In very few places in the world have cities blossomed "in the mountains" as opposed to "by the mountains". I thought I'd make this thread about the Andean cities to see your opinions and thoughts on various urban and architectural aspects of these population conglomerates. Please feel free to comment and give any feedback! Hope you enjoy the collection of pictures.

1. Most of the Andean cities (with few exceptions) are located in the Interandean Valleys between the Eastern, Central, and Western Ranges. Do you find it interesting that these cities have developed in such constrained and inaccessible spaces?

2. Because of the geographic limitations of the valleys where these cities are located, high density highrise areas are the norm. Are you surprised by the density of the Andean Cities?

3. The use of brick and other earth-toned stone type materials is very popular in the region. What are your thoughts on this material choice?

4. Topography plays a major roll in the urban frabric of these cities. What is your general opinion on the topography of these cities? Do you agree or disagree with the legal and/or illegal urbanization of the mountain foothills?

5. Last but not least, the natural setting of these cities is considered one of their best assets. Does the urban development against the mountain backdrop strike you as unique? Would you rather be next to a large body of water?


Bogota, Colombia
Elevation 8,661 ft / 2,640 m
Population 7,8810,000

http://img256.imageshack.us/img256/9026/bogota38lu0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img509.imageshack.us/img509/2479/bogota46cx8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img520.imageshack.us/img520/2884/bogota20gj7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)


Medellin, Colombia
Elevation 5,044 ft / 1,538 m
Population 3,000,000

http://img478.imageshack.us/img478/6324/medellin1rb2.jpg

http://img131.imageshack.us/img131/2007/medellin1jv5.jpg (http://imageshack.us) http://img341.imageshack.us/img341/4330/medellin3py2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img131.imageshack.us/img131/7135/medellin8it6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)


Cali, Colombia
Elevation 3,280 ft / 1,000 m
Population 2,225,000

http://img511.imageshack.us/img511/8366/cali38fx8.jpg

http://img511.imageshack.us/img511/1176/cali37mo3.jpg

http://img478.imageshack.us/img478/9978/cali32bz2.jpg


Quito, Ecuador
Elevation 9,350 ft / 2,850 m
Population 2,000,000

http://img293.imageshack.us/img293/610/quito63smallxm8.jpg

http://img114.echo.cx/img114/299/quitoec53a5gr.jpg

http://img403.imageshack.us/img403/8394/quito80bsn8.jpg

http://img407.imageshack.us/img407/8817/quito125ef3.jpg


La Paz, Bolivia
Elevation 11,910 ft / 3,631 m
Population 1,250,000

http://img475.imageshack.us/img475/8803/lapaz14hh1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img256.imageshack.us/img256/8929/lapaz25nv9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img413.imageshack.us/img413/4023/lapaz68ab4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)


Santiago, Chile
Elevation 1,700 ft / 520m
Population 6,250,000

http://img514.imageshack.us/img514/8788/santiago17qy8.jpg

http://img514.imageshack.us/img514/1157/santiago3lh1.jpg

http://img300.imageshack.us/img300/5200/santiago14hm5.jpg

I love cities surrounded by mountains.
:happy:

Btw, are cities near the Andes prone to earthquakes?

I love cities surrounded by mountains.
:happy:

Btw, are cities near the Andes prone to earthquakes?

Yes, they are prone to earthquakes resulting from the subduction of the nazca plate (southeastern pacific ocean plate) under the South American plate (this is how the Andes were created in the first place). Also, a handful of these cities are subject to earthquakes that are generated because of nearby volcanic activity.

Those are some of the best shots I have seen for most of these cities! Thanks for posting them! :okay:

The red-Brown Colour of those Colombian Cities add an extra dimension to them.

Im Guessing South American Cities are relatively unique given their size but perhaps there are cities in China that would rival them such as Hong kong?

also What about Caracas?

^^ Thank you Krull! :cheers:

The red-Brown Colour of those Colombian Cities add an extra dimension to them.

Im Guessing South American Cities are relatively unique given their size but perhaps there are cities in China that would rival them such as Hong kong?

also What about Caracas?

Yes Caracas is also a high altitude city. Yes most of the major Chinese cities can rival them. The only difference is most of them are within sea level.

Yeah, Caracas is higher than I would have expected (900 m)....it being close to the sea.

Santiago is lower than I expected...although it isn't very far from the sea either (Valparaiso).

Yeah, Caracas is higher than I would have expected (900 m)....it being close to the sea.

Santiago is lower than I expected...although it isn't very far from the sea either (Valparaiso).

While Caracas is at a higher elevation than Santiago, it is not considered and Andean city. Caracas lies on the foothills of a coastal range that runs east west accross the northern coast of South America (not the Andes). The Andes actually terminate on western Venezuela near lake Maracaibo. There are Andean cities in Venezuela, such as Merida. However, they are small compared to the cities shown in this thread.

I have to admit though that Caracas does have urban and geographical similarities to some of the Andean cities like Bogota and Quito :cheers:

Great! I've always found these cities fascinating. They have a certain adventurous and fairy-tale-like aura to them.

It's actually really true what you said about the Andes Cities (and mountain cities in general) being more densely populated. Hong Kong, Vancouver, LA, and I can't think of any others because I'm retarded, but you catch my drift.

a lot of those cities can't host the WC, like Bogota
higher than 2,500 meters. Lack of oxygen

While Caracas is at a higher elevation than Santiago, it is not considered and Andean city. Caracas lies on the foothills of a coastal range that runs east west accross the northern coast of South America (not the Andes). The Andes actually terminate on western Venezuela near lake Maracaibo. There are Andean cities in Venezuela, such as Merida. However, they are small compared to the cities shown in this thread.

