu and Gangdong-gu.
The World Trade Center of Korea, located in Gangnam-gu, hosts various expositions and conferences. Also in Gangnam-gu is the COEX Mall, a large indoor shopping and entertainment complex. Downstream from Gangnam-gu is Yeouido, a island that is home to the National Assembly, major broadcasting studios, and a number of large office buildings, as well as the Korea Finance Building and the world's largest Pentecostal church. The Olympic Stadium, Olympic Park, and Lotte World are located in Songpa-gu, on the south side of the Han River, upstream from Gangnam-gu.
In 2010, the Dongdaemun Design Plaza & Park, designed by Zaha Hadid, is scheduled to open. This will coincide with Seoul's designation as World Design Capital that year.

Culture
Museums
National Museum of Korea

Seoul is home to over 100 museums including three national and nine official municipal museums. The National Museum of Korea is the most representative of museums in not only Seoul but all of South Korea. Since its establishment in 1945, the museum has built a collection of 150,000 artifacts. In October 2005, the museum moved to a new building in Yongsan Family Park. The National Folk Museum is situated on the grounds of the Gyeongbokgung Palace in the district of Jongno-gu and uses replicas of historical objects to illustrate the folk history of the Korean people. Bukchon Hanok Village and Namsangol Hanok Village are old residential districts consisting of hanok Korean traditional houses, parks, and museums that allows visitors to experience traditional Korean culture. The War Memorial, one of nine municipal museums in Seoul, offers visitors an educational and emotional experience of various wars in which Korea was involved including Korean War themes. The Seodaemun Prison is a former prison built during the Japanese occupation and is currently used as a history museum.
The Seoul Museum of Art and Ilmin Museum of Art have preserved the appearance of the old building that is visually unique from the neighboring tall, modern buildings. The former is operated by Seoul City Council and sits adjacent to Gyeonghuigung Palace, a Joseon dynasty royal palace. For many Korean film lovers from all over the world, the Korean Film Archive is running the Korean Film Museum and Cinematheque KOFA in its main center located in Digital Media City(DMC), Sangam-dong. The Tteok & Kitchen Utensil Museum and Kimchi Field Museum provide information regarding Korean culinary history.

Religion
Jongmyo
There are also religious buildings that take important roles in Korean society and politics. The Wongudan altar was a sacrificial place where Korean rulers held heavenly rituals since the Three Kingdoms period. Since the Joseon Dynasty adopted Confucianism as its national ideology in the 14th century, the state built many Confucian shrines. The descendants of the Joseon royal family still continue to hold ceremonies to commemorate ancestors at Jongmyo. It is the oldest royal Confucian shrine preserved and the ritual ceremonies continue a tradition established in the 14th century. Munmyo and Dongmyo were built during the same period. Although Buddhism was suppressed by the Joseon state, it has continued its existence. Jogyesa is the headquarters of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism. Hwagyesa and Bongeunsa are also major Buddhist temples in Seoul.
The Myeongdong Cathedral is a landmark of the Myeongdong district and was the first Catholic church established in Korea. It is a symbol of Christianity in Korea as well as political dissidents in the late-20th century.
There are many Protestant churches in Seoul. The largest number are Presbyterian, but there are also Methodist, Baptist, Lutheran churches.
Seoul Central Mosque which is located at Hannam-dong, Yongsan-gu was the first Mosque built in Korea after the Korean War. It is still the only mosque in Seoul, and is a tourist attraction for Koreans who visit on weekends to hear talks given on Islam.

Parks
See also: List of parks in Seoul
Seoul Olympic Park
Namsan Park offers hiking, recreation and views of the downtown Seoul skyline. The N Seoul Tower is located here. Seoul Olympic Park is located in Songpa-gu and was built to host the 1988 Summer Olympics. The Wongaksa Pagoda 10 tier pagoda is situated In Tapgol Park, a small public park with an area of 19,599 m². Areas around streams serve as public places for relaxation and recreation. Tancheon stream and the nearby area serve as a large park with paths for both walkers and cyclists. Cheonggyecheon, a stream that runs nearly 6 km through downtown Seoul, is popular among both Seoul residents and tourists. The Seoul metropolitan area accommodates six major parks, including the Seoul Forest, which opened in mid-2005. The Seoul National Capital Area also contains a green belt aimed at preventing the city from sprawling out into neighboring Gyeonggi Province. These areas are frequently sought after by people looking to escape from urban life on weekends and during vacations.
Seoul is also home to the world's largest indoor amusement park, Lotte World. Other recreation centers include the former Olympic and World Cup stadiums and the City Hall public lawn.

