What is it?

The image above is the City of the Dead, located in Cairo, Egypt. The City of the Dead is a massive cemetery, which extends about six kilometres. Due to overcrowding in Cairo people have had to move into the cemetery. Overcrowding is a common problem that metropolises have. Luckily for the people in Cairo it is considered an honour to live among one’s deceased relatives.

What is a Metropolis? Approximately 100 years ago people predominantly lived in rural areas. A rural area is refers to the countryside and farm land. During this time people were primarily farmers, or worked in fishing or forestry.

With a decrease in the amount and productivity of the land people had to look for other options for survival. At the same time of this decrease, industry began to boom in urban areas (cities). This boom created thousands of jobs, therefore, many left the rural areas and established themselves in cities. Since this time cities all over the world have grown and new cities have developed. Today we call these large centers Metropolises

1Tokyo Japan 35,700,000 2 New York City [3] United States 19,000,000 3Mexico City [2] Mexico 19,000,000 4Mumbai India 19,000,000 5São Paulo Brazil 18,800,000 6Delhi India 15,900,000 7Shanghai China 15,000,000 8Calcutta India 14,800,000 9Dhaka Bangladesh 13,500,000 10Buenos Aires Argentina 12,800,000

FYI: Montreal sits at number 50

Terms to Remember 1. City: major center of a region (based on population) 2. Urban Agglomeration: major city and surrounding areas (ex: Montreal, Laval, South & North Shores) 3. Capital: city that houses the official seat of government. 4. Metropolis: A major city with a large population.

Montreal London

Montreal at a Glance Language: French (official) Population: 5 million (approx. For MMC)

Montreal is located at the confluence of the St. Lawrence and Ottawa Rivers. Montreal lies in the center of a large fertile plain left by the Champlain sea. Montreal is surrounded by a river system known as the St. Lawrence Seaway. Some of Montreal’s cultural features are: Mount. Royal, Olympic Stadium, Underground city, St. Laurent boulevards.

Montreal: Growth Every year the population of Montreal increases, mostly due to immigration. Immigrants make up 28% of the population, making Montreal a very multiethnic city. This forces many people to live off-island. This swells the boarders of the MMC.

Language: Arabic (official) Population: 15 million (approx. Agglom.) Cairo at a Glance

The city of Cairo is located on both side of the Nile River. Cairo also has fertile land along the banks of the Nile. Due to its desert climate Cairo gets very little precipitation. Some cultural features are: the Citadel of Saladin, Al-Azhar Maosque, Pyramids of Giza and the great Sphinx.

Cairo’s population is increasing due to migration from rural areas. Cairo has very little immigration. Therefore, Cairo does not have a multiethnic population. Due to the rapid population growth Cairo’s city limits continue to grow. Cairo: Growth

Getting Around in Montreal Montreal has always been a center for water transportation and travel, due to it’s unique location. City officials have made great improvements in recent years to accommodate larger, heavier ships. Government has also built many canals and locks to ease the passage of ships into the St. Lawrence seaway.

Along with its port Montreal has two major airports. P.E.T. International (flights) and Mirabel (cargo).

Due to the size of Montreal’s urban agglomeration, people use public transportation and personal vehicles to get around. Montreal has an extensive metro, bus and commuter train system. However, the large majority, use their own automobiles to get around.

Getting Around in Cairo Like Montreal, Cairo has a busy shipping port. Cairo has an airport that accommodates both travellers and cargo. Cairo does have a subway and bus system but they are not as extensive as Montreal. However, the majority of people use their cars to get around.

Getting Around in a Metropolis

Montreal and Cairo are good examples of other major metropolises. Both cities have means of international travel. In both cities public transportation is offered. However, the vast majority of the population use their own cars.

1. Traffic 2. Pollution 3. Road work and deterioration of infrastructure. 4. Loss of Green space

We are all affected by these issues. Our environment is also affected. Plants and animals living in and around major metropolises are affected. People and environments in other parts of the world are also affected.

Traffic 1. Accidents 2. Increase taxes to pay for more traffic officers Pollution 1. Acid Rain, which contaminates water and harms fish that we eat. 2. Leads to many health problems (breathing).

Road work 1. Increased stress levels and mental health issues 2. Increased taxes Loss of Green Space 1. Animals are displaced, forced to find urban homes. 2. Increase air pollution and CO2 levels

New York at a Glance Language: English (official) Population: 19 Million (approx.)

New York has a large shipping port, which houses 54 container cranes. New York is extensively developed. Most farm land is located away from the metropolis. New York is the largest American city. It is second only to Tokyo, Japan. It is the economic capital of the world, housing the worlds first and second largest stock markets. New York also benefits from the St. Lawrence Seaway and the Great Lakes system.

Some cultural features are: Manhattan, The Hudson River, The Statue of Liberty, Empire State Building, Madison Square Garden and Ground Zero

New York: Growth Like Montreal, New York’s population is increasing due to immigration. More then 36% of New York’s population are immigrants, making New York a very multiethnic city. New York is an urban agglomeration, consisting of 5 boroughs: The Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens and Staten Island

Getting around in New York Along with international sea travel New York has many ferries. New has 3 passenger airports; JFK, LaGuardia and Newark, and 2 cargo airports; Stewart and Teterboro. New York has a very developed public transit system. This consists of subways, commuter trains and busses.

In New York more then half of the population uses public transit. However, many people that live in the boroughs will drive into work. Moreover, there are many taxis and transport vehicles that create traffic. Despite a large percentage of the population using public transit, transportation in New York is a big problem.