The period of air journey between Portland, Oregon and Seattle, Washington is often brief, typically thought of one of many quickest methods to journey between these two Pacific Northwest cities. Whereas direct flights usually clock in between 50 and 60 minutes within the air, whole journey time also needs to consider airport procedures comparable to check-in, safety screening, boarding, and baggage declare. This may add a few hours to the general journey. Variations exist based mostly on particular airways, climate situations, and air visitors management.
Environment friendly and frequent air service between Portland and Seattle affords important benefits for each enterprise and leisure vacationers. The brief flight time facilitates day journeys, enabling people to conduct enterprise conferences, attend occasions, or go to household and mates with out important time dedication. This connectivity contributes to the financial and cultural trade between the 2 cities, fostering a dynamic regional community. Traditionally, air journey has performed a vital position in bridging the geographical distance, changing slower transportation strategies and contributing considerably to the area’s interconnectedness.
Elements influencing journey time, airline choices, airport data, different transportation strategies, and ideas for optimizing journey effectivity between Portland and Seattle might be explored additional within the sections beneath.
1. Flight time
The core part of understanding the period of journey between Portland and Seattle revolves across the precise flight time. Whereas nominally roughly one hour, this determine represents solely a portion of the full journey expertise. A deeper examination reveals the nuances contributing to the general journey period.
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Scheduled Flight Period
Airways usually schedule flights between Portland and Seattle for round one hour. This represents the estimated time an plane spends within the air, from takeoff to touchdown. This timeframe is a vital baseline for planning, however it is very important bear in mind it does not embody the whole journey course of.
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Influence of Air Site visitors Management
Air visitors congestion, significantly round main hubs, can affect the precise flight time. Whereas uncommon, delays because of holding patterns or rerouting can add to the general period. Vacationers ought to take into account this risk, particularly throughout peak journey durations.
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Affect of Climate Circumstances
Climate programs, together with storms, fog, or excessive winds, can impression each departure and arrival instances. Flights could also be delayed and even canceled because of antagonistic climate situations. Checking climate forecasts earlier than journey may help handle expectations and decrease potential disruptions.
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Variations Amongst Airways
Whereas usually constant, slight variations in scheduled flight instances could exist between totally different airways working the Portland-Seattle route. These variations, typically minimal, could come up from variations in plane kind or most popular flight paths. Consulting particular airline schedules offers essentially the most correct data.
Understanding these components contributing to the one-hour flight time offers vacationers with a extra practical perspective on the full journey period between Portland and Seattle. Whereas the flight itself is comparatively brief, incorporating these extra components into journey plans ensures a smoother and extra predictable journey expertise.
2. Airport Procedures
Airport procedures symbolize a vital part affecting general journey time between Portland and Seattle. Whereas the flight itself is comparatively brief, navigating airport processes can add a considerable period of time to the journey. Understanding these procedures and planning accordingly is important for correct journey time estimation.
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Verify-in and Baggage Drop
Verify-in procedures, whether or not carried out on-line or in individual, require time for verification of journey paperwork and baggage dealing with. Airways usually suggest arriving on the airport nicely prematurely of the scheduled departure time, typically two hours for home flights. This buffer permits ample time for check-in, safety screening, and navigating to the gate. Failure to allocate ample time for check-in can result in missed flights.
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Safety Screening
Navigating safety checkpoints includes queuing, presenting identification and boarding passes, and present process screening procedures. Wait instances at safety checkpoints can range considerably relying on components comparable to time of day, airport quantity, and staffing ranges. Vacationers ought to anticipate potential delays, particularly throughout peak journey durations.
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Boarding Course of
The boarding course of itself includes verifying boarding passes, discovering assigned seats, and stowing carry-on baggage. Airways usually board passengers in teams, which might take time. Arriving on the gate nicely earlier than the scheduled boarding time minimizes the danger of delays and ensures a clean boarding expertise.
