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New York : a photographic exploration of how the city has developed and changed by 
Los Angeles: a photographic exploration of how the city has developed and changed by 
Rio de Janeiro by This article is a timeline of the history of New York City in the state of New York, US.
Santa Fe de Bogotá is the capital of Colombia. The city was founded by the Muisca people long before the arrival of the Spanish, who established their own city there. An important city during the colonial era, it was the seat of the Viceroy of New Granada. After independence, Bogota was the capital of first the Republic of New Granada and then Colombia. The city has occupied a central place in Colombia's long and turbulent history.
São Paulo, Brazil is the largest city in Latin America, edging out runner-up Mexico City by a couple of million inhabitants. It has a long and interesting history, including serving as home base for the infamous Bandeirantes.
This timeline covers the history of Mexico City from ancient times to the 21st century.
From the ancient La Brea Tar Pits to the latest hotels and cultural attractions, read on for a timeline of the incredible history of Los Angeles.
One of the most important cities in South America, Buenos Aires has a long and interesting history. It has lived under the shadow of the secret police on more than one occasion, has been attacked by foreign powers and has the unfortunate distinction of being one of the only cities in history to be bombed by its own navy. It has been home to ruthless dictators, bright-eyed idealists and some of the most important writers and artists in the history of Latin America. The city has seen economic booms that brought in stunning wealth as well as economic meltdowns that have driven the population into poverty.
Rio de Janeiro is the city it is today because of its rich, historical past. This article provides a brief description of the history from the 1500s to now.
As ancient as it is new, Lima has survived apocalyptic earthquakes, warfare and the rise and fall of civilizations. This resilient city has welcomed a rebirth after each destruction. This article gives a brief overview of the history of the city of Lima.
New York City is city and port located at the mouth of the Hudson River, southeastern New York state, northeastern U.S. It is the largest and most influential American metropolis, encompassing Manhattan and Staten islands, the western sections of Long Island, and a small portion of the New York state mainland to the north of Manhattan. This article describes its economy, history and geography in detail.
New York City is in many ways the economic capital of the world. In terms of single metropolitan areas, it is the most influential market in the United States as companies all around the nation and the world have made their headquarters—or major centers of operation—in the city. This article lists the largest industries in New York City below, outlining how the city is in many ways the center of these industries.
This article provides a detailed overview of Colombia's economy, including its biggest industries, agricultural crops and mining resources, with a focus on Bogota.
Rio de Janeiro possesses a robust and highly diversified economy, providing large-scale employment in heavy and light industry, manufacturing, commerce, finance, trade, and other service sectors.
With one of the world’s fastest-growing metropolitan populations, São Paulo is also the largest city of the Southern Hemisphere and one of the largest conurbations in the world. It is a dynamic late bloomer, having been heavily overshadowed by Rio de Janeiro not only during the colonial era but also throughout the 19th century. Only when coffee became Brazil’s vital export crop in the last decades of the 19th century did São Paulo become a major centre of economic activity with concomitant population growth.
The Mexico City region accounts for nearly one-fourth of the gross domestic product of Mexico. More than three-fourths of the district’s income derives from the service sector, and about one-fourth derives from manufacturing. The vast majority of the metropolitan area’s income and employment also derives from services, followed by manufacturing. México state is the economic backbone of the surrounding area, and its economy ranks second only to the Federal District on a national scale.
Los Angeles is one of the most dynamic economies in the world, with a fast-growing and immense high-tech industry, world leading creative economy, tremendous strength in aerospace and advanced transportation, the nation’s largest manufacturing base, the nation’s largest international trade industry, and a rapidly increasing amount of venture capital investment in startups.
The major industries in Buenos Aires are food processing, motor vehicles, consumer durables, textiles, chemicals and petrochemicals, printing, metallurgy, and steel.
Lima is the leading industrial, financial, and retail center in the nation. With nearly 30 percent of the country's population, the city dictates the national economy and accounts for more than two-thirds of the nation's gross domestic product (GDP).
