High altitude cities

***WANCH*** · April 7th, 2006, 08:54 AM

Anyone live in a city at a high altitude whether it may be Denver or Mexico City? What are the advantages and disadvantages in living in one.

MILIUX · April 7th, 2006, 09:21 AM

I presume that because the air is thinner, you need your lungs to adapt to it. Lungs that are fitter and stronger to pump oxygen around the body. In Mexico City Olympic Games, it was criticised that the foreign athletes were struggling to cope with high altitude.

Küsel · April 7th, 2006, 09:22 AM

Zurich is not very high (between 400 and 900m). The highest city in Europe is Davos, two hours east - 1560m high.

There is no real problems, more advantages: because of the clean air and mild climate it became a very famous location for hospitals for upper class people in the 19th century. The most famous it became in the early 20th century - because of Mann's novel Der Zauberberg (The Magic Mountain). Nowadays it's a big ski center and (in)famous for the World Economy Forum. Also famous is the annual Spengler Cup - the meeting of the best hockey clubs for a tournament after christmas (the stadium is unique in architecture as well).

***WANCH*** · April 7th, 2006, 09:46 AM

Mexico City is at higher altitude than Davos at 7,349 ft. though it doesn't snow at the city centre. The air quality was worst compared to the former but I think it has improved over the years.

Küsel · April 7th, 2006, 09:53 AM

It's because MC is surrounded by mountains and therefore the winds don't blow away the dirty air and urban warming is often causing inversions which is leading to smog. Davos is in a long valley that always has a strong wind like a ventilator - and it never got big industries.

There is a project to build giant rotors through the mountains that will blow away the polluted air in risky times. But I don't think that it every will be realized. Strict regulations of the traffic and filters for industries are much more important, cheaper and more useful in long term.

OtAkAw · April 7th, 2006, 09:56 AM

Quito in Ecuador is in a high altitude also. Also Baguio here...

♣628.finst · April 7th, 2006, 11:39 AM

High-altitude... Denver, Colorado is a mile from the sea level. Albuquerque is roughly the level of Denver. For smaller cities... Banff is even higher.

***WANCH*** · April 7th, 2006, 11:57 AM

La Paz has a very high altitude at 3,600 metres. It is known to be the highest capital with the world's highest golf course. Despite the high altitude, air pollution is rarely a problem here.

La Paz, Bolivia

gruber · April 7th, 2006, 11:57 AM

Davos - 10.922 inhabitants - 1560 meters

Livigno (Italy) - 5.326 inhabitants - 1816 meters

Soldeu (Andorra) - less than 2000 inhabitants - 1710 meters

Tonale Presena (Italy) - less than 1500 inhabitants - 1883 meters

Vitovito · April 7th, 2006, 12:08 PM

The highest CITY in Spain is Ávila, 1130m with 52.612 inhabitants

Küsel · April 7th, 2006, 12:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gruber

Davos - 10.922 inhabitants - 1560 meters

Livigno (Italy) - 5.326 inhabitants - 1816 meters

Soldeu (Andorra) - less than 2000 inhabitants - 1710 meters

Tonale Presena (Italy) - less than 1500 inhabitants - 1883 meters

The highest settlement (whole year through) is Juf, a part of Avers, Grishun. Only inhabitated by 20 people it lies on 2'126m!

Davos: The recent number is 13'000. But it has more than 2.1 mio overnight stays per year (mainly Swiss and German tourists). So in high season the town is inhabitated by 40'000 people plus several 10'000 daytrippers. Thus it's not a very charming place... better go to Mürren or Arosa

***SE9*** · April 7th, 2006, 03:19 PM

Nairobi, Kenya is around 1,500km above sea level. It dosen't suffer from smog as there is steady winds to blow away the pollution. The altitude gives Nairobi a great climate, never too cold, rarely too hot.

Mosaic · April 7th, 2006, 03:23 PM

What about Tibet in China?

