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I think the problem is what do we define as the formal definition of an isolated city? Seattle is far closer to other major cities and the 500 mile driving radius around Seattle would have Vancouver, Portland, Spokane, Eugene, and Boise within that Bubble. The only large city within that bubble for Denver is Albuquerque, which is barely in it. However, is you are looking at flight times the PNW will lose ever time dues to it’s geography positioning. This positioning makes places like Seattle and Vancouver very international cities, that are easy to fly to Asia. Geographical, Seattle is about the same distance from Tokyo and London, which would make it easier if you are an international business traveller. But Denver is far better positioned as an outpost for domestic travel. To me thats a question of what is the most isolated Geography region, rather than cities. Seattle’s population within that 500 mile radius is probably atleast twice that of Denver’s. For me, isolation is ease to travel to over cities regionally, rather than flying. I can take a day trip and explore other cities in Seattle. In Denver, thats extremely hard without spending 10+ hours driving, or taking a flight.
For me, isolation is ease to travel to over cities regionally, rather than flying. I can take a day trip and explore other cities in Seattle. In Denver, thats extremely hard without spending 10+ hours driving, or taking a flight.
Yeah, once you're flying, most of the time is spent on ground transportation to the airport, security, waiting at the gate, flight delays, sitting on the runway, baggage claim, getting to a rental car place and renting a car at the destination. So to me a 2 hr versus 4 hr flight isn't a big deal. You could easily spend an hour just getting a rental car.
A 2.5 hr drive to the nearest large city Vancouver from Seattle versus a 6.5 hr drive to the nearest large city ABQ from Denver is a big deal though.
Seattle is 100 miles as the crow flies from the open sea, much further by road or water, tucked away inside Puget Sound. https://goo.gl/maps/awnoNgVsEDo3SqEU8
My overall point was that both are barren and the water is more of a barrier than the plains. You can easily drive east from Denver, can't drive west of Seattle very far.
My overall point was that both are barren and the water is more of a barrier than the plains. You can easily drive east from Denver, can't drive west of Seattle very far.
Of course Washington State runs 21 car ferries from the Seattle area, carrying 23M passengers a year. So there is a way to commute through the water. I don't know how barren the west Puget Sound area is compared to east of Denver, but that's a lot of ferry traffic.
Of course Washington State runs 21 car ferries from the Seattle area, carrying 23M passengers a year. So there is a way to commute through the water. I don't know how barren the west Puget Sound area is compared to east of Denver, but that's a lot of ferry traffic.
I'm talking about the visuals though. It was discussed that the plains east of Denver make the city feel isolated. My question is how doesn't open water not do the same?
I've been to all 4 and lived in Seattle and Denver. I would always tell family and friends that Denver felt isolated to met - it is just so far from any other civilized place. The feeling of isolation there was stronger than what I felt in Seattle.
I'm talking about the visuals though. It was discussed that the plains east of Denver make the city feel isolated. My question is how doesn't open water not do the same?
Here is a water-level view from Seattle - clearly land and hills are visible in the distance. It is not "open water" in the same sense that an ocean is, where water continues beyond the rim of the horizon. https://goo.gl/maps/6UMeiGEJE4y9ozE37
That's the way I see it anyway. I can get the isolated feeling on an ocean front, but not where I can see land in the distance. Others may see any water as an isolating barrier, no matter what the width. I just don't.
I'm talking about the visuals though. It was discussed that the plains east of Denver make the city feel isolated. My question is how doesn't open water not do the same?
It’s not just open water though. Directly across from Seattle is the snow capped Olympic Mountains and the Olympic Peninsula. Doesn’t give that desolate feeling when you are looking of the eastern plains.
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