I have to admit though that Caracas does have urban and geographical similarities to some of the Andean cities like Bogota and Quito :cheers:Interesante.:cheers:

Impressive!

Jogging in La Paz must be tough...

Hong Kong is the city with mountains too.

http://photoimg.enjoyjapan.naver.com/view/enjoybbs/viewphoto/ptravel/32000/20070512117891074081711300.jpg

^ That's precisely what the original poster doesn't mean - Hong Kong, for the large part is built at sea-level, with a few secluded and expensive buildings, mostly residential, in the mountains, as opposed to being built at great elevations ABOVE sea level.

Yes Caracas is also a high altitude city. Yes most of the major Chinese cities can rival them. The only difference is most of them are within sea level.

You do realise you've just contradicted yourself right there in the space of two consecutive sentences right?

These Andean cities look very impressive... Keep them coming.

Jogging in La Paz must be tough...

Even walking in La Paz is tough! La Paz and Quito always have an advantage for sport tournaments when they get to play at home. The visiting team always has to get there with plenty of time in advance....and even so they typically do not get fully adjusted before the event. I wonder how would a soccer worldcup or summer olympics would unfold in these places....interesting!

The other great thing of these high altitude cities (except for Santiago because it's not that high, and because most of Chile has 4 seasons), is that the weather is usually the same throughout the year.

In the case of Bogotá and Quito, temperatures are very pleasant most of the time... if we compare them to some extreme weather places in other regions of the world. Here in Bogotá, it never gets too hot nor too cold... it is just not possible due to the high altitude and at the same time its closeness to the equator.

please click: http://www.radiodeejay.hr/forum/lang/inexed.htm I'm glad that FIFA's height limit was pushed to 2.800 mts. Bogota can (if Colombia ever does) host a WC. Wanted to post a cool pic of Bogota:

http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l276/pipetowers/388218317_6fbabaa88f_b.jpg

I'm glad that FIFA's height limit was pushed to 2.800 mts. Bogota can (if Colombia ever does) host a WC.

Wow that means that perhaps all of the cities showcased in this thread, with the exception of La Paz, could be potential hosts for a World Cup!!! :cheers:

very interesting thread Juan Paulo !!!!! and good selection of pictures....

Very interesting South American cities. Cooking in La Paz must be tough too!

I'm surprised I haven't seen anyone from Denver, USA or from Switzerland post!

magnifical (http://www.pink-martini.org/missions/bannieres/fr/Banniere_468.swf?oc=1|2|7|1|7070617|1q5I0e5licY2VpbrMeOJ7Lhf6Vu5L)

Very interesting South American cities. Cooking in La Paz must be tough too!

I'm surprised I haven't seen anyone from Denver, USA or from Switzerland post!


Or Calgary, Canada.

Man it's a tough go sleeping there in Calgary. At least for me.

Very interesting South American cities. Cooking in La Paz must be tough too!

I'm surprised I haven't seen anyone from Denver, USA or from Switzerland post!

Don´t know about La Paz but in Bogota water boils at 92°C.

While all these countries have so many mountains, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay and the Guyanas ended up with NONE! :D

A few more pictures of some Andean Cities:

Medellin, Colombia
http://img102.imageshack.us/img102/8567/medellin7up3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img152.imageshack.us/img152/8766/medellin9eb3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)


La Paz, Bolivia
http://img102.imageshack.us/img102/8530/lapaz3ww6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)


Quito, Ecuador
http://img152.imageshack.us/img152/3721/quitocayambe3dz2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img110.imageshack.us/img110/2196/quito1lj4.jpg

http://img111.imageshack.us/img111/535/quito118iw6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

^^^^ The first photo looks like the Bronx with hills.:lol:

Amazing South American cities.

Ive been to those Colombian cities and Medellin and Bogota have to be the best cities integrated with mountians that Ive seen. The cities just creep up into the mountians and are surrounded by beautiful scenic mountians. But Medellin has the best weather, Bogota is very cold and rainy year round.

And flying into these cities is absoulutely amazing!!!!

La Paz is amazing. that is what i call a mountain city.

Very interesting South American cities. Cooking in La Paz must be tough too!

I'm surprised I haven't seen anyone from Denver, USA or from Switzerland post!

Sorry, but Salt Lake City blows Denver out of the water when it comes to proximity to mountains (although it certainly can't compete with these fascinating Andean cities). They're also steeper and higher right next to Salt Lake City than they are to Denver.

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e141/bobrulz600/IMG_0043.jpg

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e141/bobrulz600/I-2154.jpg

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e141/bobrulz600/I-2153.jpg

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e141/bobrulz600/WasatchMountains1.jpg

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e141/bobrulz600/EastBench.jpg

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e141/bobrulz600/SaltLakeValley2.jpg

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e141/bobrulz600/WasatchMountains2-1.jpg

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e141/bobrulz600/SLCfromspace.jpg

But along with Tehran, Santiago has perhaps the most spectacular mountain backdrop I've ever seen. La Paz and Quito also have pretty amazing backdrops. Hell, even San Diego and Los Angeles can have great backdrops from the right angles.