Peru’s economic activity shot up 18.21 percent in March compared to single-figure contractions over the previous two months and a 16.76 percent drop in March last year as its key sectors hit their stride following lengthy lockdowns since the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic hit, the government said.
A list of some of the most popular attractions in Sao Paulo.
Rio de Janeiro has a selection of beautiful art galleries and museums that provide visitors with an opportunity to see and experience the current and historical art forms from all around the world, along with Latin American artists. The annual festivals play a crucial role in understanding Rio’s culture from a more interactive perspective. Carnivals in Rio are world-famous for their colourful display and vigorous dancers.
A list of some of the most popular attractions and activities in New York City.
Mexico City is a place you could get lost in. Whether you’re here for 48 hours or several months – soaking up the vibrant atmosphere of Mexico’s cosmopolitan capital – you’ll never run short of things to do and see.
Whether it’s Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Santa Monica or Malibu, Los Angeles is packed with things to see and do. This list provides a few of examples of the biggest attractions in Los Angeles.
Lima is the capital of Peru, and is located right on the Pacific coast – so there is a remarkable diversity of activities to match the interests of all types of tourists out there, from classic historical buildings to fun wave rides at the beach. It is located between the valleys of Chillón, Rímac, and the Lurín rivers, and has a population of more than 9 million people, which makes it the third-largest city in the Americas!
Low rural incomes, limited landownership, and variable climatic conditions have continued to drive migration in Brazil; in addition, large-scale commercial agriculture in the South and Southeast has limited the number of jobs available to unskilled rural labourers, causing whole families of poor sertanejos (people from the sertão) to flee to frontier areas or cities.
Explore the number of factors behind Rio de Janeiro's growth in recent years.
Mexican migration to the U.S. is in decline. The Pew Hispanic Research Center has found that since 2009, more than one million native-born Mexicans living in the U.S. returned to Mexico. But many other Mexicans never crossed the U.S.-Mexican border in the first place. Why are some Mexican migrants choosing to stay home?
If there’s one thing that’s characterised Buenos Aires right from the beginning it’s immigration. From Europe, the Middle East, the Far East and neighbouring Latin American countries, people have come and found a place in this magnificent melting pot of a city.
In 1869, Buenos Aires was a small city of 178,000 inhabitants. Yet by 1914, it had grown to almost 1.6 million people and become the second largest city on the Atlantic coast (on either side). Much of this growth was fueled by the massive influx of immigrants, mainly from Europe but also from the Middle East and to a lesser extent South and East Asia. All told, from the early 1880s – when a broad wave of emigration from Europe began – and until the early 1930s – when the effects of the Great Depression took their toll on both Argentine immigration and the European outflow of transatlantic emigrants – more than 5.8 million people entered the country.
Colombia has experienced little foreign influence or immigration. During the colonial period, Spain discouraged the admission of non-Spaniards into the colonies. After independence there were few economic attractions for immigrants. Civil wars were another deterrent. The country generally lacked a clear policy on immigration but never favored it on a large scale. Those who entered from abroad came as individuals or in small family units. Immigration laws provided for the admission of persons who did not jeopardize the social order for personal, ethnic, or racial reasons. In 1953 the Institute of Land Settlement and Immigration was set up to direct the colonialization of the underdeveloped regions of the country and was given the power to organize immigration for this purpose. After World War II, Colombia encouraged the immigration of skilled technicians, and in 1958 procedures were specified for the admission of refugees. Little was done, however, to implement these measures.
An official program ran by the state of New York which celebrates the contributions of immigrants and provides a number of resources about immigrating in New York.
An extensive article about the immigration history and policies of New York.
But the pandemic has disproportionately taken the lives and livelihoods of immigrant New Yorkers. Until recently, there’s been little government aid for undocumented workers. The bottom line: The number of foreign-born New Yorkers isn’t growing, as fewer immigrants make their way to the city, government data shows.