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Baggage Declare (Arrival)
Upon arrival in Seattle, retrieving checked baggage provides to the general journey period. Ready at baggage carousels and finding baggage can take time, particularly on busy flights. Elements comparable to baggage dealing with effectivity and the variety of passengers on the flight can affect wait instances at baggage declare.
Due to this fact, whereas the flight from Portland to Seattle is comparatively brief, airport procedures considerably contribute to the full journey time. Factoring in these procedures when planning a visit ensures a extra practical estimation of the general period and contributes to a smoother, much less aggravating journey expertise. Minimizing potential delays via early arrival, on-line check-in, and environment friendly packing can additional optimize journey time.
3. Airline Variations
Airline variations contribute to the general journey time between Portland and Seattle, impacting the perceived brevity of this steadily traversed route. Whereas the flight distance stays fixed, operational variations amongst airways introduce variability in scheduled flight durations and, consequently, whole journey time. Understanding these nuances permits vacationers to make knowledgeable choices optimized for his or her particular wants.
A number of components contribute to those variations. Plane kind performs a job; some airways make the most of sooner plane on this route, probably shaving minutes off the flight time. Route planning additionally introduces variability. Whereas most flights take a direct path, some airways could go for barely totally different trajectories because of air visitors administration or different operational concerns. These seemingly minor variations can accumulate, affecting general journey time. Scheduled departure and arrival instances additionally range amongst airways, influencing connection instances and general journey period. Lastly, on-time efficiency information differ between airways. An airline with the next on-time arrival fee contributes to a extra predictable and probably shorter journey expertise.
For instance, Alaska Airways, a serious provider within the Pacific Northwest, steadily operates this route and is understood for its usually environment friendly operations. Whereas one other provider would possibly schedule a flight nominally at one hour, Alaska would possibly full the identical flight in barely much less time because of optimized procedures or plane alternative. Conversely, a finances airline would possibly supply a barely longer scheduled flight time because of using totally different plane or accepting a much less optimum routing to attenuate operational prices. These seemingly minor variations in scheduling and operations underscore the significance of contemplating airline variations when planning journey between Portland and Seattle. Selecting an airline identified for effectivity and on-time efficiency on this particular route can contribute to a shorter and extra predictable journey expertise.
In abstract, whereas the flight between Portland and Seattle stays inherently brief, airline variations introduce nuances impacting general journey time. Cautious consideration of those variations, together with plane kind, routing, scheduling, and on-time efficiency, empowers vacationers to optimize their journeys. Deciding on an airline identified for effectivity on this explicit route contributes to a smoother, extra predictable, and probably sooner journey expertise.
4. Climate Circumstances
Climate situations symbolize a major issue influencing journey time between Portland and Seattle. Whereas the flight itself is comparatively brief, climate programs can introduce substantial delays and even cancellations, impacting the general period of the journey. Understanding the affect of varied climate phenomena on aviation operations is essential for managing expectations and mitigating potential disruptions.
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Fog and Low Visibility
Fog and low visibility situations steadily impression airports within the Pacific Northwest, together with Portland and Seattle. These situations can cut back visibility beneath the minimal required for secure takeoff and touchdown operations. Consequently, flights could also be delayed till visibility improves, generally leading to important delays or cancellations. The unpredictable nature of fog additional complicates journey planning, as situations can change quickly.
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Robust Winds and Crosswinds
Robust winds, significantly crosswinds, can pose challenges for plane throughout takeoff and touchdown. Pilots should fastidiously assess wind situations and regulate their strategy accordingly. Extreme crosswinds could exceed plane limitations, resulting in flight diversions or cancellations. Even when flights function below sturdy wind situations, turbulence could also be encountered, probably impacting passenger consolation.
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Winter Storms and Snow
Winter storms, together with heavy snow and ice, can considerably disrupt air journey. Snow accumulation on runways requires intensive clearing efforts, resulting in flight delays and cancellations. De-icing procedures for plane additionally add time to pre-flight preparations, additional contributing to delays. The severity and period of winter storms can considerably impression journey plans, probably stranding passengers for prolonged durations.
