# What's the largest city in the world not near water? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 19, 2009, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-largest-city-in-the-world-not-near-water/500323 "2009-06-19T19:13:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![johnspartan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a183cd/32.png) [@johnspartan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnspartan)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2009, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-largest-city-in-the-world-not-near-water/500323/1 "2009-06-19T19:13:17Z")
Seems nearly all the larger cities of the world are within reasonable proximity of an ocean, lake, river, etc. Understandable for any number of reasons — transportation, crops, etc. What’s the largest city in the world that’s NOT near a major waterway? I’ll let you guys fight about what constitutes “near” (or “major” for that matter). I suppose Phoenix, AZ has to be in the running? ---
**Author:** ![Giles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giles/32/60_2.png) [@Giles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giles)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2009, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-largest-city-in-the-world-not-near-water/500323/2 "2009-06-19T19:23:51Z")
From [this list](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_metropolitan_areas_by_population), Mexico City then Delhi. Phoenix is not in the running. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2009, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-largest-city-in-the-world-not-near-water/500323/3 "2009-06-19T19:28:27Z")
Um… wasn’t Tenochtitlan, the predecessor of Mexico City, built on a lake? Does nothing remain of the lake? And isn’t Delhi on a river? ---
**Author:** ![Giles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giles/32/60_2.png) [@Giles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giles)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2009, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-largest-city-in-the-world-not-near-water/500323/4 "2009-06-19T19:33:47Z")
Well, if rivers count as water, then Phoenix doesn’t count: it’s on the Salt River. ---
**Author:** ![Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapioca_Dextrin)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2009, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-largest-city-in-the-world-not-near-water/500323/5 "2009-06-19T19:55:57Z")
In the US, Vegas has to be the winner. El Paso will overtake it if the Rio Grande eventually dries out. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2009, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-largest-city-in-the-world-not-near-water/500323/6 "2009-06-19T19:57:58Z")
> [@Sunspace](#): > > Um… wasn’t Tenochtitlan, the predecessor of Mexico City, built on a lake? Does nothing remain of the lake? > > And isn’t Delhi on a river? [Mexico City](http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&q=mexico+city&um=1&ie=UTF-8&split=0&gl=us&ei=R-07SpGuN9i0twf1_YgK&sa=X&oi=geocode_result&ct=title&resnum=1) It doesn’t look like there are any huge bodies of water, but there are some lakes and streams within and outside the city limits. ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2009, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-largest-city-in-the-world-not-near-water/500323/7 "2009-06-19T20:00:18Z")
Delhi, India is on the Yamuna River. This has been asked before, and it usually winds up in the end that practically no settlement of over a few dozen people is truly “not near water.” ---
**Author:** ![iamthewalrus\_3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/258eb7/32.png) [@iamthewalrus\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamthewalrus_3)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2009, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-largest-city-in-the-world-not-near-water/500323/8 "2009-06-19T20:10:03Z")
> [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](#): > > In the US, Vegas has to be the winner. There’s certainly [some water](http://maps.google.com/maps?q=lake%20mead&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&hl=en&tab=wl) near Vegas. **bordelond** is right. There really isn’t going to be any major settlement without a good source of water nearby. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2009, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-largest-city-in-the-world-not-near-water/500323/9 "2009-06-19T20:11:47Z")
I doubt Jerusalem is the largest, but it’s still pretty big, and it’s nowhere near any water. It wouldn’t be nearly as large as it is (roughly three quarters of a million) if it weren’t both a capital and a holy city. ---
**Author:** ![Giles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giles/32/60_2.png) [@Giles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giles)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2009, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-largest-city-in-the-world-not-near-water/500323/10 "2009-06-19T20:15:28Z")
Mecca is about twice the size of Jerusalem, and doesn’t seem to be near any water. ---
**Author:** ![Terminus\_Est](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terminus_est/32/3087_2.png) [@Terminus\_Est](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terminus_Est)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2009, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-largest-city-in-the-world-not-near-water/500323/11 "2009-06-19T20:21:42Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > [Mexico City](http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&q=mexico+city&um=1&ie=UTF-8&split=0&gl=us&ei=R-07SpGuN9i0twf1_YgK&sa=X&oi=geocode_result&ct=title&resnum=1) > > It doesn’t look like there are any huge bodies of water, but there are some lakes and streams within and outside the city limits. Mexico City sits on the bed of [Lake Texoco](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Texoco). It would be flooded were it not for the artificial drainage that removes water from the site. ---
**Author:** ![Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapioca_Dextrin)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2009, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-largest-city-in-the-world-not-near-water/500323/12 "2009-06-19T20:22:31Z")
> [@iamthewalrus\_3](#): > > There’s certainly [some water](http://maps.google.com/maps?q=lake%20mead&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&hl=en&tab=wl) near Vegas. It’s 20-30 miles away depending on how you count. Some folk call that close, others not. ---