A new study released by the Center for the Study of Immigrant Integration at USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences brings fresh insight into the immigrant communities of Los Angeles County. With immigrants making up 35% of the population, a broad and rich understanding of this group is essential to developing policies and laws that support their success.
Between 1849 and 1874, more than 100,000 coolies arrived in Peru as a result of Ley China, which allowed for the importation of an indentured work force of Chinese laborers in order to meet Peruvian need for labor after the slaves were emancipated in 1854. In 1876, the census in Peru registered 49,956 Chinese (slightly underestimated) out of a population of 2,699,160. However, between 1849 and 1876, nearly half of the Chinese brought to Peru, ages 9 to 40, died from exhaustion, suicide, or ill treatment; of the deceased, few were women, given that women made up less than 1% of the Chinese population recorded before 1860. By 1876, nearly 12,000 Chinese were living in Lima, representing 10% of the urban population at the time.
Lima's 2021 population is now estimated at 10,882,757. In 1950, the population of Lima was 1,065,888. Lima has grown by 163,569 since 2015, which represents a 1.53% annual change. These population estimates and projections come from the latest revision of the UN World Urbanization Prospects. These estimates represent the Urban agglomeration of Lima, which typically includes Lima's population in addition to adjacent suburban areas.
Exploring the stark dividing lines between the rich and the poor in American cities. Contains interactive maps to show the difference in household incomes in different parts of New York City.
New York City's shortage of affordable housing has reached a crisis point. The crisis has many causes, starting with the erosion of New Yorkers' purchasing power in the housing marketplace. Wages for the City's renters have stagnated over the last 20 years, increasing by less than 15 percent, after adjusting for inflation. During the same period, the average monthly rent for an apartment in New York City increased by almost 40 percent.
The cost of living in New York City continues to rise year after year. And while the number of luxury high-rises continues to grow, so does the number of homeless residents. There are increasing reports of homelessness and displacement, not just among those out of work, but also among those employed in traditionally stable, full-time jobs.
This page provides an overview of homelessness in New York City. Here you can find the key statistics about New York City’s homeless shelter population and a brief description of some of the main factors causing modern homelessness. You can also download a fact sheet about homelessness in New York City.
A 2019 study found that Manhattanites need to make $115,800 in gross income to be able to afford one-bedroom rents; and a month ago, Manhattan was found to have the country’s most expensive average rent, while Brooklyn made fourth place.
New York City’s rich are getting richer and the poor are getting poorer, according to a report from the city’s Independent Budget Office. Using an annual sample of 770,700 income tax returns, IBO looked at New Yorkers’ annual earnings every year between 2006 and 2014, adjusting for inflation to make the numbers directly comparable. This article looks at the results.
In recent years, the economic growth of Colombia has placed the country among the world’s “emerging economies,” but nearly 34% of the population still live in poor conditions. Colombia is also the world’s seventh most inequitable country, with many of the country's residents living in slums.
Every district in Colombia’s capital is rated 1 to 6 for affluence, and its services subsidised accordingly. But is a laudable idea creating division and stigma?
In developed and developing cities, problems and changes occur in urban areas, such as traffic congestion, industrial decline and a lack of adequate housing. This site describes how this has occurred in Rio de Janeiro.
Mexico City is in many ways a spectacular urban agglomeration. The 21.2-million-person metro is dense, walkable, transit-rich, and genuinely beautiful in the wealthy neighborhoods, with their historic architecture and green space. But look below the surface at how the average Mexican lives, and you’ll find hardship – with much of it tied to the housing situation.
Mexico City is a bustling, enormous, modern city, one of the largest in the world. Triple-decker highways and gigantic tunnels bore through the mountainous terrain. Mexico is also one of the most unequal countries in the world. The wealthiest 1% of the population earns 21% of the nation’s total income, a percentage higher than any other country in the world. Significantly, much of that wealth is concentrated in just a few multimillionaires (at one point, the world’s wealthiest man was a Mexican). By some measures, the top 4 richest men in Mexico concentrate 9% of the wealth, a staggering amount in a country this large.
