The capital of Brazil and also a Federal District, Brasília was founded by President Juscelino Kubitschek to replace Rio de Janeiro, which - being on the coast - was considered vulnerable to external attacks. The city's plan was developed by architects Lúcio Costa and Oscar Niemeyer and polymath Joaquim Cardozo; Niemeyer was responsible for its distinctively white, modernist architecture. A central location in the Brazilian Highlands, carved out of the state of Goiás (in the country's Central-West region), was chosen for the new city, which became Brazil's national capital on 21 April 1960.
Laid out in the shape of an airplane, Brasília was built in 41 months between 1956 and 1960. It is now the third-largest city in Brazil, home to around three million people. It was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987.
2. Islamabad
Answer: purpose-built capital
Islamabad ("city of Islam") is a planned city built in the 1960s to replace Karachi as the capital of Pakistan; it was officially established on 14 August 1967. While Islamabad was being built, the capital was temporarily moved to the adjacent city of Rawalpindi, with which it forms a conurbation that is home to nearly six million people. The city was designed by a Greek firm of architects led by Constantinos A. Doxiadis.
Located in northeastern Pakistan, Islamabad is easily accessible from all parts of the country. Among its landmarks is the huge Faisal Mosque, one of the world's largest mosques. The city is also noted for its green areas and institutions of higher learning.
3. Washington DC
Answer: purpose-built capital
Washington DC was founded in 1791 as a federal district under the exclusive jurisdiction of the US Congress. Created from land taken from the states of Maryland and Virginia, it was strategically located halfway between the northern and the southern states of the Union. Named after the nation's first President, George Washington, the city was designed by French-American artist and military engineer Pierre Charles L'Enfant. It officially became the capital of the USA in 1800, replacing Philadelphia.
While about 700,000 people reside in Washington DC, its metropolitan area (also know as the DMV) is home to over six million people. With its many museums, monuments and historic sites, Washington DC is also one of the US's top tourist destinations.
4. Manila
Answer: capital of an island country
The capital of the Philippines for most of the Southeast Asian country's history, Manila is located in the southwestern part of Luzon (the largest and northernmost island of the Philippine archipelago, which comprises over 7,000 islands), on the eastern shore of Manila Bay, a natural harbour that now hosts a busy container port. Though not the country's most populous city (the neighbouring Quezon City, a planned city that was capital from 1948 to 1976, has that distinction), it is one of the world's most densely populated cities, home to nearly two million people.
Manila was founded as a trading post in the 13th century. The Spanish built fortified walls around the original settlement, which is known as Intramuros ("within the walls"). Unfortunately, most of the Colonial-era buildings in this historic area were destroyed during WWII, though some of them have been rebuilt.
5. Nicosia
Answer: capital of an island country
Nicosia (a medieval variation of the name Lefkosia) is the capital of the Republic of Cyprus, which is located in the southern half of the island of the same name in the eastern Mediterranean Sea. Northern Cyprus has been occupied by Turkey since 1974, and the UN-controlled buffer zone known as the Green Line runs through Nicosia. Continuously inhabited for over 5,500 years, the city was originally called Ledra; it has been the capital of Cyprus since the 10th century.
Home to about 300,000 people, Nicosia is located roughly in the centre of the island, in the Mesaoria plain bounded by the Troodos and Kyrenia mountains. The old city, surrounded by walls, contains a number of historic buildings, including many churches and other places of worship. Cyprus is the third-largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, and has been a member of the European Union since 2004.
6. Havana
Answer: capital of an island country
Founded by the Spanish in 1519, Havana is the capital and largest city of the island country of Cuba, as well as the most populous city in the Caribbean region - home to about two million people. In 1607 the city was granted the status of capital of the Spanish colony by King Philip III of Spain, replacing Santiago de Cuba. One of the oldest European settlements in the Americas, Havana is renowned for its eclectic architecture, with buildings in a variety of styles - including the late 16th-century Castillo del Morro, a fortress guarding the entrance to Havana harbour.
Cuba is the largest island in the Caribbean Sea, and the world's 17th-largest island. A colony of Spain until 1898, it became independent in 1902, in the aftermath of the Spanish-American War.
7. Budapest
Answer: capital of a landlocked country
Created on 17 November 1873 by the unification of the cities of Buda, Óbuda and Pest, Budapest has been the capital of Hungary since that date. Óbuda and Buda (the former capital of the Kingdom of Hungary) lie on the western bank of the Danube River, opposite Pest. Both Óbuda (named Aquincum) and Pest were originally Roman military settlements, while Buda was founded in the Middle Ages. This magnificent city, home to about 1.7 million people (33% of the Hungarian population), is known for its varied architecture, which reflects the city's long and distinguished history, as well as its elegant cafés and spa baths.
Hungary is located in Central Europe, sharing borders with Austria, Slovenia, Slovakia, Ukraine, Croatia, Serbia and Romania. The current Hungarian Republic was established in 1989, after the fall of the Berlin Wall. The country joined the European Union in 2004.
8. Ulaanbaatar
Answer: capital of a landlocked country
The capital of Mongolia was established in 1639 as a nomadic Buddhist monastery by the name of Örgöö ("palace"). Its current name, which means "Red Hero" (likely in honour of revolutionary leader Damdin Sukhbaatar), dates from 1924 - the year in which the city officially became Mongolia's capital after the country declared its independence from China. Located near the centre of the country, at an elevation of 1,350 m (4,430 ft), Ulaanbaatar is home to about 1.5 million people - more than one-third of the nation's population. It also enjoys the distinction of being the world's coldest national capital, as well as having an airport named for notorious conqueror Genghis Khan.
Sandwiched between Russia and China, Mongolia is the world's second-largest landlocked country (after Kazakhstan). It also has the lowest population density of all of the world's sovereign nations.
