Beneath the Metropolis: The Natural and Man-Made Underground of the World's Great Cities

Urbanization has dramatically increased worldwide in the last few decades resulting in the creation of mega-cities (cities with populations of at least 10 million). But few people living in these areas have any idea of what lies underfoot, or understand its importance. In Beneath theMetropolis, Alex Marshall leads an informative and entertaining 12-city tour brimming with fascinating details about this mysterious underground realm. An absorbing topic for anyone that has visited or lives in a large city, this book demonstrates that without the subterranean web of wires, tunnels, pipes, and cables, the modern city would not exist.

Beneath the Metropolis peels back the layers of history, politics, economics, and geology covering some of the most populous, and most interesting cities: New York; Chicago; San Francisco; Mexico City; Paris; Rome; London; Moscow; Cairo; Tokyo; Beijing; and Sydney. Each rests atop an immense labyrinth of infrastructure that, while hidden from view, helps to give every metropolis its character, and offers clues about how certain changes have enabled future sustainability. Numerous photographs, maps, diagrams, and timelines appear throughout the book enhancing an engaging narrative about the new human habitat.