Paris, known for its iconic landmarks and romantic charm, often draws comparisons to other major cities worldwide. But how does the City of Lights measure up in terms of sheer size? This article explores the physical dimensions of Paris in relation to several other global metropolises, offering a visual comparison to provide a clearer perspective.
Paris is comparatively smaller than many other world capitals. When superimposed on a map of Buenos Aires, for example, the périphérique (Paris’s ring road) fits comfortably within the boundaries of the Argentine capital. A journey across Buenos Aires, say from Recoleta to Mataderos, is equivalent to traversing the entire north-south span of Paris. While architectural similarities may exist, the sheer scale of Buenos Aires dwarfs that of Paris.
Comparing Paris to London reveals a more substantial difference. London sprawls significantly further than Paris. To illustrate, if we were to place a map of Buenos Aires over London with the Plaza de Mayo aligned with London Bridge, Plaza Dorrego would fall near Waterloo, Caminito in Peckham, Plaza Italia beyond Regent’s Park near Primrose Hill, and Congreso de Tucumán far out in Hendon. This demonstrates London’s considerably larger footprint compared to Paris.
New York City’s five boroughs collectively dwarf the area of Paris. Using Buenos Aires as a reference point again, with Mataderos positioned on Governor’s Island, Plaza de Mayo would be located near Jackson Heights and La Guardia Airport. This underscores the vast difference in scale between Paris and the sprawling metropolis of New York.
Even San Francisco, though smaller than New York or London, occupies a larger area than Paris. If downtown San Francisco were aligned with Recoleta in Buenos Aires, reaching Congreso de Tucumán would require crossing the Golden Gate Bridge, while Liniers market would be situated out at sea.
When compared to a much smaller city like Geneva, the difference is striking. Geneva is roughly one-tenth the size of Buenos Aires. Placing Geneva on a map of Buenos Aires would place both Caminito and the end of the D Line in France, flanking Geneva on either side.
Rome, like Paris, is significantly smaller than Buenos Aires. When overlaid on a map of the Argentine capital, Rome occupies a relatively compact area, highlighting the substantial size difference between the two cities.
Similarly, Sydney, Australia, while a major global city, is dwarfed by the expansive area of Buenos Aires. This comparison further emphasizes the relatively compact size of Paris compared to many other major cities.
In conclusion, while Paris holds a prominent place on the world stage, its physical size is relatively modest compared to many other global cities. Visual comparisons using a common reference point, like Buenos Aires in this case, effectively illustrate the significant differences in scale. While architectural influences and cultural similarities may invite comparisons, understanding the actual physical dimensions provides a more accurate perspective on the relative size of Paris.