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Thunderstorms and Lightning
Thunderstorms and lightning current important security hazards for aviation. Flights are usually grounded throughout thunderstorms to keep away from dangers related to lightning strikes, turbulence, and heavy precipitation. The unpredictable nature of thunderstorms and their potential for speedy improvement can result in surprising delays and disruptions to flight schedules.
In conclusion, climate situations play a pivotal position in figuring out the precise journey time between Portland and Seattle. Whereas the scheduled flight time offers a baseline, weather-related delays can considerably lengthen the general period of the journey. Monitoring climate forecasts, checking flight statuses often, and contemplating journey insurance coverage are important methods for mitigating the impression of climate disruptions on journey plans. Acknowledging the potential for weather-related delays ensures a extra practical evaluation of journey time and contributes to a extra adaptable and fewer aggravating journey expertise.
5. Air Site visitors Management
Air visitors management (ATC) performs a vital position in figuring out the precise period of a flight between Portland and Seattle. Whereas the scheduled flight time offers an estimate, ATC interventions can introduce variability, impacting each departure and arrival instances. ATC’s major operate is to make sure the secure and environment friendly movement of air visitors, managing the separation between plane and guiding them alongside designated routes. This administration immediately influences the time an plane spends en route.
A number of ATC-related components contribute to variations in flight instances. Holding patterns, instructed by ATC to handle visitors congestion round busy airports, can add important time to a flight. Rerouting because of climate programs, airspace restrictions, or different unexpected circumstances additionally will increase flight period. Departure delays, typically brought on by sequencing plane for takeoff, impression general journey time. Arrival delays, equally influenced by visitors movement administration on the vacation spot airport, additional contribute to variability. Throughout peak journey durations or durations of inclement climate, these ATC interventions turn out to be extra frequent and pronounced, probably resulting in substantial deviations from scheduled flight instances. For instance, in periods of heavy air visitors round Seattle-Tacoma Worldwide Airport, arriving flights from Portland is likely to be positioned in holding patterns, including 15-Half-hour, or much more, to the general journey time.
Understanding the affect of air visitors management on flight period offers vacationers with a extra practical perspective on the potential variability in journey time between Portland and Seattle. Whereas the scheduled flight time affords a baseline, anticipating potential ATC-related delays permits for extra correct planning and reduces the chance of disruptions. Checking flight statuses, monitoring climate forecasts, and permitting buffer time in journey itineraries are sensible methods for mitigating the impression of ATC interventions on general journey plans. Recognizing this inherent variability contributes to a smoother and extra adaptable journey expertise.
6. Time of Day
Time of day constitutes a noteworthy issue influencing general journey time between Portland and Seattle, significantly regarding potential delays. Whereas the scheduled flight period stays fixed, the precise time spent touring can fluctuate based mostly on departure and arrival instances. Analyzing the impression of time of day offers vacationers with insights for optimizing journey plans and mitigating potential disruptions.
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Peak Journey Durations
Peak journey durations, usually weekday mornings and evenings, expertise greater airport congestion and elevated air visitors quantity. This congestion can contribute to longer wait instances at safety checkpoints, elevated boarding instances, and potential delays in departure and arrival. Selecting flights outdoors peak hours, comparable to noon or late evening, could cut back the chance of delays associated to airport congestion.
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Early Morning Flights
Early morning flights, whereas typically fascinating for maximizing time on the vacation spot, might be vulnerable to delays brought on by unexpected operational points or residual delays from the day past. Whereas statistically much less vulnerable to air visitors congestion, early morning flights can expertise cascading delays that ripple all through the day.
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Late Night Flights
Late night flights supply potential benefits by way of diminished air visitors congestion and probably shorter safety traces. Nevertheless, they carry an elevated danger of cancellations or important delays impacting in a single day journey plans. Mechanical points or staffing shortages occurring late within the day usually tend to disrupt late night flights than these scheduled earlier.
