And I’m guessing “borders.” 
But how would building it without borders make it shaped like an airplane? 
Canberra was purpose built to be the capital, as neither Sydney nor Melbourne would agree to the other’s being the capital. A ‘neutral’ capital was so important to negate inter-colonial rivalry in the run-up to federation that the Australian constitution specifically states:
Seriously? I’m sure I’m not the best example, since two of my LJ friends are Manx, but even with my horrible geographical knowledge* I’ve know the Isle of Man has existed as long as I can remember. Until I was 11 I thought it was in the Channel, not the Irish Sea, but I knew it was over there somewhere.
*Example: I still can’t name all the countries in Africa. In my defense, my education never included African geography.
This is, of course, quite similar to the establishment of Washington, DC (and the U.S. Constitution’s provision for a federal district, now the District of Columbia), which was a planned city established on the swampy banks of the Potomac River to balance out the interests of the northern and the southern states and avoid putting the capital in any of the already established cities.
The Isle of Man is also known amongst certain people as the producer of Angels, Nobles, Cats, and Dogs.
For some reason, I’m pretty good at geography, for an amateur. Quick, US Dopers: What are the 1½ state capitals that are called “name of state+City”?
Capital Cities tend to be centrally located in the country, so as to be evenly accessible and relatively unbiased in their proximity. If there isn’t already a city that fulfils these criteria, they often will build one, which tends to make them extremely boring in their design.
Oklahoma City for sure, and…Carson City? Salt Lake City? Which half counts for half, the state or the city? Or does polis=city?
Oklahoma City and Indianapolis?
It may not be awesome, but I’ve always defined history as “what happened”. The study of history, then, has two main components: knowing what happened, and figuring out what happened. The first is the one everyone immediately thinks of; the second is the bulk of it and by far the more interesting part.
After all, everyone knows what year Columbus sailed the ocean blue, but few of them could tell you why they’re so sure about it.
Actually, the fact that it’s a (mid-20th century) planned city is its distinguishing feature, and it’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site for that reason.
I think whatami was trying to say that the original borders of the city have the shape of an airplane. Look at the picture in Bosstone’s link.
Indianapolis?
I was close. I knew Bolivia and of course knew La Paz, but I couldn’t remember the traditional capital-Sucre.
Cool
I don’t want to talk about it… :smack:
I have. In fact I was there 2 weeks ago for a week staying with a friend in Peel.
I’ve know of it since I was in grade school… and I am American.
Don’t beat yourself up. In recent years I’m constantly finding myself typing out the wrong spelling of some homophone, like “their” instead of “they’re.” I usually catch myself, but I never used to do that. Just getting old, I guess.
I suspect more people know about Manx cats than know about the Isle of Man.
And the TT.
So what’s the first country you hit when you travel due west from the closest part of the USA?