I decided to create this thread due to a game I'm recently playing on the PS3. There are some major cities that are off the mainland of their respective countries but show vibrancy.

Here are some examples.

Honolulu, Hawaii (USA) (909,000)

http://www.hawaiimagazine.com/images/content/AAA_wrong_Honolulu_visitor_costs/Honolulu1.jpg

Naha, Okinawa (Japan) (317,000)

http://worldsbestbeachtowns.com/beachtown-images/Naha_downtown.jpg

any more?

Not major on the world platform but they are major cities for their region

Belfast UK
Hobart Australia

Cagliari (Italy)
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/11/Cagliari_Cupole.jpg/800px-Cagliari_Cupole.jpg

Palma de Mallorca(Spain)

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/94/Palma_de_Mallorca.jpg

Santa Cruz de Tenerife(Spain)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Santa_Cruz_de_Tenerife_(1).jpg

Funchal(Portugal)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Penha_de_Fran%C3%A7a_-_Funchal.jpg

Horbat(Australia)

http://media-2.web.britannica.com/eb-media/84/94784-050-B6576039.jpg

Not major on the world platform but they are major cities for their region

Belfast UK
Hobart Australia

This is definitely the same with Naha and Honolulu as being centres of their region but not on the global scale.

Belfast does count since it is not part of the mainland in The UK but still lies on the mainland of Ireland (the island).

Cagliari (Italy)
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/11/Cagliari_Cupole.jpg/800px-Cagliari_Cupole.jpg

Nyc isn't Manhattan an island??

http://www.ronsaari.com/stockImages/nyc/midtownManhattan2.jpg

With Japan, what do you define as "the mainland"? One could name cities like Fukuoka/Kitakyshu, Sapporo or Takamatsu as well. :)

^^ :laugh:

Does Jakarta and Manila count (assuming we are talking about cities that are not located on the main continent)? :dunno:

Does Jakarta and Manila count (assuming we are talking about cities that are not located on the main continent)? :dunno:

Like I said, the mainland of their respected countries.

With Japan, what do you define as "the mainland"? One could name cities like Fukuoka/Kitakyshu, Sapporo or Takamatsu as well. :)

As with Japan, from Hokkaido to Kyushu is considered mainland.

Okinawa on the other hand is still quite a distance from the main islands of Japan.

As with Japan, from Hokkaido to Kyushu is considered mainland.

Okinawa on the other hand is still quite a distance from the main islands of Japan.

In which case, shouldn't Northern Ireland be included with the rest of the UK given the short geographical distance between them if the whole of Japan is lumped together?

Sorry for nit-picking I'm just interested to hear the justification.

I've always been fascinated by Gulangyu Island, an island off the coast from Xiamen, China.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ludongping/4425013152/

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3513/4064131578_1034c3f6fa_b.jpg

In which case, shouldn't Northern Ireland be included with the rest of the UK given the short geographical distance between them if the whole of Japan is lumped together?

Sorry for nit-picking I'm just interested to hear the justification.

That one is debatable.

What about New Zealand, they have no mainland. Maybe put in in as Australia LOL

Also

Copenhagen, Denmark.
Rhodes Town, Greece,
Iraklion, Greece
Catania, Italy
Palermo, Italy
Hong Kong, China

I love the cities around the rivers. Because I think that it's really beautiful.And I can't use word to describe how beautiful they are. When I have choice,will I choose to live around or near the river. That's really very great ,from my point of view. What's your opinion?
Copenhagen, Denmark.
Rhodes Town, Greece,
Iraklion, Greece
Catania, Italy
Palermo, Italy
Hong Kong, China

I have been to Hong Kong, China. But it's too modern for me to live.

noone mentioned singapore yet?

Well, at the end of they day we come across many cities separated from their countries "mainland" by tiny straits or even rivers, connected with bridges and so. I was thinking the OP referred to cities pushed far away from the continent. Hawaii islands would qualify for sure, Tasmania would be a semi-doubtful case, and islands like Sicily, Manhattan would be considered just extensions of continental mass.

St. John's probably does not count as being a "major city" since it only has about 192,326 people but it is the capital of Newfoundland.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c0/St._John%27s_Newfoundland.jpg/800px-St._John%27s_Newfoundland.jpg

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/0/04/Water_street_st._john%27s2.jpg/800px-Water_street_st._john%27s2.jpg

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/ad/StJohns_Newfoundland.jpg/800px-StJohns_Newfoundland.jpg

Likewise the capital of British Columbia, Victoria is also not located on the mainland (however it only has 330,000 living in the metro area).

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7a/The_Postcard_View_--_Victoria%2C_British_Columbia.jpg/800px-The_Postcard_View_--_Victoria%2C_British_Columbia.jpg

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e5/Victoriaskyline.jpg/800px-Victoriaskyline.jpg

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b6/2009-0606-VictoriaFishermansWharf.jpg/800px-2009-0606-VictoriaFishermansWharf.jpg

noone mentioned singapore yet?