You do not have to walk far in Los Angeles to see people sleeping rough. Many spend their nights in temporary shelters, or other places not meant for human habitation - on the street, in an abandoned building, or a transport hub. The number of homeless people in Los Angeles has grown by 33% over the past four years. Every night, nearly 60,000 Los Angeles County residents are homeless, the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority has found.
Shocking new images from Los Angeles show the city’s descent into a rubbish-choked, rat-infested homeless camp with human faeces on the streets and feared outbreaks of disease.
Sao Paulo is, by far, Brazil and Latin America’s largest city. The urban population is about 12 million, not including the metropolitan region right outside of Sao Paulo that accounts for about 20 million people. Despite the fact that the city’s commerce accounts for more than 12 percent of Brazil’s total GDP, close to a third of Sao Paulo’s 12 million people live in slum-like conditions. The combinations of favelas and irregular land subdivisions are glaring symbols of Sao Paulo’s lingering poverty and tremendous inequality; however, while the conditions of Sao Paulo have worsened over the years, there have been some signs of structural improvement.
In Peru it is estimated that up to 80 per cent of the country’s population could be living in urban areas by 2030. With half of Peru’s economic activity based in the capital, Lima, it will put enormous pressure on the city’s already floundering services. Many of the country’s poor come to Lima in search of work. As the city cannot accommodate the numbers, many migrants end up building their own homes in run-down areas on the outskirts of the city. Most of them lack basic services like running water and sewage.
If you didn’t have an opportunity to purchase a safe, well-constructed home in a good location, what would you do? Live with relatives? Rent an apartment? Or, build a home in a less desirable, or potentially vulnerable area prone to natural disasters where you may not have clear property ownership but with the hope that one day you will become the owner officially? These are the decisions many families face in Peru, a middle income country with the third highest housing deficit in Latin America.
Lima has right now an estimated population of over 9 million inhabitants and not all have adequate housing. The clear difference between the available housing and the market demand shows an impressive housing deficit in the capital.
Aerial view of New York City
Source: National Geographic (2021)
An aerial view of midday traffic on the intersecting on/off ramps of Santa Monica Freeway and Harbor Freeway near downtown Los Angeles
Source: National Geographic (2021)
This site contains information on water supply for New York City, including a list of catchment areas and a history of water supply in the city.
This site provides a brief overview of where Rio de Janeiro gets it water supply from, and how that water is used in the city.
This site provides a brief overview of where Bogota gets it water supply from, and how that water is used in the city.
Mexico City is the world's third largest city, with an estimated population of about 18 million (Ezcurra and Maziri-Hiriat 1996). Increasing population -- the annual growth rate is about 2 percent -- coupled with the accelerating socially-derived problems, such as potable water supplies, waste water removal, and garbage disposal, mean that there are going to be severe challenges to the community in the near future.
Each drop of water that passes through the Mexican capital tells a heroic, tragic, unfinished story of urban growth and human development. Over the course of a week, the Guardian follows this complex, costly trail
More people live in the sunbaked cities of Los Angeles County than the local water supply can support. Millions more. What’s a parched metropolis that’s long ago outgrown its groundwater canteens to do? Using elaborate systems of concrete-lined straws and pumps, LA slurps meltwater from the Sierras and flowing H2O from rivers hundreds of miles away.
In 2014, São Paulo nearly ran out of water amid the region’s worst drought in recorded history. At the height of the crisis, the main reservoir for the city of 20 million dipped to 3 percent capacity and the city had less than 20 days’ water supply. Ultimately, extreme water restrictions, short-term technical fixes, and a little rainfall saved the city from a water catastrophe.
Lima, Peru, is at high risk for water shortages. With a population of 10 million, the world’s second-largest desert city receives a paltry 0.3 inches of rain each year, and relies on just three rivers to provide drinking water to residents.