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Connection Occasions
For connecting flights, time of day performs a vital position in managing potential delays. Peak hour connections at hub airports improve the danger of missed connections because of delays. Selecting off-peak connections or permitting ample buffer time between flights mitigates this danger. Take into account the potential for elevated delays throughout peak hours at connecting airports when planning itineraries.
Due to this fact, time of day exerts a demonstrable affect on the general journey expertise between Portland and Seattle. Strategically choosing flight instances outdoors peak hours, whereas contemplating the inherent dangers related to early morning and late night flights, contributes to extra predictable and probably shorter journey instances. A radical evaluation of potential delays related to particular instances of day empowers vacationers to optimize their itineraries and handle expectations successfully.
7. Direct vs. Connecting
The selection between a direct and connecting flight considerably impacts the general journey time between Portland and Seattle. Whereas the flight distance stays fixed, the addition of a layover introduces appreciable variability within the whole period of the journey. Understanding the implications of every possibility permits vacationers to make knowledgeable choices aligned with their priorities and constraints.
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Direct Flights: Time Effectivity
Direct flights symbolize essentially the most time-efficient possibility for journey between Portland and Seattle. Eliminating layovers and related airport procedures minimizes general journey time. Passengers proceed immediately from the origin airport to the vacation spot, experiencing solely the required airport formalities at every finish. This streamlined course of usually ends in the shortest journey period. For instance, a direct flight would possibly take roughly one hour, plus airport processing time, leading to a complete journey time of roughly three to 4 hours.
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Connecting Flights: Potential Delays and Prolonged Journey Time
Connecting flights introduce a layover at an intermediate airport, necessitating extra airport procedures, together with deplaning, navigating connecting terminals, and re-boarding. This added complexity will increase general journey time considerably. Moreover, connecting flights introduce the danger of missed connections because of delays on the origin or connecting airport, additional extending journey period and probably disrupting journey plans. As an illustration, a connecting flight with a one-hour layover may lengthen the full journey time to 5 or 6 hours, and even longer if delays happen.
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Value Concerns
Connecting flights generally supply decrease fares in comparison with direct flights. Airways could incentivize much less handy itineraries with diminished costs. Nevertheless, the potential price financial savings ought to be weighed towards the prolonged journey time and elevated danger of disruptions. The worth proposition of a connecting flight depends upon the traveler’s sensitivity to time versus price.
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Availability and Scheduling
Direct flights between Portland and Seattle function steadily all through the day, providing quite a few choices for vacationers. Nevertheless, particular instances or days could have restricted direct flight availability, necessitating consideration of connecting flights. Connecting flights broaden journey choices, probably offering entry to extra handy departure or arrival instances regardless of the elevated general journey period.
In abstract, the selection between a direct and connecting flight includes a trade-off between time effectivity, price, and schedule flexibility. Direct flights prioritize minimizing journey time, whereas connecting flights could supply price financial savings or expanded scheduling choices on the expense of elevated period and potential disruptions. Cautious consideration of those components permits vacationers to pick the optimum flight kind aligned with their particular wants and priorities when touring between Portland and Seattle.
8. Airport Location (PDX/SEA)
Airport location performs a basic position in figuring out the relevance and applicability of flight period data for journey between Portland and Seattle. Specifying the proper airport codes, Portland Worldwide Airport (PDX) and Seattle-Tacoma Worldwide Airport (SEA), ensures correct evaluation of journey time. Whereas seemingly simple, variations in regional airport utilization can introduce important discrepancies in flight period and general journey planning.
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Main Airports: PDX and SEA
Portland Worldwide Airport (PDX) and Seattle-Tacoma Worldwide Airport (SEA) function the first industrial airports for his or her respective metropolitan areas. When discussing flight durations between Portland and Seattle, these are the implicit departure and arrival factors. Utilizing these particular airport codes when trying to find flights ensures correct outcomes reflecting the standard short-haul flight period of roughly one hour. Deviations from these major airports necessitate cautious consideration of other transportation strategies and their related time implications.