Fyi....Singapore city is on Singapore island which is the mainland of the country Singapore.:lol:

Malabo, Equatorial Guinea. It is the capital and is on the island of Fernando Pó/Bikoio, which is quite far from the mainland.
Population of 155 000 which according to wikipedia is more people than the island (124 000) :lol:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/95/Malabo_a_13-oct-01.jpg/800px-Malabo_a_13-oct-01.jpg

Location of Fernado Pó:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/61/Equatorial_Guinea_location_map.svg/629px-Equatorial_Guinea_location_map.svg.png

Doesn't London count? Its off the mainland (Europe)

Fyi....Singapore city is on Singapore island which is the mainland of the country Singapore.:lol:

yeah i know, i was there last summer x)

Doesn't London count? Its off the mainland (Europe)

Mailand of the country and not of the continent!

Copenhagen cannot be included.

What about Zanzibar???:):):)

noone mentioned singapore yet?

Singapore is it's own state, which is probably why. HK would have also fallen under the same rule if it wasn't passed over in 1997.

Singapore is it's own state, which is probably why. HK would have also fallen under the same rule if it wasn't passed over in 1997.

To some extent yes.

Its like feeling British culture and infrastructure even if you are not in The UK.

I think the largest in the US, outside of Hawaii, are Key West FL and Sitka AK.

I think the largest in the US, outside of Hawaii, are Key West FL and Sitka AK.

What about San Juan, PR?

Haikou on Hainan, China. 1.8m in the prefecture.

Ushuaia (population:63,280) in Argentina is often refered to as the southernmost city in the world and is located on Isla Grande de Tierra del Fuego just south of the mainland.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/37/Usuhaia.jpg

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a6/Gobernaci%C3%B3n_Provincia_de_Tierra_del_Fuego_Ant%C3%A1rtida_e_Isla_del_Atl%C3%A1ntico_Sur.jpg/800px-Gobernaci%C3%B3n_Provincia_de_Tierra_del_Fuego_Ant%C3%A1rtida_e_Isla_del_Atl%C3%A1ntico_Sur.jpg

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1d/Ushuaia_port.JPG/800px-Ushuaia_port.JPG

St Helier, Jersey (UK)?

Mailand of the country and not of the continent!

Copenhagen cannot be included.

What about Zanzibar???:):):)

It's not mainland Tanzania, so of course it counts.

Mailand of the country and not of the continent!

Copenhagen cannot be included.

What about Zanzibar???:):):)

Copenhagen can be included, it is on the island of Zealand which lies off the coast of main continental Europe.

Copenhagen can be included, it is on the island of Zealand which lies off the coast of main continental Europe.Not really. "Mainland" in Denmark is Zealand, Funen and Jutland (With smaller islands connected to these by bridges). The parts of Denmark that are not "Mainland" include Greenland, the Faeroe Islands, Bornholm, Anholt, Samsø and a few other smaller islands.

Not really. "Mainland" in Denmark is Zealand, Funen and Jutland (With smaller islands connected to these by bridges). The parts of Denmark that are not "Mainland" include Greenland, the Faeroe Islands, Bornholm, Anholt, Samsø and a few other smaller islands.

I find it hard to define Mainland for Danmark, while most of the population lives on Zealand, Jutland is larger and is continental.
But if Copenhagen doesn't count, Aarhus and Odense should be mentioned.

Key West is another place in the US, although it's much, much smaller in population than many places already mentioned.

Nyc isn't Manhattan an island??

http://www.ronsaari.com/stockImages/nyc/midtownManhattan2.jpg

Not only Manhattan but all of NYC with the exception of the Bronx. :cheers:

Everyone knows the big ones (Manhattan, Long Island, Staten Island) but NYC is said to have around 40 smaller islands in it's city limits...

Not really a major city, but with about 100.000 inhabitants I think Funchal can be mentioned here. Located on the island of Madeira, about 1.000 km off mainland Portugal.

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_93oOqJ1bHF0/S4ECBotkQ-I/AAAAAAAAAUM/jTHuWlnJQFc/s640/_funchal-madeira-portugal800.jpg

India doesn't have many except Mumbai on Salsette Island (18 million) and Port Blair which is not really major on South Andaman Island (150,000)

I think the largest in the US, outside of Hawaii, are Key West FL and Sitka AK.

Kodiak, Alaska is much larger than Sitka and is also located on an island.

Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island only has about 58,000 people but it is also a provincial capital.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f4/Charlottetown_skyline_2010.jpg/800px-Charlottetown_skyline_2010.jpg

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2e/Charlottetown_PEI_05.jpg/800px-Charlottetown_PEI_05.jpg

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/36/Day256icharlottetownb.JPG/800px-Day256icharlottetownb.JPG

Porlamar is located on Isla Margarita in Venezuela has about 100,000 people living there, and is also a huge tourist destination.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fb/PORLAMAR_04.jpg/800px-PORLAMAR_04.jpg

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b8/Porlamar.JPG/800px-Porlamar.JPG

Properly speaking, all Japanese cities are "off the mainland" ...

