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The boundary that the government designates for holding meetings for the welfare of the nation and debating disputes over which solutions can be proposed determines the capital of a nation. We’ll be reviewing the highest capital cities in the world in this article.
Being a nation’s capital provides a clear picture of the nation’s political and economical history.
The fact that a city is a capital does not imply that it is the biggest city in the nation or that the seat of the national government is located there.
For instance, New York is the largest city in the USA, yet Washington, DC, is the capital.
Similar to the United States, India’s largest state is Rajasthan, but Delhi is home to the nation’s capital.
Each nation has a capital, but some, like Russia, have two: Moscow and Petersburg, the former being the historic capital and the latter the modern one.
This article describes the highest capital cities in the world, just in case you have been wondering what the highest capital cities in the world are, then you are in the right place.
What is a capital city?
A capital city is a town or city that serves as a nation’s administrative and governmental hub.
The official capital of Bolivia, Sucre, serves as the country’s administrative center but is not the location of the government in all nations.
The largest cities don’t necessarily become the capital because capital cities are typically carefully selected to facilitate governance.
All things considered, the capital is typically regarded as the “loftiest” city of a nation because it displays that nation’s political strength and standing to the outside world.
As a result, some of the world’s highest capital cities sit on elevations much higher than any other city, giving the adjective “lofty” a whole new meaning.
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What are the top Three Highest Capital Cities In The World?
1. La Paz, Bolivia
Some capital cities are situated at very high altitudes, where the threat to their survival is not the rising sea level but rather, extremely low and high temperatures.
Two of Bolivia’s cities rank among the highest capital cities in the world. The capital of Sucre is located at an elevation of 9,022 feet, while the seat of government is Nuestra Senora de La Paz, which is situated at an elevation of 11,942 feet.
La Paz is the highest national capital in the world, rising between 3,250 and 4,100 meters (10,650 to 13,250 feet) above sea level.
The rarified air at high elevations makes effort difficult for visitors when they first arrive. The La Paz, or Choqueyapu, River carved out a deep, wide canyon that houses the city’s core.
The city benefits from some protection from the chilly highland winds thanks to its location, which is about 1,400 feet (430 meters) below the surface of the Altiplano, the high intermontane plateau.
Since the turn of the century, population growth has caused the city to grow up the canyon walls and out to the edge of the Altiplano.
The narrow, steep, older streets, red-tiled roofs, numerous skyscrapers, highland Indians in colorful dress, and Nevado Illimani (21,004 feet [6,402 meters]) and other snow-capped peaks of the Cordillera Real in the background give La Paz a unique atmosphere—despite the fact that few colonial buildings still stand.
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2. Quito, Ecuador
With an elevation of 9,350 feet above sea level, Quito, the capital of the Republic of Ecuador, ranks as the second-highest capital in the world.
Additionally, Quito is the equatorial region’s capital and closest to it. Despite being a well-liked tourist destination, many visitors who arrive from low-altitude regions experience altitude sickness.
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3. Thimphu, Bhutan
Bhutan has the third-highest capital city and is a nation that many people have never heard of or visited. 8,688 feet above sea level is where you’ll find Thimphu. The only city in the Kingdom of Bhutan, it is also the biggest and busiest.
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What are the other Highest Capital Cities In The World?
1. Bogota, Colombia
At 8612 feet above sea level, Bogota, the capital of Colombia, is the fourth-highest capital city in the world. South America’s third-largest city is behind Lima, Peru, and So Paulo, Brazil.
The fact that Bogota is situated in a valley between the Guadalupe and Montserrat mountains and that several rivers pass through the city is one of its distinguishing characteristics.
At 7726 feet above sea level, Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia, is the highest capital city in both Africa and the world.
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2. Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
The city of Addis Ababa, which is known as the political capital of Africa, is located at a height of 7,726 feet and is encircled by a plateau with abundant vegetation and water sources.
The largest open-air market in Africa is located in the western portion of the city and is called Marcato.
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3. Asmara, Eritrea
The Horn of Africa’s Asmara, the capital city of Eritrea, is located at an elevation of 7,628 feet.
The Grand Mosque, built in 1937, and the Roman Catholic Cathedral, built in 1922, are the city’s two main attractions.
The majority of the city’s residents are Muslims, with Christians making up roughly half of the population.
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4. Sana’a, Yemen
It is higher than 7,200 feet because it is Yemen’s capital. In addition to the regional trade hub, Sana’a is home to a crucial cotton mill built by Chinese entrepreneurs in 1966.
The city is surrounded by enormous walls, and in 1986 it was named a World Heritage site after repairs.
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5. Mexico City, Mexico
At a height of 7,350 feet, the city of Mexico is a significant global financial and cultural hub.
The Templo Mayor, the location of the human sacrifices, is one of the most remarkable landmarks.
The Aztec high priest would raise the ceremonial knife, stab the prisoners in the chest, and then raise their hearts to the sky as a symbol of their devotion to the Aztec gods.
The prisoners of war were forced to the top of the temple.
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6. Tehran, Iran
At 6,003 feet above sea level, Tehran is the ninth-highest capital city in the world.
Tourists from all over the world visit Milad Tower, one of the main attractions and the sixth tallest self-supporting tower in the world.
You will be able to see the entire city from this tower.
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7. Nairobi, Kenya
Nairobi is the tenth-highest capital city in the world and is situated at an elevation of 5,500 feet.
The railways are the largest single employer in the industry and host one of the biggest stock exchanges in Africa.
The Great Rift Valley of Kenya is home to the largest population of lesser flamingos on earth.
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Frequently Asked Questions
La Paz
La Paz is the highest city in the world and has a population of over a million people. At 3,869 meters above sea level, the capital of Bolivia is more than 1,000 meters higher than Quito, which is rated second.
In addition to hosting the seat of government and, if any exist, typically also royalty, it is connected to the state as the city at the top of the territory. The capital must be safeguarded while still being able to exercise leadership and project cohesion.
At 3,640 meters above sea level, La Paz, the administrative capital of Bolivia, is the highest capital city in the world. Despite having dramatic temperature fluctuations, it is also one of the most sought-after tourist locations in the world.
The picturesque capital of Ecuador, Quito, is the second-highest city in the world after La Paz, Bolivia, at 2,850 meters above sea level. It is well known for its preserved old town and is located in a small Andean valley.
One of Asia’s tallest capitals is Thimphu. The south-central Asian nation of Bhutan has a capital city that is 2,000 meters above sea level. The enormous Tashichho Dzong monastery is just one of the many Buddhist sites in Thimphu that are well-known.
Conclusion
Although the Bolivian constitution names Sucre as the capital, the federal government is headquartered in La Paz.
This shows that not all capital cities also serve as the seat of power.
Some capital towns, including Malé, the capital of the Maldives, which is only four feet above sea level, are in danger due to environmental hazards, particularly the increasing sea level.
Even though they may not be capital cities, other coastal cities are under danger due to sea level rise.
The cities of Guangzhou, Miami, New York, New Orleans, Mumbai, Nagoya, Tampa, Boston, Shenzhen, and Osaka are at risk of suffering significant financial losses due to the rising water level by the year 2050, according to the World Bank.
References
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