***hkskyline*** · April 7th, 2006, 04:07 PM

Lhasa in Tibet sits at around 3650 m or 12000 ft. Some popular tourist areas in Yunnan province such as Lijiang also sit at a fairly high altitude, so tourists often have to bring an oxygen supply and adjust for a few days to the low oxygen levels in the air.

***WANCH*** · April 8th, 2006, 09:01 AM

Lhasa must be the highest city then since it's higher than La Paz.

Saab · April 8th, 2006, 09:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SE9

Nairobi, Kenya is around 1,500km above sea level. It dosen't suffer from smog as there is steady winds to blow away the pollution. The altitude gives Nairobi a great climate, never too cold, rarely too hot.

Hmmm, breathing might be a little difficult hundreds of km outside of the Earth's atmosphere

Handsome · April 8th, 2006, 09:26 AM

Kunming 1891 m
2.5 million
Spring city.

CharlieP · April 8th, 2006, 10:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SE9

Nairobi, Kenya is around 1,500km above sea level.

Wow - a city in space!

furrycanuck · April 9th, 2006, 03:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Xäntårx

High-altitude... Denver, Colorado is a mile from the sea level. Albuquerque is roughly the level of Denver. For smaller cities... Banff is even higher.

Banff is only a little higher than Calgary, about 4400', not even close to Santa Fe (for example)

Calgary at 1000m at the airport (but about 1300 on the far west side) is the highest major city in Canada.

Advantage? Clean air and very low humidity, intensely blue skies.

Renkinjutsushi · April 9th, 2006, 06:34 AM

Baguio City, Philippines which is about 1,500m, called the Summer Capital of the Philippines which is true since it is pretty cool compared to the lowlands, even in July, it was about 25C when I visited. According to my cousin, February can get as cold as 0C, which would be a disadvatage IMO since as far as I know, not many houses have AC.

April 7th, 2006, 08:54 AM	#1
*WANCH* D ASIATIK MODSTA!!! Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: 香港 - MAYNILA - MELAKA Posts: 9,683	High altitude cities Anyone live in a city at a high altitude whether it may be Denver or Mexico City? What are the advantages and disadvantages in living in one. __________________ 50% Pinoy 50% Malaysian 100% Hongkonger!!!

April 7th, 2006, 09:21 AM	#2
MILIUX exogeny Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Sydney \|\| Amsterdam Posts: 4,753	I presume that because the air is thinner, you need your lungs to adapt to it. Lungs that are fitter and stronger to pump oxygen around the body. In Mexico City Olympic Games, it was criticised that the foreign athletes were struggling to cope with high altitude. __________________ Luck is the residue of design.

April 7th, 2006, 09:46 AM	#4
*WANCH* D ASIATIK MODSTA!!! Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: 香港 - MAYNILA - MELAKA Posts: 9,683	Mexico City is at higher altitude than Davos at 7,349 ft. though it doesn't snow at the city centre. The air quality was worst compared to the former but I think it has improved over the years. __________________ 50% Pinoy 50% Malaysian 100% Hongkonger!!!

April 7th, 2006, 09:56 AM	#6
OtAkAw arbiter of cool Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: San Fernando, North of Manila Posts: 930	Quito in Ecuador is in a high altitude also. Also Baguio here... __________________ This is your life, and it's ending one minute at a time. If you wake up at a different time, in a different place, could you wake up as a different person?

April 7th, 2006, 11:39 AM	#7
♣628.finst Optimum Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: HK-Central / US- 10012 Posts: 10,038	High-altitude... Denver, Colorado is a mile from the sea level. Albuquerque is roughly the level of Denver. For smaller cities... Banff is even higher. __________________ Commonwealth and United States. 628

April 7th, 2006, 09:22 AM	#3
Küsel Swine Flu Panic Killer Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Zurich Posts: 14,821	Zurich is not very high (between 400 and 900m). The highest city in Europe is Davos, two hours east - 1560m high. There is no real problems, more advantages: because of the clean air and mild climate it became a very famous location for hospitals for upper class people in the 19th century. The most famous it became in the early 20th century - because of Mann's novel Der Zauberberg (The Magic Mountain). Nowadays it's a big ski center and (in)famous for the World Economy Forum. Also famous is the annual Spengler Cup - the meeting of the best hockey clubs for a tournament after christmas (the stadium is unique in architecture as well).

