Carnival 2014 Around the World

 

 

 

Carnival 2014 Around the World   Carnival season 2014 is well underway across Europe and the Americas. These pre-Lent bacchanalian festivals have been taking place for nearly a month, ushering out the winter and welcoming in spring. The largest and most famous of all--the Carnival in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil--took place this weekend. The city's 6 million residents, along with more than 900,000 tourists, crowded the streets for days of rowdy, joyous parades and extravagant processions by the city's best samba schools. Gathered here are recent images of carnivals around the world. Colourful samba parades, flamboyant costumes and lively street parties are the order of the day today as nearly every state, city and town hosts its own vibrant carnival celebrations. And many of the dancers are getting into the spirit of the upcoming World Cup - with football-themed outfits, accessories and headwear. Scroll down for video Get this party started: Dancerss of the Rosas de Ouro samba school perform during the first night of carnival parade at the Sambadrome in Sao Paulo, Brazil Fancy dress: A woman dressed in Carnival attire waves at the camera as the world's biggest and most famous annual party kicks of in Brazil Themed: Samba parades, flamboyant costumes and lively street parties are the order of the day today - with many revellers donning World Cup-themed gear (above) Looking glamorous: A female dancer of the Rosas de Ouro samba school performs during the first night of carnival - sporting an elaborate dress and headwear Getting into the groove: A dancer wearing a jewelled bikini and feather cape (left) and a troupe of male performers (right) participate in the Carnival The Carnival, which runs across the whole country until March 4, will showcase Brazil’s diverse culture with a variety of sensational festivities in cities including Salvador, Sao Paulo, Florianopolis, and of course, Rio de Janeiro. According to the Tourism Ministry, the Northeast region of Brazil as a whole will attract around 1.6 million tourists during the Carnival celebrations, generating BRL $1.55 billion (£400 million). Ready to dance: Dancers from the Grande Rio Samba School run through a final rehearsal ahead of their big performance All a-flutter: The theme for the queen from Salgueiro Samba School seems to be based around feathers Spectacular performance: A woman dressed in an elaborate orange costume (left) smiles at the camera, while a male performer (right) pulls a face Grand: The Carnival, which runs across the whole country until March 4, will showcase Brazil's diverse culture. Above, a dancer in a gold sequined costume Colourful: Revelers of Dragoes da Real samba school wear brightly-coloured orange costumes during the first night of carnival parade at the Sambadrome in Sao Paulo Cheerful: A variety of sensational festivities are taking place in Salvador, Sao Paulo, Florianopolis, and Rio de Janeiro. Above, dancers in Rubik's Cube outfits Different themes: A group of men perform in black-and-white costumes with zebra floats (left), while another performer sings in an apple-themed dress Celebrations in the state of Pernambuco are the most popular in the region, attracting about 850,000 visitors, followed by the celebrations in the state of Bahia, which will bring in around 690,000 tourists. Salvador remains the top choice for Brazilians - being well regarded for its attention to both scale and cost. The city sets aside a huge fifteen miles of street for the parades and is predominantly free for all to attend. Preparing for the World Cup: Revellers from the Leandro de Itaquera samba school take part in the first night of the Special Group of the annual Carnival parade Making money: According to the tourism ministry, the Northeast region of Brazil as a whole will attract around 1.6 million tourists during the Carnival celebrations Profit: The Carnival will generate BRL $2.2billion (£570million), BRL $1.7billion (£450million) of which is related solely to tourism - 10 per cent increase on last year Spectactors: Dancers in jungle-based costumes (left) perform in the parade, which attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors (right) Sao Paulo’s Carnival is a lively affair, attracting a huge number of tourists as the city's Samba schools perform for the much-coveted Samba award. The party runs all day and night, as audience members get involved with street parades, or ‘blocos’, and most clubs host extravagant costume parties. The appeal of Sao Paulo is expected to draw in around 28,000 tourists to carnival this year, according to Ítalo Cardoso, Vice president of São Paulo’s Tourism Board (SPTuris) who says, 'I believe the number of visitors will more than double this year'. Celebrations in the state of Pernambuco