Being one leg in one country and the other in a different is not that hard to imagine. You just need to be at a border, but did you know there are cities located where your legs would cross continents? Our article reveals what these unique locations are so read through our list of Cities On Two Continents!

Istanbul, Turkey

Istanbul is a large city that is located in both Asia and Europe. One of the major reasons why Istanbul straddles the two continents is because the city was built on a natural waterway that connects the Black Sea and the Mediterranean. Istanbul has been around for centuries as it was founded in 330 AD by Roman Emperor Constantine II as part of his plan to establish the new capital. As such, Istanbul has gone through many transformations over the centuries as successive rulers take their turn at governing it.

Istanbul with a population of over 15 million people is the largest city in Europe

Suez, Egypt

Suez is a city that is located in Egypt. in ancient times in the same place was the city of Clysma. The modern city was built after an Egyptian discovered a long-abandoned canal from the times of Pharaohs.

Soon afterwards, this canal would become the key to Egypt’s future as it opened Egypt up to trade with other countries.

Suze Canal is 187 miles long and it takes ships from the Red Sea to the Mediterranean. Suez, Egypt is located in both Europe and Africa. It was built on a waterway that connects the Mediterranean Sea to the Red Sea. Suez has historically been an important location because it allowed Egypt to become part of international trade. Today, the Suez Canal still stands as one of Egypt’s most important features since 1869.

Suez is located in both Africa and Asia making it a city that straddles two continents.

Magnitogorsk, Russia

Magnitogorsk is a city that straddles both Europe and Asia. The town is located in the southern Ural mountains in the mid XVIII century. Same time large sources of Iron or had been found nearby, which allows the town to grow.

Around 1930 city was chosen by Stalin to be one of the model industrial socialist cities and a big producer of metals. He is also put Magnitogorsk on the map as a major city of Russia and so it still stands today

Although Magnitogorsk is located on two continents, the city is mainly found in Asia with just a small portion of it falling within Europe. 

Orenburg, Russia

Orenburg is a city in Russia. It was established at the end of the 17th century as a Russian military outpost against the raids by Kazakhs and Kyrgyz nomads. The city also played an important role in trade with Siberia, China, Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, and India.

Orenburg is located on two continents because it is connected to both Asia and Europe. However, according to the Russian Government, its location falls on Europe with just a small portion of it falling in Asia.

Atyrau, Kazakhstan

Atyrau is a city in Kazakhstan. The city is located on the Ural river which is a natural border between Europe and Asia.

Atyrau is located on two continents because it is connected with Europe via the Ural river which is naturally separating Europe from Asia. The people in this area consider themselves European because they’re close to the border of Europe.

City and the wooden fort was founded in the 17th century by Russian settlers. It was soon destroyed by cossacks and rebuild by in stone by the Guriev family, which gave the city its name. In 1992 the name got changed to Atyrau, which in Kazakh means “river delta”.

Atyrau has the status of a port and is home to the oil refinery and shipbuilding industry.

Bonus – Iceland

Iceland is not located on two continents, but Iceland is located on two tectonic plates. That’s the only place where tectonic plates are meeting on the land. So, if tectonic plates are continents then Iceland is on two continents. Not far away from Reykjavik, you are on the bridge that is connecting the North American and Eurasian plates. This is the longest bridge in the world made by two continental plates. read more interesting facts about Iceland.

Iceland is not located on two continents, but it is located on two tectonic plates which are considered to be “continents” by geologists.

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