▲

Weather plays a big role when picking somewhere to live or travel. Mediterranean countries attract thousands thanks to their warm water, while Scandinavian nations benefit from having ice-cold temperatures. However, some destinations have different climates entirely. You may think Tokyo and New York City are some tempting locations, but did you know that they are both cities on the brink of natural disaster?

Click on to explore the places where Mother Nature could strike at any minute, wreaking untold havoc on super-sized cities across the atlas.

▲It may be the city of angels, but LA is also at high risk of natural disasters. It sits on the San Andreas Fault, meaning that earthquakes are pretty common.

▲

The population of over 12 million is at risk from earthquakes, as well as lethal wildfires that have been linked to climate change.

▲China's most populated city is situated on the Yangtze River Delta, leaving it exposed to serious floods, storms, and typhoons.

▲There are 29.2 million people who could be potentially affected by natural disasters. A stretching coastline means water is dangerously abundant.

▲The Iranian capital has a population of over 9.5 million, who are all at risk of living on one of the world's most dangerous fault lines.

▲Tehran's population is exposed to earthquakes, and there have even been talks to relocate the capital to another city. Earthquakes in recent years have injured hundreds.

▲In Nagoya, 9.5 million people are at risk of natural disasters. That's mainly because the city is located along the Ring of Fire, a chain of fault lines that create around 90% of the world's earthquakes.

▲Tsunamis are a big risk in Nagoya, and a magnitude 9.0 earthquake killed as many as 6,700 people back in 2014.

▲15.3 million people live around Kolkata, located next to the largest river delta in the world. There are floods year in and year out, overpowering the city's ancient drainage system.

▲Storms, cyclones, and tsunamis are all quite common in Kolkata, a city without the appropriate infrastructure to beat out such terrors.

▲Nearly 11 million inhabitants are at risk in Jakarta, thanks to a lack of strong infrastructure that can withstand natural disasters.

▲Believe it or not, 40% of Jakarta is below sea level, which leaves the super city vulnerable to floods.

▲Osaka has been historically devastated by natural disasters, like the Great Hanshin earthquake in 1995. Over 19 million are at risk in the city.

▲Natural disasters are unpredictable, but the city is at risk because it's located on a coastal plain.

▲Manila has a population of more than 14 million, half of which is vulnerable to earthquake damage and lethal storms.

▲Recent typhoons include Megi, which hit Manila but didn't lead to a high number of fatalities.

▲The low-lying Pearl River Delta has around 35 million who could be at risk of natural disasters. The urban density makes it a dangerous city in times of trouble.

▲It is considered the number one area at risk for storm surge, and the third highest for cyclone damage. River floods can also be quite common.

▲With a population of more than 15 million, Buenos Aires can suffer from dangerous overheating and flooding from heavy rain.

▲Luckily, Buenos Aires has never had a truly devastating natural disaster, but poor infrastructure makes the city vulnerable to floods.

▲Karachi often gets hit with heavy rains and floods, with the risk of flooding rising year after year. Cyclones, droughts, and landslides are all observed in the Pakistani city, which puts more than 17 million people at risk.

▲Back in 2005, a high magnitude earthquake wreaked havoc across Pakistan, registering over 6,700 deaths.

▲The futuristic city is still at risk to monsoons, river floods, and earthquakes. It's estimated that 80% of its 37 million inhabitants are exposed to serious danger.

▲Tokyo is located on an active fault line in the Pacific, making it vulnerable to tsunamis. The 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami were examples of natural devastation.

▲As a rapidly growing urban center, Dhaka is one of the 20 cities that are most vulnerable to earthquakes around the world.

▲There are over 23 million people who could be affected by Dhaka's droughts, floods, and cyclones. The dense population makes problem-solving even harder in times of disaster.

▲São Paulo falls victim to flash-flooding from time to time, with around 22.6 million people in the potential danger zone.

▲Dozens of residents were killed by flooding and landslides back in 2011. Governing bodies have been criticized for a lack of disaster planning.

▲New York metropolitan area may be one of the richest and most revered places, but it has been historically devastated by natural disasters.

▲

Back in 2012, the region was shaken by Hurricane Sandy. Though comprising of strong infrastructure, its coastal location means more than 20 million people are at risk of facing floods and rising sea levels.