Anchorage, Alaska (291,826 / 374,553 metro)
http://pixdaus.com/pics/120780621761KJdgz.jpg
http://pixdaus.com/single.php?id=37695

Ponta Delgada, Portugal. It's not major outside of the Azores but it is 1,550 km (930mi) from Lisbon.

Could not find a great pic.:ohno:

The largest urban area of France outside the mainland.
Pointe-à-Pitre, Guadeloupe : 177,113 inhabitants

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d107/Vincentthomas/Album%203/grandeterrepointeaoitreportagrand.jpg
http://guadeloupedecouverte.pagesperso-orange.fr/html/GRANDE-TERRE.htm

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d107/Vincentthomas/Album%203/pointe-a-pitre.jpg
http://balawou.blogspot.com/2010/08/pointe-pitre.html

Anchorage, Alaska (291,826 / 374,553 metro)
http://pixdaus.com/pics/120780621761KJdgz.jpg
http://pixdaus.com/single.php?id=37695

Anchorage is located on the mainland and is connected to the rest of the US/Canada via the Alaska Highway.

Palermo, Italy - about 700,000
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ed/Palermo02_flickr.jpg/800px-Palermo02_flickr.jpg

Porlamar is located on Isla Margarita in Venezuela has about 100,000 people living there, and is also a huge tourist destination.


Yes! :D ...some other pics of Porlamar, Venezuela:

http://www.actionpicture.de/ARCHIV/SouthAmerAir/Venezuela-Air/Bilder/VZ-PorlamarAir001.jpg

http://www.tiwy.com/pais/venezuela/fotos_2003/isla_de_margarita/bahia_de_guaraguao_l.jpg

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f220/lostswedish/hiltoncassino.jpg

http://i195.photobucket.com/albums/z3/cosmicic5/concorde/DSC09717.jpg

http://i179.photobucket.com/albums/w294/margaglu/Margarita/Porlamar/DSCF1667.jpg

http://img524.imageshack.us/img524/6332/parqueelaguaka7.png

http://img148.imageshack.us/img148/2689/s3010060bq6.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3462/3955819458_1739bc0a44_o.jpg

http://commondatastorage.googleapis.com/static.panoramio.com/photos/original/3413686.jpg

http://mw2.google.com/mw-panoramio/photos/medium/16165947.jpg

http://c.photoshelter.com/img-get/I0000L3bhKwr2TIg/s/600/051023RL001.jpg

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash1/hs454.ash1/24974_1391795391035_1116653019_31219193_7431952_n.jpg

http://img695.imageshack.us/img695/5646/dibujokgrv.png

http://images02.olx.com.ve/ui/13/79/67/1299957926_176777267_3-SE-VENDE-TERRENO-54755-m2-MORROS-DE-PORLAMAR-MARGARITA-Porlamar.jpg

http://i52.************/59tpwl.jpg

http://i52.************/2quup9s.jpg

http://i51.************/2gwe1wm.jpg

^^ I should have posted those pics instead. :okay:

Anchorage is located on the mainland and is connected to the rest of the US/Canada via the Alaska Highway.

It doesn't have a contiguous border with the US mainland.

London is surely the best example outside EU mainland ! :D

Does Dublin count? Population around 1.6 million

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3035/3058829106_1c18975205_b.jpg

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1214/4597149238_20bc3b39c7_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3082/2414851108_4bd7f1ecb2_b.jpg

I think what the OP meant is abundantly clear. He meant cities that are geographically not contigious with the mainland of their respective countries. Dublin is not one because it is contigious with the rest of it's country, the Republic of Ireland. Belfast is one because it is not contigous with the mainland of its country, the UK.

Japan has a main Island, the main Islands that make up the vast majority of the area are probably Japan 'proper' and Okinawa is seperate and geographically removed from the 'mainland/s' of Japan.

I think there are few that are not major cities like Port Stanley, Hagatna, Reunion, Funchal, Hobart, the cities on Hainan Island and there is a large city on an Island some way off South Korea as well.

Honolulu is perhaps the best example so the thread was over as soon as it began really!

I think what the OP meant is abundantly clear. He meant cities that are geographically not contigious with the mainland of their respective countries. Dublin is not one because it is contigious with the rest of it's country, the Republic of Ireland. Belfast is one because it is not contigous with the mainland of its country, the UK.

Japan has a main Island, the main Islands that make up the vast majority of the area are probably Japan 'proper' and Okinawa is seperate and geographically removed from the 'mainland/s' of Japan.

I think there are few that are not major cities like Port Stanley, Hagatna, Reunion, Funchal, Hobart, the cities on Hainan Island and there is a large city on an Island some way off South Korea as well.

Honolulu is perhaps the best example so the thread was over as soon as it began really!

What about Kaliningrad, Russia? completely cut off from mainland mother Russia. Population over 400,000 also.

Belfast is one because it is not contigous with the mainland of its country, the UK.

Japan has a main Island, the main Islands that make up the vast majority of the area are probably Japan 'proper' and Okinawa is seperate and geographically removed from the 'mainland/s' of Japan.