Sports
The Seoul Olympic Stadium seen from Han River.
Seoul World Cup Stadium.
International competition
Seoul hosted the 1986 Asian Games, 1988 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games. It also served as one of the host cities of the 2002 FIFA World Cup. Seoul World Cup Stadium hosted the opening ceremony and first game of the tournament.
Taekwondo is Korea's national sport and Seoul is the location of the Kukkiwon, the world headquarters of taekwondo, as well as the World Taekwondo Federation (WTF).
Domestic sports clubs
Football
Football in Seoul
* Men's Soccer
Level League Club Home Stadium
Top tier K-League FC Seoul Seoul World Cup Stadium, West Seoul
2nd tier National League N/A N/A
3rd tier K3 League Seoul United Jamsil Olympic Stadium, South Seoul
Seoul FC Martyrs Gangbuk-gu Public Stadium, North Seoul
* Women's Soccer
Level League Club Home Stadium
Top tier WK-League Seoul City Women's FC To be determined
Other sports
Seoul has Three baseball teams in the KBO: LG Twins, Doosan Bears and NEXEN Heroes. Seoul is also home to two basketball clubs in the KBL: Seoul Samsung Thunders and Seoul SK Knights.
Seoul's professional volleyball club, Seoul Woori Capital Dream Six, debuted in the 2009-2010 season.
Seoul is also home to Seoul Race Park, a thoroughbred racetrack which hosts the Korean Derby and other big races.

Transportation
Subway station in Seoul.
Seoul's transportation system dates back to the era of the Korean Empire, when the first streetcar lines were laid and a railroad linking Seoul and Incheon was completed. Seoul's most important streetcar line ran along Jongno until it was replaced by Line 1 of the subway system in the early 1970s. Other notable streets in downtown Seoul include Euljiro, Teheranno, Sejongno, Chungmuro, Yulgongno, and Toegyero. There are nine major subway lines stretching for more than 250 kilometers, with one additional line planned.
Seoul has more than three million registered vehicles and suffers from widespread traffic congestion.
Bus
Main article: Seoul Buses
Seoul's bus system is operated by the Seoul Metropolitan Government, with four primary bus configurations available servicing most of the city. Seoul has many large intercity/express bus terminals. These buses connect Seoul with cities throughout South Korea. The Seoul Express Bus Terminal, Central City Terminal and Seoul Nambu Terminal are located in the district of Seocho-gu. In addition, East Seoul Bus Terminal in Gwangjin-gu and Sangbong Terminal in Jungnang-gu operate in the east of the city. To reduce air pollution in the metropolitan area, the municipal government is planning to convert over seven thousand of Seoul's diesel engine buses to natural gas by 2010.[25]
Subway

Seoul Station.
Main article: Seoul Metropolitan Subway
Seoul has a comprehensive subway network that interconnects every district of the city and the surrounding areas. With more than 8 million passengers per day, Seoul has one of the busiest subway systems in the world. The Seoul Metropolitan Subway has 12 lines which serve Seoul, Incheon, Gyeonggi province and northern Chungnam province. In addition, in order to cope with the various modes of transport, Seoul's metropolitan government employs several mathematicians to coordinate the subway, bus, and traffic schedules into one timetable. The various lines are run by Korail, Seoul Metro, Seoul Metropolitan Rapid Transit Corporation and metro 9

Train
Seoul is connected to every major city in Korea by rail. Seoul is also linked to most major Korean cities by the KTX high-speed train, which has a normal operation speed of more than 300 km/h (186 mph). Major railroad stations include:
* Seoul Station, Jung-gu: Gyeongbu line (KTX/Saemaul/Mugunghwa-ho), Gyeongui line (Saemaul/Commuter)
* Yongsan Station, Yongsan-gu: Honam line (KTX/Saemaul/Mugunghwa), Jeolla/Janghang lines (Saemaul/Mugunghwa)
* Yeongdeungpo Station, Yeongdeungpo-gu: Gyeongbu/Honam/Janghang lines (Saemaul/Mugunghwa)
* Cheongnyangni Station, Dongdaemun-gu: Gyeongchun/Jungang/Yeongdong/Taebaek lines (Mugunghwa)

