23 Before and after pics of incredible places, Part 1

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From:

http://www.triponmag.com/23-before-after-pics-of-incredible-places/?utm_source=taboola&utm_term=dailymailau&utm_content=http%3A%2F%2Fcdn.taboola.com%2Flibtrc%2Fstatic%2Fthumbnails%2Fa02756d27a33729acdc20d430f3c9daf.jpg-23+Before+and+After+Pics+of+Incredible+Places&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=BeforeAfterAll
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From the above link:

Looking through before and after images of some of the most ancient and famous cities around the world can provide an awesome insight into the dynamics of humanity and the way we adapt to our environments. 

From cities that have grown through trade and commercial endeavors, to those that have been re-built following wars and natural disasters, here are 23 before and after photos of some incredible cities around the world. 

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23. Dubai 

In the long distant past, Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates on the Persian Gulf, was known as a fishing village and a trading port. Rapid growth came in the 1970s and 1980s when an international airport was built as a stopover point, and the area became known for its trade in oil. These days, Dubai is the largest and most populated city in that region – and a tourist mecca. (And my daughter lives there.) 

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22. Singapore 

Singapore, in South-East Asia, has ongoing land reclamation projects to increase the land area available for use. Since the 1960s, Singapore has increased their total land area by around 23 percent (or by 130 square kilometers) through land reclamation, and this is set to continue until at least 2030. 

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21. Seoul 

People are known to have lived in the Seoul area in South Korea for thousands of years. At one time it was a walled city – surrounded by a circular wall to protect the people living within. In the early 1900s trade with the west began. Nowadays, Seoul City is a financial hub and home to some of the big global Fortune 500 companies. 

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20. Tokyo 

Tokyo, the capital of Japan since 1869, had to completely rebuild large areas, and its population, following World War II in the mid-1940s. Bombs and resulting fires caused widespread destruction of several large residential areas. The Tokyo region is now the most populous metropolitan area anywhere in the world. 

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19. Sydney 

Archaeological digs have discovered evidence that indigenous Australians have lived in this waterside city for over 30,000 years. Fast forward to the 1930s, and the colonial city was, in the midst of the Great Depression that affected many worldwide. Sydney’s famous Harbour Bridge, built during that period, provided employment to workers. Today Sydney is a ranked as one of the most expensive cities in the world to live in. (And I live here.) 

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18. Fortaleza 

Fortaleza, which is a three-hour flight to the northeast of Brazil’s probably most famous city of Rio de Janeiro, is a coastal area that people have lived in since at least the 1500s. In the 1970s, with over 20 kilometers of beaches, it was a popular destination for Brazilian’s and overseas tourists alike. Today, it’s the fifth biggest city in Brazil with a population of over 2.3 million. (Never heard of it). 

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17. Athens 

As far as cities go, you can’t get much older than Athens! It has been a populated area for around seven thousand years. Athens is built in a coastal basin surrounded by hills and four mountains and now spreads across over 400 square kilometers (250 square miles). 

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16. Berlin 

Berlin in northeastern Germany is said to have been the most heavily bombed city in history. Large areas were destroyed during World War II. The city subsequently spent around 50 years divided, literally, by a wall between east and west that separated its residents. The capital of Germany, Berlin is now a thriving European city. 

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15. Paris 

Paris, in the early 1900s, was a favored home to many artisans and the intelligentsia. It has been that way for centuries, and may it long continue to be so, si’l vous plait! The Eiffel Tower, built between 1887-1889 is still one of the most recognizable and visited structures anywhere in the world, and a bucket-list item for many. 

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14. London 

London, England’s capital, is another city that has a history of people inhabiting the area for thousands of years. The Covent Garden Underground Station, pictured, has been open since 1907. Covent Garden used to be a fruit and veggie market. These days, the activity around the old market square is based on the arts, fashion, entertainment, and tourism. (And Megan Markle lives there). 

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13. New York

New York, New York – the most densely populated city in the USA. In the photo from 1932, you can see the Empire State Building, constructed in 1930 and many of the other buildings that were erected through the industrialization period of the 1800s through to the early 1900s. Fifty years on, in 1988, the modern skyscrapers dominate the skyline. 2013, and the World Trade Centre’s twin towers are gone. 

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12. Los Angeles 

Many people already have an inkling that Los Angeles has Spanish colonial history, the name gives that way. What a lot of people elsewhere in the world don’t know is that from 1821-1847, LA was actually a part of Mexico! The Hollywood Hills later merged with the city in the early 1900s. Only Downtown LA and a few other suburbs have skyscrapers in their central business districts, the rest are predominantly low rise buildings.