This is where I had the issue with the definition of "main island". Given that Honshu contains 103 million of 127 million people that make up Japan one has to view the other islands as peripheral. Therefore, Hokkaido, Shikoku and Kyushu should be counted separately especially if you consider Northern Ireland as separate.

Kaliningrad is also a great example.

I think in assessing the Belfast thing has to be seen in light of the fact there has been, until recently, a war about the independence of that part of the UK. That is why there is no way it can be counted as a normal part of the UK but just geographically removed.

Japan has, as far as I know not had an independence movement for any of the smaller Islands, so it is easier, like New Zealand, to see it as a contigious nation in an archipeligo.

Kaliningrad is also a great example.

I think in assessing the Belfast thing has to be seen in light of the fact there has been, until recently, a war about the independence of that part of the UK. That is why there is no way it can be counted as a normal part of the UK but just geographically removed.

Japan has, as far as I know not had an independence movement for any of the smaller Islands, so it is easier, like New Zealand, to see it as a contigious nation in an archipeligo.

This isn't really the case in NZ where the North (113,729 km²) and South (151,215 km²)Islands are remarkably similar in size, though the population is unevenly distributed between the two with the North Island having 75% of the population of NZ.

Honshu (227,962 km²), however, is markedly larger than Kyushu (35,640 km²), Hokkaido (83,453.57 km²) and Shikoku (18,800 km²) and possesses 81% of Japan's population with the rest divided between Hokkaido (4.33%), Kyushu (10.41%), Shikoku (3.26%) and Okinawa (1.08%).

Thus you see, Honshu is clearly the mainland compared to the other islands, so to count the other islands as part of the "mainland" still seems odd and arbitrary to me.

Also, despite separation by other nation states, Kaliningrad is still part of the same land mass as the rest of Russia.

The big four islands of Japan are all linked by bridges/tunnels so I might be tempted to classify it all as the 'mainland' with Okinawa, Sado etc being 'not mainland' :dunno:

Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk would be one for Russia.

^^ Bridges and tunnels are man-made links though. Does that mean that the UK is technically part of the same land mass as France because of the channel tunnel? Things get really complicated if one counts man-made links.

This isn't really the case in NZ where the North (113,729 km²) and South (151,215 km²)Islands are remarkably similar in size, though the population is unevenly distributed between the two with the North Island having 75% of the population of NZ.

Honshu (227,962 km²), however, is markedly larger than Kyushu (35,640 km²), Hokkaido (83,453.57 km²) and Shikoku (18,800 km²) and possesses 81% of Japan's population with the rest divided between Hokkaido (4.33%), Kyushu (10.41%), Shikoku (3.26%) and Okinawa (1.08%).

Thus you see, Honshu is clearly the mainland compared to the other islands, so to count the other islands as part of the "mainland" still seems odd and arbitrary to me.

Also, despite separation by other nation states, Kaliningrad is still part of the same land mass as the rest of Russia.

So is Poland in Russia? Specious and stupid logic. I am out of here. You lot are all together too pedantic for my liking.

Outside London and Dublin, there is Copenhagen that is outside European Union mainland. The most famous city though is probably the queen of adriatic, Venice ! :)

Juneau, Alaska (population: 30,988) is the state capital of Alaska and while still being located on the mainland it still has no road or rail link to the outside although there are plans to build one.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ef/Juneau_AK_-_street_scenery.jpg/800px-Juneau_AK_-_street_scenery.jpg

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/21/Juneau_in_the_winter.jpg/454px-Juneau_in_the_winter.jpg

So is Poland in Russia? Specious and stupid logic. I am out of here. You lot are all together too pedantic for my liking.

Nice, part with an insult instead of having a civilised discussion. Very mature.

I didn't say that Poland was in Russia, but I did state that Kaliningrad is part of the same land mass and only separated by nation states rather than by a body of water (hence the definition of mainland vs island). If you have another justification that voice it rather than going off in a hissy-fit.

I am not insulting you I am insulting your logic. Kaliningrad is quite obviously off the mainland of Russia. There is a country in between the two, so it is not contigious with the rest of Russia, no part of Kaliningrad is touching another part of Russia ergo it is separate. To argue is otherwise is to analyse things to their millionth degree and pedantic. The OP made a very simple and straightforward proposition for a thread and as usual it has been picked apart and the fun sucked out of it by pedants.

I am not insulting you I am insulting your logic. Kaliningrad is quite obviously off the mainland of Russia. There is a country in between the two, so it is not contigious with the rest of Russia, no part of Kaliningrad is touching another part of Russia ergo it is separate. To argue is otherwise is to analyse things to their millionth degree and pedantic. The OP made a very simple and straightforward proposition for a thread and as usual it has been picked apart and the fun sucked out of it by pedants.

So I'm being a little pedantic, sue me. Also, you will get people like myself who require further clarification when so few definitions have been given in a game - it's why games tend to come with a rule book. So sorry to offend your sensibilities by asking for clarification and justification for exclusion criteria.