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Regional Airports and Different Routes
Smaller regional airports exist in each the Portland and Seattle areas, providing different departure and arrival factors. As an illustration, flights working from Salem Municipal Airport (SLE) to Paine Subject Airport (PAE) would possibly technically join the broader Portland and Seattle areas, however their flight durations and general journey instances differ considerably from the usual PDX-SEA route. Using regional airports could necessitate extra floor transportation to ultimate locations, impacting whole journey time. Readability relating to airport choice is due to this fact essential for correct evaluation of journey period.
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Influence on Floor Transportation
Airport location immediately influences floor transportation time to ultimate locations throughout the respective metropolitan areas. Whereas PDX and SEA supply handy entry to their metropolis facilities through varied transportation modes, journey time from regional airports can range considerably. As an illustration, reaching downtown Seattle from SEA would possibly take considerably much less time than reaching downtown Seattle from PAE. Contemplating floor transportation time together with flight period offers a complete understanding of whole journey time.
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Multi-Airport Cities and Code Disambiguation
The significance of specifying airport codes turns into significantly obvious in multi-airport areas. Whereas much less vital for Portland, the broader Seattle space hosts a number of airports, together with Boeing Subject/King County Worldwide Airport (BFI). Utilizing “Seattle” as a basic search time period with out specifying SEA may yield flight data from BFI, probably misrepresenting journey time to the meant vacation spot. Explicitly utilizing PDX and SEA eliminates ambiguity and ensures correct flight data retrieval.
In conclusion, correct specification of airport location, utilizing the designated codes PDX and SEA, is paramount for acquiring related and dependable flight period data between Portland and Seattle. Whereas different regional airports exist, they symbolize distinct journey eventualities with various durations and floor transportation concerns. Clearly figuring out PDX and SEA because the departure and arrival factors ensures that flight data pertains particularly to the generally understood route between these two main Pacific Northwest cities. Failing to specify these airport codes introduces potential inaccuracies, impacting journey planning and probably resulting in important deviations from anticipated journey instances.
Steadily Requested Questions
This part addresses widespread inquiries relating to flight durations between Portland and Seattle, offering concise and informative responses to facilitate knowledgeable journey planning.
Query 1: What’s the typical flight time between Portland (PDX) and Seattle (SEA)?
Direct flights between PDX and SEA usually take between 50 and 60 minutes. Nevertheless, whole journey time, together with airport procedures, ought to be factored into journey plans.
Query 2: How do climate situations have an effect on flight instances on this route?
Climate, significantly fog, sturdy winds, and winter storms, can considerably impression flight schedules. Delays and cancellations are attainable relying on the severity of the situations. Checking climate forecasts earlier than journey is really useful.
Query 3: Are there different airports close to Portland or Seattle which may supply totally different flight durations?
Whereas smaller regional airports exist close to each cities, they don’t seem to be usually used for industrial flights between Portland and Seattle. Flights between PDX and SEA symbolize the usual route for air journey between these two cities.
Query 4: How does air visitors management affect journey time on this route?
Air visitors management can impression flight instances because of components comparable to holding patterns, rerouting, and visitors administration at each airports. These components can introduce variability in arrival and departure instances, particularly throughout peak journey durations.
Query 5: What are the standard baggage allowance insurance policies for flights between Portland and Seattle?
Baggage insurance policies range amongst airways. Checking the particular airline’s web site for luggage allowances, charges, and restrictions is really useful earlier than journey.
Query 6: Are there important variations in flight instances between totally different airways servicing this route?
Whereas the flight distance stays fixed, minor variations in flight instances could happen because of variations in plane kind, routing, and airline-specific procedures. These variations are usually minimal however can affect general journey time when mixed with different components.
