1. Megacities
IB Geography II

2. What are Megacities?
Megacities are large metropolitan areas of 10 million inhabitants or more.
By 2050, 7 out of 10 people will live in megacities

3. Megacities

5. Megacity Demographics
Cities are growing at a rate of around 1 million people every week.
Half the Earth's population will soon live in congested, urban regions mainly in the poor, developing countries of the South.
If the 20th century was the century of urban sprawl, the 21st century will be the century of the megacity.

6. Growth of Megacities in Rich and Poor Countries
While the greatest megacities were once in rich countries, they are now dominated by cities in the less developed world
Why??? Think about rural push factors and natural increase… MAJOR UNIT CONCEPTS!

7. Megacity Demographics
The 10 largest megacities in the world as of the year 2000 are:
1. Tokyo, Japan 26.4 million 2. Mexico City, Mexico 18.4 million 3. Bombay, India 18.1 million 4. Sao Paulo, Brazil 17.8 million 5. Shanghai, China 17.0 million 6. New York City, USA 16.6 million 7. Lagos, Nigeria 13.4 million 8. Los Angeles, USA 13.1 million 9. Calcutta, India 12.9 million 10. Buenos Aires, Argentina 12.6 million

8. Tokyo is the world’s largest megacity

9. Megacity Demographics
The world's megacities take up just 2% of the Earth's land surface, yet they account for roughly 75% of industrial wood use, 60% of human water use, and nearly 80% of all human produced carbon emissions.
These figures suggest that the struggle to achieve an environmentally sustainable economy for the 21st century will be won or lost in the world's urban areas.

10. Shanghai

11. Agglomerations
An agglomeration is the metropolitan area incorporating several large towns and cities.

13. Urban Hierarchy
A national arrangement of urban areas, for example from one large city to many small villages.

14. Essay Planning Tool
Prompt: Referring to 1 or more case studies, explain the opportunities and challenges that exist in megacities.
Sources for study:
Notes
The Real Population Bomb
Documentary: “Sustaining the City” BBC News
Megacities Interactive Tour

15. The Opportunities of a Megacity
Megacities are vibrant centers of economic activity, social interaction and creativity.
Hubs in the global network of economic activities such as trade.
Megacities bring together people and resources and are able to generate huge amounts of wealth.

16. Challenges of Megacities
High population concentration and density
Uncontrolled spatial expansion
Severe infrastructural deficits
Inadequate water supply and sewage
Signs of ecological strain and overload
Poor housing provision
Increasing disparity between rich and poor

17. Homework: Due Monday 1/6
Megacities Interactive Tour
Explore and play around with the interactive maps.
Choose one Megacity: Lagos, Mexico City, or Dhaka and write a 1 paragraph response addressing the following questions:
What are the challenges for this megacity?
What economic/social opportunities exist in this megacity?
You must research at least 1 other source (cite)