Your point about Kaliningrad is quite apt given that you and I have different definitions of mainland and whether separation by water or separation by another nation state counts. Anyway, rather than arguing with me why not simply find some better examples to showcase, hm?

Its a bloody suggested thread for a website and not the Final of Wimbledon!

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2211/2273921875_0ba0c24eab_b.jpg
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4014/4464143505_7ed6898fdb_b.jpg

Portsmouth is located entirely on Portsea Island, located in the county of Hampshire, therefore not connected to Mainland UK.
http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/jj130/regabc123/Pair2.png

http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/jj130/regabc123/Pair6.png

http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/jj130/regabc123/Pair.png

Funchal, Portgual (Madiera)
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3067/2976305650_05d5b75752_b.jpg
Gibraltar, United Kingdom (Gibraltar Peninsula, Southern Spain)
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3269/3022510725_856ff6845d_b.jpg
Palermo, Italy (Sicily)
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/185/370918646_4c3fc844a7_b.jpg
Copenhagen, Denmark (Vestjaelland)
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4144/5192014263_05998a9139_b.jpg

Copenhagen IS located on the mainland of Denmark >_<
"Mainland Denmark" is not the same as "Mainland Europe".

And to Karl1587, It's NOT located on Vestsjælland!

i somehow think that there should be a criteria for this. for instance manhattan is off the mainland but is the distance even that relevant? i mean, to even iclude it here? i personally think that cities like honolulu (hawaii), male (maldives), agana (guam), reykjavik (iceland) are some of the "more" appropriate examples! while london, tokyo, havana are not because of the relative size of the islands in which they are located!
reykjavik should be a special case considering iceland's location and distance to the nearest continent!

i somehow think that there should be a criteria for this. for instance manhattan is off the mainland but is the distance even that relevant? i mean, to even iclude it here? i personally think that cities like honolulu (hawaii), male (maldives), agana (guam), reykjavik (iceland) are some of the "more" appropriate examples! while london, tokyo, havana are not because of the relative size of the islands in which they are located!
reykjavik should be a special case considering iceland's location and distance to the nearest continent!
I think that the general consensus in this country (Denmark) is that everything bridged to Sealand, Funen and Jutland are "Mainland", while islands/territories only accessible by boat or plane are off the mainland.

i always thought that the "Mainland" was the largest geographical land that forms the majority of the country.. and ANY islands or smaller areas of land not directly connected to the LARGER mainland therefore qualified as being not the mainland

Thats the way i've been tought, and that makes more sense... If u say any piece of land thats bridged to another makes it part of the mainland then thats just silly... When they bridged Mainland Scotland with the Isle of Skye... Skye was still an island, and was still NOT the mainland...

http://www.interopp.org/img_srmap/sr_da_1999.jpg

As this map clearly shows, Copenhagen is NOT a part of the Mailand (Jutland) but lies on an island between the Mainland and Sweden! this is quite obviously NOT the mainland and therefore qualifies in this post... Its not rocket science ppl

And i apologise for my mistake... the island Copenhagen occupies is called "Sjaelland" =( whoops.

i always thought that the "Mainland" was the largest geographical land that forms the majority of the country.. and ANY islands or smaller areas of land not directly connected to the LARGER mainland therefore qualified as being not the mainland

Thats the way i've been tought, and that makes more sense... If u say any piece of land thats bridged to another makes it part of the mainland then thats just silly... When they bridged Mainland Scotland with the Isle of Skye... Skye was still an island, and was still NOT the mainland...

(map of Denmark)

As this map clearly shows, Copenhagen is NOT a part of the Mailand (Jutland) but lies on an island between the Mainland and Sweden! this is quite obviously NOT the mainland and therefore qualifies in this post... Its not rocket science ppl

And i apologise for my mistake... the island Copenhagen occupies is called "Sjaelland" =( whoops.Well, the Danish definition includes Jutland, Funen, Sealand and all islands connected.

If you were to call any one of these landmasses as the "mainland", it would certainly not be the Jutlandic Peninsula, seeing as there are more people living on Sealand and all the government institutions are also located east of the Great Belt.

By your definition, Mainland Denmark should be Greenland and not the Jutlandic Peninsula....

i always thought that the "Mainland" was the largest geographical land that forms the majority of the country.. and ANY islands or smaller areas of land not directly connected to the LARGER mainland therefore qualified as being not the mainland

Thats the way i've been tought, and that makes more sense... If u say any piece of land thats bridged to another makes it part of the mainland then thats just silly... When they bridged Mainland Scotland with the Isle of Skye... Skye was still an island, and was still NOT the mainland...

http://www.interopp.org/img_srmap/sr_da_1999.jpg

As this map clearly shows, Copenhagen is NOT a part of the Mailand (Jutland) but lies on an island between the Mainland and Sweden! this is quite obviously NOT the mainland and therefore qualifies in this post... Its not rocket science ppl

And i apologise for my mistake... the island Copenhagen occupies is called "Sjaelland" =( whoops.

technically speaking, copenhagen is off the mainland!
but what i meant, is, for the benefit of this thread, there should be some criteria, to give way to cities that would be of more interest to this thread, coz' if not, this will turn out to be another thread for NY, London, Tokyo, which is kind of redundant! don't you think?:)

I guess the extent of how major Montreal (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montreal) be be the question nowadays...