Cautious consideration of those steadily requested questions offers vacationers with a extra complete understanding of the components influencing journey time between Portland and Seattle. Proactive planning and knowledgeable decision-making contribute to a smoother and extra predictable journey expertise.
The next part explores different transportation choices between Portland and Seattle, providing extra journey planning concerns.
Ideas for Optimizing Journey Between Portland and Seattle
Optimizing journey effectivity between Portland and Seattle requires cautious consideration of varied components impacting general journey time. The next ideas supply sensible steerage for minimizing journey period and enhancing the journey expertise.
Tip 1: Guide Direct Flights Each time Potential
Direct flights eradicate the time and potential issues related to layovers, considerably decreasing general journey time. Prioritizing direct flights streamlines the journey and minimizes potential disruptions.
Tip 2: Journey Throughout Off-Peak Hours
Touring throughout off-peak hours, comparable to noon or late evening, can cut back the chance of encountering airport congestion and potential delays. Much less crowded airports contribute to smoother and probably sooner processing instances.
Tip 3: Make the most of On-line Verify-in and Cell Boarding Passes
On-line check-in and cell boarding passes expedite airport procedures, decreasing time spent at check-in counters and kiosks. Streamlined processing facilitates faster navigation via airport formalities.
Tip 4: Pack Gentle and Effectively
Packing gentle, adhering to airline baggage restrictions, and using carry-on baggage every time possible minimizes baggage dealing with time and potential delays at baggage declare. Environment friendly packing streamlines the general journey course of.
Tip 5: Monitor Climate Forecasts and Flight Statuses
Staying knowledgeable about climate situations and flight statuses permits proactive changes to journey plans in case of delays or cancellations. Actual-time data empowers vacationers to adapt to unexpected circumstances.
Tip 6: Permit Ample Time for Airport Procedures
Arriving on the airport nicely prematurely of scheduled departure instances, factoring in potential delays at safety checkpoints and different processing factors, mitigates the danger of missed flights. Enough time allocation reduces stress and enhances predictability.
Tip 7: Take into account Transportation Choices to and from Airports
Researching and pre-arranging floor transportation to and from airports minimizes transit time and ensures seamless connections. Environment friendly floor transportation contributes to a smoother general journey expertise.
Tip 8: Discover Different Transportation Strategies
Relying on particular person circumstances, different transportation strategies comparable to prepare or bus providers could supply viable alternate options to air journey, significantly for cost-conscious vacationers. Evaluating different modes offers a complete perspective on journey choices.
Implementing these methods optimizes journey effectivity between Portland and Seattle, minimizing journey time and maximizing predictability. Cautious planning and knowledgeable decision-making improve the general journey expertise.
The concluding part summarizes the important thing takeaways relating to journey period and optimization methods between Portland and Seattle.
Conclusion
Figuring out the period of a flight from Portland to Seattle requires consideration of a number of interconnected components past the nominal one-hour flight time. Airport procedures, airline variations, climate situations, air visitors management, time of day, and the selection between direct and connecting flights all contribute to the general journey time. Correct evaluation necessitates contemplating these components collectively quite than relying solely on scheduled flight durations. Moreover, exact airport identification, utilizing PDX for Portland and SEA for Seattle, ensures related data retrieval, excluding probably deceptive information from regional airports. Optimization methods, comparable to reserving direct flights, touring throughout off-peak hours, using on-line check-in, and monitoring climate forecasts, empower vacationers to attenuate journey time and improve predictability. Understanding these components permits for knowledgeable decision-making and a extra environment friendly journey expertise.
Environment friendly and dependable air journey between Portland and Seattle performs a vital position within the interconnectedness of the Pacific Northwest area. Minimizing journey time via knowledgeable planning and strategic decision-making maximizes the advantages of this very important transportation hyperlink. Continued give attention to optimizing air journey effectivity contributes to the continued financial and cultural trade between these two dynamic cities.