9. Kampala
Answer: capital of a landlocked country
Kampala (shortened form of a Luganda phrase meaning "hill of the impala") is the capital city of the East African country of Uganda. Before British colonization in the late 19th century, it was part of the Buganda Kingdom: the original nucleus of the city, Kampala Hill, was a favourite hunting ground of the Kabaka, the Buganda king (hence the city's name). Kampala is located in the southeastern part of the country, on the northwestern shore of Lake Victoria, Africa's largest lake, about 80 km (50 mi) west of the source of the White Nile. Home to over 1.6 million people, it is a fast-growing city with a good quality of life.
One of Africa's numerous landlocked countries, Uganda is bordered by South Sudan, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It became independent from the United Kingdom in 1962.
10. Quito
Answer: among the ten highest capitals
The capital of Ecuador, Quito sits at an elevation of 2,850 m (9,350 ft) above sea level - the world's second-highest national capital. Founded by the Spanish in December 1534, the city is located in Ecuador's northern highlands, and is built on the eastern slopes of Pichincha, an active stratovolcano; other active volcanoes - including the famous Cotopaxi - are located nearby. The Equator (after which the country is named) runs through one of the city's northern suburbs. Home to over 1.7 million people, Quito is Ecuador's second-largest city after the Pacific port of Guayaquil. Quito is known for its pleasant, temperate climate and its very well-preserved historic centre, which was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1978 - the very year the list was created.
The world's four highest national capitals are all located in South America, in the Andes region. La Paz, Bolivia's seat of government, and Sucre, its constitutional capital, are respectively first- and third-highest; Bogotá, Colombia's capital, ranks fourth.
11. Asmara
Answer: among the ten highest capitals
Sitting at an elevation of 2,325 m (7,628 ft) above sea level, Asmara is the capital and largest city of Eritrea, and Africa's second-highest national capital after Addis Ababa, the capital of neighbouring Ethiopia (from which Eritrea became independent in 1993). Located at the northwestern edge of the Eritrean Highlands, the city - home to over one million people - enjoys a cool, temperate climate. Originally created in the 16th century from the fusion of four villages, Asmara developed into a full-fledged city when Eritrea became a colony of Italy in 1889. Its distinctive modernist architecture earned Asmara the designation of UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2017.
In addition to Addis Ababa and Asmara, the African continent boasts a large number of capitals located at high elevation - such as Nairobi (Kenya), Windhoek (Namibia) and Maseru (Lesotho).
12. Tehran
Answer: among the ten highest capitals
The capital and largest city of Iran, Tehran is also the world's tenth-highest national capital. Located in northern Iran, at the foot of the Alborz mountain range, it is built on a series of hills that reach an elevation of 2040 m (6,692 ft) in the northern part of the city. Originally a village located near the prominent city of Rhages (now Ray), Tehran developed into an important centre from the mid-16th century onwards, and was first chosen as the capital of Iran in 1786. With a population of over 7.7 million, Tehran is also the most populous city in Western Asia, in spite of its territory's proneness to earthquakes and serious air pollution issues.
Not surprisingly, Asia's highest national capital is Thimphu, the capital of the small Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan - the world's sixth-highest. Lhasa, the capital of Tibet (an Autonomous Region of China) would be the world's highest capital if Tibet were a sovereign country.
13. Rabat
Answer: capital of a monarchy
Located on the Atlantic coast, in the northwestern part of the country, Rabat has been the capital of the Kingdom of Morocco since 1955, just before the North African nation became independent from France. It was originally founded in the 12th century AD as a fortified outpost, which in Arabic is called "ribat" - hence its modern name. Home to about 600,000 people, Rabat is one of the four Imperial Cities of Morocco, along with Meknes, Fez and Marrakesh, with a rich historic and cultural heritage that was recognized by UNESCO with the city's inscription in the World Heritage List in 2012.
One of three monarchies remaining in Africa - the others being the small Southern African countries of Lesotho and Eswatini - Morocco is a constitutional monarchy ruled by the Alawi dynasty, which rose to power in the 17th century. The Royal Palace (Dar al-Makhzen) of Rabat is the King's official residence.
14. Madrid
Answer: capital of a monarchy
Located in the central plateau (Meseta Central) of the Iberian Peninsula, Madrid has been the capital of the Kingdom of Spain since 1561. It was founded by the Umayyad Dynasty in the 9th century AD as one of the fortresses defending the border of Al-Andalus from the Christian kingdoms of the north. Now it is a vibrant, thriving city - the second-largest in the European Union - home to nearly 3.5 million people, and renowned for its world-class monuments, museums and other cultural institutions.
Spain is a constitutional monarchy - one of the 12 still present in Europe - ruled by a branch of the House of Bourbon. The huge Royal Palace of Madrid, Europe's largest royal palace, is mainly used for official purposes, as the Spanish royal family resides in the much smaller Zarzuela Palace, on the outskirts of the capital.
15. Bangkok
Answer: capital of a monarchy
Bangkok (officially Krung Thep Mara Nakhon, "city of angels" in Thai) is the capital and largest city of the Kingdom of Thailand. Originally a small trading post established in the 15th century near the mouth of the Chao Praya River, the city was founded as a capital in 1782, and grew in size and importance during the 19th century. Present-day Bangkok is a bustling megacity with an estimated population of nearly ten million, and almost 18 million in its metro area - amounting to more than one-quarter of the country's population. It is also one of the world's top tourist destinations, known for its stunning Buddhist temples and floating markets.
One of Asia's 13 monarchies, Thailand is a constitutional monarchy ruled by the Chakri dynasty, which was created in 1782. The Thai royal family has its official ceremonial residence at the magnificent Grand Palace in the heart of Bangkok, and its private residence at Dusit Palace.
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