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Location: Watching half my country turn into Gilead
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What US, Canadian, Caribbean and Central American cities/metros are quite geographically different from the majority of their state?
As an example, Wilmington, Delaware and its surrounding environs (particularly north and west of the city) is actually quite hilly. This is in direct contrast to the rest of the state, which is quite flat (7th flattest in the US if I recall correctly, and second lowest state high point after Florida). We're not San Francisco or Seattle here, but it is noticeable, especially when compared to the rest of Delaware.
Northern Delaware, the geographically smallest but most populous part of the state, is also in a different climatic zone than the southern/central parts of the state, as it lies at the border between the humid subtropical and continental climate zones. It is also environmentally different, as it contains Northeastern coastal forests, as opposed to the rest of the state's Middle Atlantic coastal forests, beaches and wetlands.
What other cities/metros qualify? There are quite massive states out there (Texas, California, etc.), so I don't expect this to be an easy or clear-cut answer--there will be multiple answers. "Majority" will also be open to interpretation, here. That said, there have to be other major cities that defy their state's/province's "stereotypical" flora and fauna when one thinks of them. This will be tricky, as most major cities dominate the perception of their state's image, so this may boil down into "technical" answers (most of New York City is probably quite different geographically/climatically than the rest of the state, for example, but it is the most populated/well known part of the state).
Probably Sacramento because it's so much flatter than the other major metropolitan areas in CA (LA, SF, and SD). Also it lacks a coastal climate/microclimate that the other 3 metropolitan areas have.
Location: Watching half my country turn into Gilead
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Quote:
Originally Posted by sav858
Probably Sacramento because it's so much flatter than the other major metropolitan areas in CA (LA, SF, and SD). Also it lacks a coastal climate/microclimate that the other 3 metropolitan areas have.
That's a good one--hadn't thought of Sacramento, but that definitely nails what I was thinking of when I made this thread.
NYC is way different than the rest of New York state geographcially. The city is basically flat (with a few hilly sections in the Bronx and upper Manhattan). And the climate is more temperate than upstate because the temperatures are moderated by proximity to the ocean. In the Adirondacks --which take up a good hunk of NYS -- you are in the interior of the state, with massive snowfalls, lots of (small) mountains, huge pine forests, and lots of lakes. this wasn't NYC geography even before there was a NYC.
Providence... half the city is built on steep hills ... it's the only city in RI with such a dramatic incline. The rest of the state is more rolling-type hills.
Salt Lake City. Gets a lot of rain and snow. Shares the same climate as Chicago, only a few degrees warmer. Salt Lake City is surprisingly green compared to what you'd expect. Most of Utah is a desert after all, SLC sure isn't in a desert area.
Any of the Gulf Coast states, save for Florida, are going to have dramatically different geographies / environments on their coastlines compared to interior cities. Georgia and North Carolina are probably the best examples.
Savannah is sultry and sub-tropical, with tidal marshes and rivers, beaches, palm trees galore and thick canopy of live oaks dripping in Spanish moss. Atlanta is in the foothills of the Appalachians with an elevation of 1,000 feet and an entirely different ecosystem / environment / weather altogether. One part of Georgia gets snow regularly. The other, never.
Any of the Gulf Coast states, save for Florida, are going to have dramatically different geographies / environments on their coastlines compared to interior cities. Georgia and North Carolina are probably the best examples.
Savannah is sultry and sub-tropical, with tidal marshes and rivers, beaches, palm trees galore and thick canopy of live oaks dripping in Spanish moss. Atlanta is in the foothills of the Appalachians with an elevation of 1,000 feet and an entirely different ecosystem / environment / weather altogether. One part of Georgia gets snow regularly. The other, never.
Even in Florida, you will have a radical ecosystem change, going N-S (and vice-versa); going south from Jacksonville, the subtropical landscape, filled with the characteristic Deep South species (live oak, palmetto, magnolia, etc) transforms into a full blown Carribean-like tropical landscape, complete with all kinds of palms, flowers, and tropical evergreens. Geology changes from the worn-Appalachian sediment base in the north to the hard coral/limestone base in the south.
Cincinnati. The city is extremely hilly. The other major Ohio cities are flat.
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