Megacities Flashcards
Do cities go through the urbanisation cycle stage by stage or…
Cities don’t go through the stages one by one, different populations movements can be happening in a city at the sa,e time
What is urbanisation
The growth in the proportion of people living in urban areas
Why does urbanisation occur
Because of migration -especially rural-urban migration
Where does urbanisation occur quickly
In developing countries (where most megacities have recently developed) due to massive rural-urban migration
How have cities grown in developing countries
One way the cities have grown is by poor migrants setting up shanty towns -unplanned and often illegal settlements where people build their own houses out of whatever they can find, usually on the outskirts of town
What is suburbanisation
Movements of people from the city centre to lower density housing on the outskirts of the city
Why does suburbanisation occur
As urbanisation increases, city centres become more overcrowded and people want more space
Improvements to public transport mean people can live further away but still reach the city easily
What happens as megacities grow (suburbanisation)
More suburbs are added so suburbs are not on the outskirts any more
A complex pattern of what develops (suburbanisation)
Wealthy and poorer areas
Explain the complex pattern of wealthy and poorer areas developing
- Wealthy people live in the suburbs on the outskirts of cities because they can afford large houses with more space
- Wealthy people also move into poorer suburbs closer to he centre and renovate the houses - called gentrification
What is counter-urbanisation
Movement of people out of the city into surrounding villages/rural towns
Improvements in what aid counter-urbanisation
Improvements in transport/communication means people can commute to work or work from home over the Internet
Why does counter-urbanisation occur
Happens due to high property prices and overcrowding in cities, as well as people preferring quiet rural areas
What is re-urbanisation
Movement of people back into redeveloped city centre residential areas
What have lots of cities done in developed countries (re-urbanisation)
Redeveloped
Why does redevelopment take place in developed countries (re-urbanisation)
Attracts young, affluent people who want to be near to the cultural activity of the city centre, eg redeveloped canal ares such as Brindleyplace in Birmingham
Example of a megacity in a developed country
London
Where is London
South east of uk
What is the population of London metropolitan
13 million people
Where is greater London
Flat land around the mouth of the river Thames
What is the population density of greater London
About 4,800 people per km2
Explain -population of London is growing but not rapidly
Population of greater London has grown by less than 1 million people since 1981
Urbanisation in London?
Still occurring -people are moving/migrating from abroad
2006 -net gain of almost 70,000 international migrants
Almost all parts of greater London have gained but biggest gains were in the most central areas (Westminster and Camden)
Counter-urbanisation in London?
Still happening -people are moving out of greater London to the rest of the uk
2006 -net loss of around 80,000 people to other parts of the uk
Re-urbanisation in London?
Happened around London docklands -area east of central London that used to be a major port
Port move upriver between 1965 and 1980 and the area was left derelict
Been redeveloped since the 1980’s and the population has more than doubled
Post-industrial economy in London?
Used to be based around industry and manufacturing, but now mostly on services
85% of people employed in London in work in the service industry
London a major financial centre?
London has one of the largest stock exchanges in the world
Many global banks have their headquarters in the centre of London (HSBC)
Tourism as part of the economy in London?
London is one of the most popular cities to visit in the world -attracted over 15 million foreign tourists in 2006
What are housing patterns like in London
Complex residential pattern that includes contrasting rich and poor areas
Housing patterns in poorer parts of London
Parts of poorer areas in the east of inner London (Hackney) have been changed because of gentrification
Richer people have moved in, making a mixed pattern of rich and poor people living near each other
Suburban growth regarding housing patterns in London
Suburban growth has meant villages around London have become suburbs of London
Streatham was a village that became a wealthy suburb as London grew in the 19th century, other suburbs have grown around it, wealthy people still live there but it’s also a destination for poor migrants
Example of a megacity in an NIC
Mumbai
Where is Mumbai
West coast of India
Population of Mumbai metropolitan area
Over 20 million people
What is greater Mumbai
An island separated from the mainland by the river ulhas
What is the population density of greater Mumbai
High -over 20,000 people per km2
Is the population of Mumbai growing quickly or slowly
Rapidly
Population has grown by more than 6 million people since 1971 and people are stilling moving into the city
Urbanisation in Mumbai?
Massive urbanisation is occurring -people are migrating to Mumbai from all over India
1991-2001 over 1.1 million people migrated to greater Mumbai from outside Maharashtra (state Mumbai is in)
Suburbanisation in Mumbai?
Some people are moving north, away from the inner city on the southern tip of the island
Suburbs are being built along the main rail and routes out of the city
Mumbai’s economy?
Fast growing economy based on manufacturing, but the service industry is becoming more important
Why is Mumbai’s economy like this?
Until 1980’s economy was based mainly on textiles manufacturing and shipping (still a major port)
Increased in IT and financial services recently
Major centre for out sourced work companies in Mumbai work for foreign companies (UK based financial services company Prudential has its call centre in greater Mumbai)
Major media centre for India (Bollywood film industry in Mumbai)
What are the housing patterns like in Mumbai?
Residential patterns of greater Mumbai are complex
Where is the wealthiest area located near (Mumbai)
The central business district
Where do about half the population live in Mumbai
In shanty towns
Squeezed into wherever there is space
Dharavi (next to CBD) is the biggest shanty town - over 600,000 people live there
Where are most wealthier suburbs built in Mumbai
Been built along the roads/rail routes that run north out of the CBD, but shanty towns are also squeezed in as near to the transport links as possible
What are the two main factors that link London and Mumbai
Flows of trade/money/people/info/culture -accelerating globalisation
Film industries
Example of the flows of trade/money/info that link London and Mumbai
Cadbury has global HQ in London and subsidiary company Cadbury India, has its main office in greater Mumbai
Example of how the film industry links London and Mumbai
2006 -over 49 Bollywood films were made in London
What makes up the cycle of urbanisation
Different patterns of population movements that happen in cities