**Author:** ![johnspartan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a183cd/32.png) [@johnspartan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnspartan)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2009, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-largest-city-in-the-world-not-near-water/500323/13 "2009-06-19T20:39:26Z")
Lake Xochimilco in Mexico City is lake-y enough that they had water events for the Summer Olympics? ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2009, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-largest-city-in-the-world-not-near-water/500323/14 "2009-06-19T20:50:00Z")
> [@johnspartan](#): > > Lake Xochimilco in Mexico City is lake-y enough that they had water events for the Summer Olympics? Nah – [the yachting was contested in the waters off of Acapulco](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1968_Summer_Olympics). … Jerusalem’s got water within piping-in distance, I assume. Surely there is a municipal water supply of some sort? EDIT: Wiki sez: > [@](#): > > Water supply has always been a major problem in Jerusalem, as attested to by the intricate network of ancient aqueducts, tunnels, pools and cisterns found in the city. > > Jerusalem is 60 kilometers (37 mi) east of Tel Aviv and the Mediterranean Sea. On the opposite side of the city, approximately 35 kilometers (22 mi)[103] away, is the Dead Sea, the lowest body of water on Earth. That’s still a fair distance to build from water, though. Especially before modern technology. Was there ever a running river near there in ancient times? ---
**Author:** ![MOIDALIZE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e274bd/32.png) [@MOIDALIZE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MOIDALIZE)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2009, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-largest-city-in-the-world-not-near-water/500323/15 "2009-06-19T21:02:35Z")
Riyadh? They seem to get much of their water from underground aquifers. No major aboveground bodies of water, as far as I can tell. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2009, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-largest-city-in-the-world-not-near-water/500323/16 "2009-06-19T21:05:56Z")
> [@bordelond](#): > > Nah – [url=“[1968 Summer Olympics - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1968_Summer_Olympics)”] > > That’s still a fair distance to build from water, though. Especially before modern technology. Was there ever a running river near there in ancient times? Nope, never. It’s pretty much on the watershed between the Mediterranean and the Jordan Rift. ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2009, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-largest-city-in-the-world-not-near-water/500323/17 "2009-06-19T21:08:24Z")
OK, so ancient Jerusalem was fed by one of [the world’s major underground springs](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gihon_Spring): > [@](#): > > The Gihon Spring was the main source of water for the City of David, the original site of Jerusalem. The Gihon Spring is one of the world’s major intermittent springs, and this reliable water source what made human settlement possible in ancient Jerusalem. The Gihon Spring was not only used for drinking water, but also initially for irrigation of gardens in the adjacent Kidron Valley which provided a food source for the ancient settlement. The spring being intermittent required the excavation of the Pool of Siloam which stored the large amount of water needed for the town when the spring was not flowing. Can’t seem to find whether or not the Gihon Spring is still used this way or not. Of course, the population of Jerusalem is much larger today than back then. ---
**Author:** ![DSYoungEsq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c6cbf5/32.png) [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2009, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-largest-city-in-the-world-not-near-water/500323/18 "2009-06-19T21:09:03Z")
Las Vegas is not on a body of water. Lake Mead, the dammed portion of the Colorado and Virgin Rivers, is far enough away that it did not supply water to the community until much later (well, technically, Lake Mead wasn’t made until much later, but you get what I mean). So what did they live on water wise? Well, the name of the town gives a clue: Las Vegas - The Meadows. There were artesian wells in the area, which flowed sufficient to provide water for the new community. When a community starts, there is ALWAYS some water nearby. But I perceive the OP as talking about cities that are not on major sources of river/ocean commerce or irrigation. I think Las Vegas certainly qualifies there. ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2009, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-largest-city-in-the-world-not-near-water/500323/19 "2009-06-19T21:14:19Z")
As for [the Saudi Arabian cities mentioned upthread](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_supply_and_sanitation_in_Saudi_Arabia#Water_resources): > [@](#): > > Saudi Arabia is one of the driest regions in the world, with no perennial rivers. Water is obtained from four distinct sources: > > [ul] > [li]non-renewable groundwater from the deep fossil aquifers [/li][li]desalinated water [/li][li]surface water [/li][li]renewable groundwater from shallow alluvial aquifers [/li][/ul] > > Only the last two sources are renewable. Their volume, however, is minimal. Current levels of groundwater abstraction far exceed the level of natural recharge: Groundwater is being “mined”. For example, the Al-Ahsa aquifer in the Eastern Province experienced a drop of 150 meters over the past 25 years. Since the usable volume of the aquifers is not known, it is not clear how long groundwater mining can be sustained. Riyadh’s got [nearly 6 million people](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Riyadh#Population), so it’s likely a very strong contender for the OP’s general question. ---
**Author:** ![sailor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a587f6/32.png) [@sailor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sailor)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2009, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-largest-city-in-the-world-not-near-water/500323/20 "2009-06-19T23:15:58Z")
Madrid has a ridiculous stream as an excuse for a river and none of the water that feeds Madrid is from that river but brought from many Km away. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-largest-city-in-the-world-not-near-water/500323.md?page=2)