September 3rd 2024.
Did you know that it takes 17 hours to fly directly from London to the most isolated city on earth? When you think of remote places, you might imagine desolate landscapes and deserted towns. However, you might be surprised to learn that the world's most isolated metropolis is actually a city that you've probably heard of many times before. In fact, you might even know someone who calls it home. We're talking about Perth, the capital of Western Australia.
Perth is often considered the most isolated major urban area when it comes to distance. To put it into perspective, the nearest destination with over 10,000 inhabitants, Adelaide, is a staggering 2,100km away. That's roughly the same distance as London to Casablanca, Morocco. It's a four-hour flight to Sydney, and it's actually closer to Southeast Asian countries like East Timor and Indonesia geographically.
Not only is Perth remote, but it's also quite spread out. The city spans 2,478 square miles, making it only slightly smaller than London, despite having a population almost four times lower. But don't let its isolation fool you. Perth is far from being off-grid. It's a modern city in a thriving country, with everything you would expect, from nightclubs and shopping malls to an efficient public transport system.
But is Perth really the most remote city in the world? Well, that's up for debate. There are other contenders, such as Iquitos, Peru, which can only be accessed by river or air. However, the city of Pucallpa is just over 500km away. There's also Honolulu, Hawaii, which is a mind-bending 3,858km from San Francisco, the nearest major city. But it's close to other vibrant areas on the island of Oahu, like Waikiki Beach. Norilsk, Russia, is another contender, located 2,800km northeast of Moscow and within the Arctic Circle. And some New Zealanders argue that Auckland, which is 2,168km from Sydney, should also be considered.
Some might argue that Perth is not as remote as it seems since it's only 40 minutes away by car from its nearest city, Fremantle. However, most consider Fremantle to be a suburb of Perth rather than a separate city. According to the ARIA+ index, which measures remoteness based on road distance to the nearest urban areas, Perth is considered highly accessible, with a value of 0 out of 15 on the index.
So, technically speaking, Perth might not be the most isolated city on Earth. However, there's no denying that it's still pretty remote. And for those living in Perth, there are some downsides. For one, they need to be prepared to travel if they want to catch up with friends and relatives in other parts of the world. The city is closer to Indonesia than it is to Sydney on the east coast, and for British expats, the quickest direct flight to London takes a staggering 17 hours.
The job market in Perth is also competitive, with over 2.3 million people living in Greater Perth, all vying for the same jobs. And if you're not willing to look elsewhere and consider a very, very long commute, your options might be limited. Plus, you're less likely to catch your favorite bands performing live in Perth, as they often skip the city on their tours.
But despite its drawbacks, Perth also has its charms. Its beaches, for example, are beloved by residents and visitors alike. On the Ask An Australian subreddit, people shared their biggest woes about living in such an isolated place, such as limited restaurant and cultural diversity. However, others praised the laid-back lifestyle and the city's incredible weather and beautiful beaches.
So, while living in Perth does come with its challenges, there's no denying that it has its perks as well. And for those who call it home, they wouldn't have it any other way. After all, it's not every day that you get to live in the most isolated city in the world.
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