Japan has, as far as I know not had an independence movement for any of the smaller Islands, so it is easier, like New Zealand, to see it as a contigious nation in an archipeligo.

Disagree, while its not as strong as say Quebec's movements or Northern Ireland, Okinawa still maintains political parties such as the Kariyushi party, which support a pro-independence position. Given the historical and cultural differences (Okinawa was formerly the Ryukyu Kingdom before annexation) combined with growing resentment over Tokyo's inability to remove the bases and economic policies which have failed to move Okinawa away from its status as the poorest prefecture of Japan with the highest unemployment.. many locals are very disgruntled. There's also an ongoing Okinawan renaissance movement in which people are growing new interest in relearning the Okinawan language. The difference with Okinawans and say Quebecois and Northern Irish is that the Okinawans are a passive people unwilling to act on their feelings.

There is some criteria though... the thread states at the begining its about Cities that are not connected to the mainland of their respective countries places like Tokyo are on the mainland because Honshu is considered to be the MAIN ISLAND...

this one is in the mainland of the country where it belongs, but i think this should belong in this thread.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2447/3730601627_ce5fd2d8d3.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/40427205@N07/3730601627/)
Male, Maldives (http://www.flickr.com/photos/40427205@N07/3730601627/) by LMGM: Liz Murphy Global Media (http://www.flickr.com/people/40427205@N07/), on Flickr

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4103/4837629614_aa51bd00fd.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43106541@N02/4837629614/)
Male, Maldives (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43106541@N02/4837629614/) by Sidkochar (http://www.flickr.com/people/43106541@N02/), on Flickr

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3439/3892069474_df575c41df.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/neesham/3892069474/)
Male' - 05 Sept afternoon (3) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/neesham/3892069474/) by Neesham (http://www.flickr.com/people/neesham/), on Flickr

this one looks mad

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2372/2429271598_8fb215bf6a.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/michaelpratt/2429271598/)
Male, Maldives (http://www.flickr.com/photos/michaelpratt/2429271598/) by michaelpratt (http://www.flickr.com/people/michaelpratt/), on Flickr

^^ I wouldn't recommend anyone to go there, actually not so interesting once you are there.

Malé, Capital of The Maldives... what would you class as the main island of the Maldives? lol, i'd say Malé would be the mainland too =) its crazy how it just fills up the entire island!

http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g186/mwafrika/skyline3.jpg

http://www.interfreight2000.com/kenya/images/aerial_view_msa.jpg

^^^ i'm going here next thursday!! :)

Malé, Capital of The Maldives... what would you class as the main island of the Maldives? lol, i'd say Malé would be the mainland too =) its crazy how it just fills up the entire island!

i know right?!!:lol: it's the mainland of maldives but it just fits in than most other cities which are supposed to be "technically" more appropriate!:lol:

^^^ i'm going here next thursday!! :)

how is Mombasa a major city off the mainland? its got a bridge that connects it to the rest of the country. Its as off from the "mainland" as Manhattan

how is Mombasa a major city off the mainland? its got a bridge that connects it to the rest of the country. Its as off from the "mainland" as Manhattan

i get your point actually... Mombassa's outlying boroughs are on the mainland, just the main centre of the city is on the island.. hmmmm i made a mistake! I just saw a city on an island and decided to post it lol

.:: HOBART, TASMANIA // AUSTRALIA ::.http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8375/8516201115_6b59a38321_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ozehols/8516201115/)
Tas; Hobart; City Skyline; (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ozehols/8516201115/) by ozehols (http://www.flickr.com/people/ozehols/), on Flickr

Hobart isn't really a major city. The only 'major' cities to Australians are "The Big Five" (Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide". The rest are just cities/towns.

Nyc isn't Manhattan an island??


By that definition, Montreal would qualify as well. It's on an island in the St. Lawrence River.

http://static.flickr.com/87/277945660_a5e0a877dd_o.jpg

NYC doesnt really count. The whole point of this thread is about cities that are more cut off than normal from the mainland, and islanded far away, not ones merely separated by rivers or narrow straits (like Sicily, Kyushu).

What's getting everyone posting stuff is that the fact remains there aren't any real big examples of large vibrant cities islanded far away from their countries respective mainland. I think it should be regardless as to whether the island is the more densely populated from the mainland - but with common sense, especially with regards to nations made up of archipelagos - otherwise Jakarta, 'islanded' on Java (population 140 million) could count. It doesnt smack of a place far removed from the central mainland of a country's landmass.