Airports
Incheon International Airport.
Two international airports serve Seoul. Gimpo International Airport, formerly in Gimpo but annexed to Seoul in 1963, was for many years (since its original construction during the Korean War) the only international airport serving Seoul. Other domestic airports were also built around the time of the war, including Yeouido.
When it opened in March 2001, Incheon International Airport on Yeongjong island in Incheon changed the role of Gimpo Airport significantly. Incheon is now responsible for almost all international flights and some domestic flights, while Gimpo serves only domestic flights with the exception of flights to Tokyo International Airport (Haneda) in Tokyo, Osaka Kansai International Airport and Hongqiao Airport in Shanghai. This has led to a significant drop in flights from Gimpo Airport.
Meanwhile, Incheon International Airport has become, along with Hong Kong and Singapore, a major transportation center for East Asia.
Incheon and Gimpo are linked to Seoul by highways, and to each other by the Incheon International Airport Railroad, which is also linked to Incheon line #1. Gimpo is also linked by subway (line #5 and #9). The Incheon International Airport Railroad, currently under construction, is planned to connect the airport directly to Seoul Station in central Seoul but will not be completed for several years. Shuttle buses also transfer passengers between Incheon and Gimpo airports.

Education

Universities
Seoul is home to a large number of universities. The majority of South Korea's most prestigious universities, including SKY universities- Seoul National University, Korea University, and Yonsei University, have their principal campuses in Seoul.
Seoul National University , colloquially known in Korean as Seoul-dae, is a national research university, ranked 24th in the world in publications in an analysis of data from the Science Citation Index[26] and 47th in the world by the 2009 THE-QS World University Rankings (From 2010 two separate rankings will be produced, one by the Times Higher Education World University Rankings and the other by QS World University Rankings)[27].
Korea University is a nonsectarian, private research university located primarily in Seoul. Founded in 1934, the university is one of the oldest institutions of higher education in South Korea.[28] Korea University is ranked 150th in the world in 2006 by THE–QS World University Rankings.[29]
Yonsei University abbreviated as Yondae, is a private Christian research university in Seoul, and is one of the oldest universities in South Korea (established in 1885). In 2009, Yonsei University was ranked 151st in the world by Times Higher Education World University Rankings.[30][31

Secondary Education
Education from grades 1-10 are compulsory. Students spend six years in elementary school, three years in middle school, and three years in high school. Secondary schools generally require that the students wear uniforms. There is no exit exam for graduating from high school, but students proceeding to the university level are required to take the Korean SAT exams that are held every November.
Seoul is home to various specialized high schools, including 3 Science High School (Seoul Science High School, Hansung Science High School, and Sejong Science High School), 6 Foreign Language High Schools (Hanyoung Foreign Language High School, Daewon Foreign Language High School, Ewha Foreign Language High School, Daeil Foreign Language High School, Myungdeok Foreign Language High School, and Seoul Foreign Language High School). Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education comprises 235 college-preparatory high schools,80 vocational schools, 377 middle schools,and 33 special education schools as of 2009.

International relations
See also: List of twin towns and sister cities in South Korea
Twin towns — Sister cities
Seoul has many twin towns and sister cities around the world:[in chronological order][33]
* Republic of China Taipei, Taiwan (1968)
* Turkey Ankara, Turkey (1971)
* Guam Guam, U.S. territory (1973)[citation needed]
* United States Honolulu, United States (1973)
* United States San Francisco, United States (1976)
* Brazil São Paulo, Brazil (1977)[34][35]
* Iran Tehran, Iran (1977)[36]
* Colombia Bogota, Colombia (1982)
* Indonesia Jakarta, Indonesia (1984)
* Japan Tokyo, Japan (1988)
* Russia Moscow, Russia (1991)
* Australia New South Wales, Australian state (1991)
* France Paris, France (1991)
* People's Republic of China Beijing, People's Republic of China (1992)
* Venezuela Caracas, Venezuela (1992)[citation needed]
* Honduras Tegucigalpa, Honduras[citation needed]
* Mexico Mexico City, Mexico (1993)
* Mongolia Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia (1995)
* Vietnam Hanoi, Vietnam (1996)
* Poland Warsaw, Poland (1996)[37]
* Egypt Cairo, Egypt (1997)
* Canada Ottawa, Canada (1997)
* Italy Rome, Italy (2000)
* Kazakhstan Astana, Kazakhstan (2004)
* Greece Athens, Greece (2006)
* Thailand Bangkok, Thailand (2006)
* United States Washington, D.C., United States (2006)
* Canada Vancouver, Canada (2007)
* India Mumbai, India(2009)
* Indonesia Bau-Bau, Indonesia (2010)
* Argentina Buenos Aires, Argentina
* Albania Tirana, Albania [38]