LONDON – GEOGRAPHY

The City of London is the largest city based on population and is

the capital of the United Kingdom as well as England. London is
also one of the largest urban areas in the entire European Union.
London's history goes back to Roman times when it was called
Londinium. Remnants of London's ancient history are still visible
today as the city's historic core is still surrounded by its medieval 

The following is a list of the ten most important things to know

about the City of London, England:

1) It is believed that the first permanent settlement in present-day

London was a Roman one in around 43 B.C.E. It lasted for only 17
years however, as it was eventually raided and destroyed. The city
was rebuilt and by the 2nd century, Roman London or Londinium
had a population of over 60,000 people.

2) Since the 2nd century, London passed through the control of

various groups but by 1300 the city had a highly

 
organized governmental structure and a population of over
100,000. In the centuries following, London continued to grow and
became a European cultural center because of writers such as
William Shakespeare and the city became a large seaport.

3) In the 17th century, London lost one-fifth of its population in the

Great Plague. Around the same time, much of the city was
destroyed by the Great Fire of London in 1666. Rebuilding took
over ten years and since then, the city has grown.

4) Like many European cities, London was highly impacted

by World War II - especially after the Blitz and other German
bombings killed over 30,000 London residents and destroyed a
large part of the city. The 1948 Summer Olympics were then held
at Wembley Stadium as the rest of the city rebuilt.
5) As of 2007, the City of London had a population of 7,556,900 and
a population density of 12,331 persons per square mile (4,761/sq
km). This population is a diverse mix of various cultures and
religions and over 300 languages are spoken in the city.

6) The Greater London region covers a total area of 607 square

miles (1,572 sq km). The London Metropolitan Region however
contains 3,236 square miles (8,382 sq km).

7) The main topographical feature of London is the Thames River

which crosses the city from the east to the south-west. The
Thames has many tributaries, most of which are now underground
as they flow through London. The Thames is also a tidal river and
London is thus vulnerable to flooding. Because of this, a barrier
called the Thames River Barrier, has been built across the river.

8) London's climate is considered temperate maritime and the

city generally has moderate temperatures. The average summer
high temperature is around 70-75°F (21-24°C). Winters can be cold
but because of the urban heat island, London itself does not
regularly receive significant snowfall. The average winter high
temperature in London is 41-46°F (5-8°C).

9) Along with New York City and Tokyo, London is one of the three
command centers for the world's economy. The largest industry in
London is finance, but professional services, media such as the
BBC and tourism are also large industries in the city. After Paris,
London is the world's second most visited city by tourists and it
attracts around 15 millioninternational visitors yearly.

10) London is home to various universities and colleges and has a

student population of around 378,000. London is a world research
center and the University of London is the largest teaching
university in Europe.