Eg Malabo a good example:

http://www.turkey-visit.com/map/equatorial-guinea/equatorial_guinea_map.jpg

Copenhagen/ Kobenhavn

http://europa.eu/about-eu/countries/images/denmark_map.gif

I think so far we have, in terms of cities (not towns) far enough removed from the mainland (despite tunnels etc):

In order of population


Haikou, China 2 million

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/aa/Haikou_skyline_4_-_2009_09_07.jpg/800px-Haikou_skyline_4_-_2009_09_07.jpg

Sapporo, Japan 1.9 million

http://www.sapporo-tourguides.com/wp-content/uploads/%E5%A4%A7%E9%80%9A%E3%82%8A%E9%9B%AA%E7%A5%AD%E3%82%8A.jpg


Copenhagen, Denmark 1.2 million (1.9 million metro)

http://i44.************/2nh1dag.png


And that's it folks. The only 3 cities in the world islanded far enough from their respective country mainlands.

Not so major, but nice:

Key West, Florida
http://www.roritravel.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/KeyWestAerial1.jpg
http://www.roritravel.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/KeyWestAerial1.jpg

Avalon, CA
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/1b/Lightmatter_Avalon_Bay.jpg
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/1b/Lightmatter_Avalon_Bay.jpg

Since there are only a few major cities that fits into the description, I will contribute with some smaller cities:

http://img685.imageshack.us/img685/2846/jejuislandiscoveredbyse.jpg

Jeju City, South Korea
Pop. 410,000

Located in an isolated island 150 km south-west of mainland. Seoul-Jeju City currently holds the title of busiest passenger air route in the world. Jeju island have its own dialect, very distinct from the one spoken in mainland.

http://img837.imageshack.us/img837/3301/heraklionharbour.jpg

Heraklion, Greece
Pop. 180,000

Located in island of Crete and fourth largest city in Greece.

Not major on the world platform but they are major cities for their region

Belfast UK
Hobart Australia

I don't know if I would include Belfast as it is a complex thing, different from Honolulu, the island was not annexed as a whole (not in the long run at least) but most of the Island is a country in its own right nowadays and Belfast, national borders or not, is strongly linked to the rest of the Island. Which creates a sort of bidirectional orientation, one towards London, the other southwards on the same Island.

NYC doesnt really count. The whole point of this thread is about cities that are more cut off than normal from the mainland, and islanded far away, not ones merely separated by rivers or narrow straits (like Sicily, Kyushu).

What's getting everyone posting stuff is that the fact remains there aren't any real big examples of large vibrant cities islanded far away from their countries respective mainland. I think it should be regardless as to whether the island is the more densely populated from the mainland - but with common sense, especially with regards to nations made up of archipelagos - otherwise Jakarta, 'islanded' on Java (population 140 million) could count. It doesnt smack of a place far removed from the central mainland of a country's landmass.


Eg Malabo a good example:

http://www.turkey-visit.com/map/equatorial-guinea/equatorial_guinea_map.jpg

Copenhagen/ Kobenhavn

http://europa.eu/about-eu/countries/images/denmark_map.gif

I think Malabo is a good example. But I think your city-compilation of Sapporo, Haikou and Copenhagen fail to live up to your own definition. The Tsugaru and Qioungzhou Straits as well as the Great Belt are not much more than 20 km wide - all bridged or tunnelled as far as I know. Auckland might fit the description better.

Kuala Lumpur might be the only city to live up to the definition of being (far) off the mainland of their respective countries, considering East Malaysia is larger than West Malaysia - and IF you disregard population density. But of course it is not islanded, but I don't know why this should be a condition. Copenhagen could also be considered because Greenland constitutes a far off bulk of Danish land area. Though Greenland certainly feels even less like mainland than the Jutland peninsula.

I think 20km away on an island is enough, but hey, that's just me (Hainan is actually more like 30km away). It's still an island, enough to warrant being an island (as opposed to one separated by a river or strait 3km wide) imo.

http://www.tourroundchina.com/map/hainan/hainan.gif

http://www.rootsweb.com/~chnwgw/images/schina.gif

http://www.liveinchina.net/images/stories/users/63/46860615baloon01.jpg


AS for Copenhagen, it may be connected up by a series of islands (archipelago) but it's still 180km distant from the mainland.

Anyhoo, get rid of these dividing lines and youre left with one city in the world - Sapporo. The rest are provincial towns normal for an island province / state.

http://www.ebizguides.com/guides/equatorial-guinea/files/assets/basic-html/page115_images/0001.jpg

http://www.ebizguides.com/guides/equatorial-guinea/files/assets/basic-html/page65_images/0001.jpg

Okay, I assume that mainland for "archipelagic" country like Indonesia is the island where most population of the country live in, no matter how big the area is. So, it's definitely Java Island, where more than 50% of total Indonesia's population settle.