April 7th, 2006, 09:53 AM	#5
Küsel Swine Flu Panic Killer Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Zurich Posts: 14,821	It's because MC is surrounded by mountains and therefore the winds don't blow away the dirty air and urban warming is often causing inversions which is leading to smog. Davos is in a long valley that always has a strong wind like a ventilator - and it never got big industries. There is a project to build giant rotors through the mountains that will blow away the polluted air in risky times. But I don't think that it every will be realized. Strict regulations of the traffic and filters for industries are much more important, cheaper and more useful in long term.

April 7th, 2006, 11:57 AM	#8
*WANCH* D ASIATIK MODSTA!!! Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: 香港 - MAYNILA - MELAKA Posts: 9,683	La Paz has a very high altitude at 3,600 metres. It is known to be the highest capital with the world's highest golf course. Despite the high altitude, air pollution is rarely a problem here. La Paz, Bolivia __________________ 50% Pinoy 50% Malaysian 100% Hongkonger!!!

April 7th, 2006, 11:57 AM	#9
gruber Феликс Эдмундович Дзержин Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 7,529	Davos - 10.922 inhabitants - 1560 meters Livigno (Italy) - 5.326 inhabitants - 1816 meters Soldeu (Andorra) - less than 2000 inhabitants - 1710 meters Tonale Presena (Italy) - less than 1500 inhabitants - 1883 meters

April 7th, 2006, 12:08 PM	#10
Vitovito BSQ PWR! Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Vitoria-Gasteiz Posts: 6,701	The highest CITY in Spain is Ávila, 1130m with 52.612 inhabitants __________________ VitoRiA - gAsTeIz

April 7th, 2006, 03:19 PM	#12
*SE9* South East Nine Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: South London Posts: 4,329	Nairobi, Kenya is around 1,500km above sea level. It dosen't suffer from smog as there is steady winds to blow away the pollution. The altitude gives Nairobi a great climate, never too cold, rarely too hot. __________________ View SE9's photos on flickr

April 7th, 2006, 03:23 PM	#13
Mosaic BANGKOK Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Bangkok Posts: 13,132	What about Tibet in China?

April 7th, 2006, 04:07 PM	#14
*hkskyline* Hong Kong Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 50,976	Lhasa in Tibet sits at around 3650 m or 12000 ft. Some popular tourist areas in Yunnan province such as Lijiang also sit at a fairly high altitude, so tourists often have to bring an oxygen supply and adjust for a few days to the low oxygen levels in the air. __________________ Hong Kong Photo Gallery - Click Here for the Hong Kong Galleries World Photo Gallery - \| New York \| Lisbon \| Prague \| Beijing \| Madrid \| Melbourne \| London \| Riga Sydney, Brisbane, Copenhagen, Vienna, Mumbai, Seoul, Berlin, Rocky Mountains, Stockholm, and much more!

April 8th, 2006, 09:01 AM	#15
*WANCH* D ASIATIK MODSTA!!! Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: 香港 - MAYNILA - MELAKA Posts: 9,683	Lhasa must be the highest city then since it's higher than La Paz. __________________ 50% Pinoy 50% Malaysian 100% Hongkonger!!!

April 8th, 2006, 09:26 AM	#17
Handsome Registered User Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 723	Kunming 1891 m 2.5 million Spring city. Last edited by Handsome; April 9th, 2006 at 06:02 PM.

April 9th, 2006, 06:34 AM	#20
Renkinjutsushi 死神 Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: North America Posts: 977	Baguio City, Philippines which is about 1,500m, called the Summer Capital of the Philippines which is true since it is pretty cool compared to the lowlands, even in July, it was about 25C when I visited. According to my cousin, February can get as cold as 0C, which would be a disadvatage IMO since as far as I know, not many houses have AC. __________________ City VS City Forums

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