"Blue banana" is not an exotic plant, but the name of one of the most industrialized areas in the center of Europe. The emergence of such a field was not the result of the purposeful work of any body or organization. The formation took place in natural conditions, due to the laws of the market economy.
What is a megalopolis?
A very large city with a population of more than 1 million people is defined as a metropolis. "Blue banana" refers to megalopolises. Literally translated from Greek, a very large, huge city. By far the largest form of settlement. It is formed on the basis of the confluence of several urban agglomerations, compact clusters, mainly urban settlements. In places they can pass one into another, forming a complex dynamic multi-component system, united by cultural, transport links and intensive production.
The term was first used by the Frenchman Jean Gottman. So he called the union of almost forty neighboring agglomerations. They spontaneously formed in the north of the Atlantic coast of America a settlement stretched along transport routes with a total area of several thousand square kilometers with a population of tens of millions of people.
Features:
- close interaction of city centers located at a relatively short distance from each other;
- polycentric structure, in which there is no obvious dominant center;
- development runs along railways, highways, large rivers or the sea coast and has a distinct linear appearance;
- the emergence of environmental problems associated with a very dense population of territories.
European
Geographically, the "Blue Banana" is located from north to south along the line of major industrial centers and cities in Europe. Conventionally, its beginning is in the North-West of England in Lancashire. Here are the ancient centers of the coal and steel industry. The southernmost point is the northwest of Italy - Turin, Genoa, Milan.
The Blue Banana passes through Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands and Switzerland, the most densely populated regions of Europe. In total, up to 110 million people live in the designated area. For its exceptional position, this area is also called the "European economic backbone".
The Blue Banana Megalopolis includes the following urban agglomerations:
Belgium:
- Flemish diamond: Brussels, Antwerp, Ghent, Leuven.
UK:
- Birmingham – Wolverhampton;
- Liverpool;
- Linds-Brandford
- London;
- Manchester-Salford;
- Midlands;
- Nottingham – Derby;
- Sheffield.
Germany:
- Mannheim;
- Rhine-Ruhr region;
- Frankfurt am Main;
- Stuttgart region.
Italy:
- Genoa;
- Milan;
- Turin.
France:
- Nice.
Netherlands:
- Arnhem – Nijmegen;
- Brabant;
- Randstad.
Switzerland:
- Zurich.
interstate:
- Basel agglomeration (Germany, France, Switzerland);
- Strasbourg, Ortenau (Germany, France).
- Lille, Kortrijk, Tournai (Belgium, Netherlands, France);
- Masco-Rhine region (Netherlands, Belgium, Germany);
- Saarbrücken, Vorbakom (Germany, France).
Global Giants
There are several mega-cities in the world:
- USA: Boswash from Boston to Washington. It is a chain of cities on the Atlantic coast, 750 km long. About 15% of the US population lives on the territory, up to 25% of America's industrial enterprises are located.
- Europe: Blue Banana megalopolis (has had its name since 1989). It has a well-developed transport infrastructure. It includes the largest European ports and airports. In this region are locatedoffices of many international organizations: European Parliament, NATO, International Court of Justice.
- China: The Yangtze Delta, aka the Yangtze Golden Triangle. It covers an area of 99,600 km². 80 million people live here, 50 million are urban residents. The megalopolis includes the world's largest city in terms of population - Shanghai. The contribution of the region to the country's GDP is 21%.
- UK: London-Liverpool. The length reaches 400 km, the population density is high, up to 500 people per km2. It consists of about 30 agglomerations, with a population of 35 million people. The largest London - 12 million inhabitants.
- USA: Sansun from San Francisco to San Diego. 10% of the country's population lives here, it is one of the largest coastal agglomerations in the world, its length is 790 km. The youngest metropolis in the US.
- Japan: Tokaido from Tokyo to Osaka and Kobe. Stretches for 700 km, home to 56% of the country's population (70 million people).
- USA and Canada: Chipits, Great Lakes Region. Area 160 km2, population about 35 million
Perspective
The Blue Banana has good prospects for further development, suggesting its extension to Rome. Areas that are attractive for large investments contribute to the expansion of the "banana" zone. Currently, the Golden Banana is relevant, with a population of up to 45 million inhabitants. Its beginning is in the Italian cities of Genoa and Turin. Further, it runs along the coastline of the Mediterranean Sea. Passes through France (Lyon, Marseille, Monaco, Nice,Toulon, Toulouse) and ends in Spain (Barcelona, Valencia, Cartagena).
In the eastern direction, the interstate megalopolis "Green Banana" is interesting. It starts in Poland, passes through the Czech Republic, Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Slovenia, Croatia and ends in Trieste, Italy. This area is home to 40 million people.