Makassar, provincial capital of South Sulawesi.
Distance : 1,413 km away from Jakarta
Small village from the east

http://i1212.photobucket.com/albums/cc444/hazeimi/_DSC6596_zps8a8d292a.jpg
http://i1212.photobucket.com/albums/cc444/hazeimi/_DSC6214_zpscab70ec9.jpg
lanjut..ke arah kanan lagi
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8234/8496479531_dbcd1ffb5f_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/annomalay/8496479531/)
makassar skyline (http://www.flickr.com/photos/annomalay/8496479531/) by ANNO MALAY (http://www.flickr.com/people/annomalay/), on Flickr

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8392/8497582624_98752c743c_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/annomalay/8497582624/)
makassar skyline (http://www.flickr.com/photos/annomalay/8497582624/) by ANNO MALAY (http://www.flickr.com/people/annomalay/), on Flickr

habis fajar

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8528/8496479927_cda49369a8_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/annomalay/8496479927/)
makassar skyline (http://www.flickr.com/photos/annomalay/8496479927/) by ANNO MALAY (http://www.flickr.com/people/annomalay/), on Flickr

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8519/8496479789_5f1ac15d8c_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/annomalay/8496479789/)
makassar skyline (http://www.flickr.com/photos/annomalay/8496479789/) by ANNO MALAY (http://www.flickr.com/people/annomalay/), on Flickr

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8380/8497582880_2c35fe4be7_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/annomalay/8497582880/)
makassar skyline (http://www.flickr.com/photos/annomalay/8497582880/) by ANNO MALAY (http://www.flickr.com/people/annomalay/), on Flickr

Balikpapan, 2nd city of East Kalimantan
Distance : 1,243 km from Jakarta
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8097/8566461829_ceb7973624_c.jpg
:applause:

kilang pertamina

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8374/8566973951_583c70a323_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/annomalay/8566973951/)
kilang pertamina (http://www.flickr.com/photos/annomalay/8566973951/) by ANNO MALAY (http://www.flickr.com/people/annomalay/), on Flickr

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8233/8568072800_bcbb74dcae_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/annomalay/8568072800/)
kilang pertamina (http://www.flickr.com/photos/annomalay/8568072800/) by ANNO MALAY (http://www.flickr.com/people/annomalay/), on Flickr
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8371/8498987307_78d18c6e1b_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/annomalay/8498987307/)
Balikpapan (http://www.flickr.com/photos/annomalay/8498987307/) by ANNO MALAY (http://www.flickr.com/people/annomalay/), on Flickr

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8085/8500093184_5f436f5eec_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/annomalay/8500093184/)
Balikpapan (http://www.flickr.com/photos/annomalay/8500093184/) by ANNO MALAY (http://www.flickr.com/people/annomalay/), on Flickr

Cebu City, Philippines (Population of 870,000, Metro Area 2 million) It is off the mainland if the mainlands are considered to be Luzon or Mindanao

http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2271/2332669375_5923543d93_z.jpg?zz=1

http://cebutravels.asia/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/Cebu_City.jpg

http://mnnetherlands.com/dir/_page/100978/Philippines_Cebu_City_Center_Colon_Street_110107163005_l.jpg

Since there are only a few major cities that fits into the description, I will contribute with some smaller cities:

http://img685.imageshack.us/img685/2846/jejuislandiscoveredbyse.jpg

Jeju City, South Korea
Pop. 410,000

Located in an isolated island 150 km south-west of mainland. Seoul-Jeju City currently holds the title of busiest passenger air route in the world. Jeju island have its own dialect, very distinct from the one spoken in mainland.

http://img837.imageshack.us/img837/3301/heraklionharbour.jpg

Heraklion, Greece
Pop. 180,000

Located in island of Crete and fourth largest city in Greece.


If I'm not mistaken that picture of Jeju you posted is actually a picture of the western part of Busan and is taken from here: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d2/Korea-Busan-Busan_Tower-01.jpg

Do Hong Kong and Macao count? :D

^^ yeah I think Hong Kong - seen in relation to SAR - is the best example of a city off the mainland. But I don't think places like Cebu, Balikpapan or Kuala Lumpur really count.

And yes I know I brought up Kuala Lumpur myself but that was because I tried to follow Spliff Fairy's definition. I have been trying to think for a definition myself and I think this might be a better way of understanding the OP:

separated by a large distance in relation to the size of the country and where
the geographical entity (island, enclave, archipelago etc.) of the city is substantially smaller size and population wise than the geographical entity of the main land.

So I think Hong Kong, Anchorage, Honolulu, Kaliningrad, Naha, Malabo, Palma de Mallorca, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Iraklion are within the definition, and of these probably only Hong Kong and maybe Honolulu can be considered cities (with more than 1 m inhabitants). Maybe Kaliningrad could also be considered a city for historic reasons. Palma has a metro line and also feels like a city.

PS. Anybody got an idea of what game OP is referring to?

Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (Spain), pop. 380.000, 600.000 in metro area.

It's also the largest EU city outside Europe.

http://imageshack.us/a/img803/4120/laspalmasdegrancanaria.jpg

Most of Hong Kong is on Mainland China. Only Victoria and sparsely populated Lantau aren't, and they're less than a km away from the Mainland. In other words it's the equivalent of a Manhattan.

http://www.china-mike.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/hong_kong_shenzhen_map.jpg

Seen in relation to China I agree Victoria is not very far off the mainland. But in relation to the much smaller Hong Kong SAR Victoria is definitely off the mainland (Kowloon and New Territories) though continuous landfills might end that soon.