are the most popular in the region, attracting about 850,000 visitors, followed by the celebrations in the state of Bahia Female frenzy: Women seen in assorted body paint pay homage to the topless revelers during the Band of Market Street parade in Rio, while dancer Paloma Bernardi poses for a photograph before her final rehearsal for the performance during Carnival procession at the Sambadrome Opening of the carnival parade with 2014 World Cup theme According to SPTuris, from the 110,000 attendants last year, 14,000 were tourists, each spending around BRL $728 (£187) on average during this period. Florianópolis, is the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender centre of carnival, hosting the renowned Pop Gay beauty contest for drag queens and transgender people and attracting between 40,000 to 50,000 people, while the more traditional samba school parades and organised parties draw DJs and revellers from across the globe. Singing: Sao Paulo is expected to draw in around 28,000 tourists to carnival this year, according to Ítalo Cardoso, Vice president of SPTB. Above, dancers in Sao Paulo Colourful: Previous years have seen revelers go all out with their elaborate costumes Sporting heroes: There is a distinct footballing theme for one of the floats at the Itaquera Samba School, performing in the Sao Paulo carnival Riot of colour: Brazilians are expected to go all out this year, knowing that the eyes of the world are on them ahead of the World Cup Let the party begin: Carnival officially opens But Rio de Janeiro will be holding perhaps the most outstanding party of all, with 920,000 tourists expected. Around 75,000 local and foreign spectators will pack into the Sambodrome this evening to take part in the spectacular ceremony that kicks off all the celebrations. King Momo, symbolically considered the king of Latin American carnivals is crowned by the mayor of Rio himself and commences the start of the festival which is welcomed with the first samba parade of the season. According to the Rio de Janeiro’s Tourism Board (Riotur), the Carnival will generate around BRL $2.2billion (£570million), BRL $1.7billion (£450million) of this being related solely to tourism which signals a 10 per cent increase on last year. Another carnival: Revellers dance during the opening parade of another carnival in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain, yesterday Exciting: The Carnival of Santa Cruz de Tenerife brings thousands of revellers every year. It is the closest European equivalent to the Brazilian Carnival in Rio de Janeiro All in blue: A group of female dancers pose with their hands in their hips - sporting blue dresses, elaborate headwear and gold heels Flamboyant: Nominee for Queen of the Santa Cruz carnival, Noemi Hormiga (left),  smiles for the camera, while another female (right) dons blue and gold in the carnival Beautiful in white: Queen of Carnival Cindy Klein attends the Queen Gala during Las Palmas Carnival in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain Even before the Carnival kicked off people began celebrating. On February 16, revellers danced with their dogs dressed for carnival, during the "Blocao" dog carnival in Rio de Janeiro. A ten-man brass band and a singer belted out Rio's anthem song "Cidade Maravilhosa" (Marvelous City) as dog owners gathered to party down with their pooches on Copacabana beach. And Brazil is not the only place to host a carnival at this time of year - with celebrations in Santa Cruz de Tenerife and Las Palmas Carnival in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain, also taking place over the past 48 hours. Thousands of Spanish revellers donned an array of colourful costumes and danced down the street, while dressed-up women competed to become 'Queen' of the Carnivals.           A performer from the Imperio da Tijuca samba school parades on a float during carnival celebrations at the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on March 2, 2014. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana) 2 A reveler parades in a traditional Maracatu carnival in Nazare da Mata, in the state of Pernambuco, northeastern Brazil, on March 2, 2014. (Reuters/Ueslei Marcelino) # 3 A float named "Imperial Bocuse", featuring French chef Paul Bocuse parades during the Nice Carnival in Nice, France, on March 2, 2014. The theme of this year's carnival, running from February 14 until March 4, 2014, is the "King of Gastronomy".(Valery Hache/AFP/Getty Images) # 4 A costumed participant poses on St Mark's square during the Carnival in Venice, Italy, on February 23, 2014. The 2014 edition of the Venice carnival entitled "Wonder and fantasy nature" runs from February 15 to March 4, 2014.(Gabriel Bouys/AFP/Getty Images) # 5 Rowers lift their oars in a salute ahead of the traditional regatta on the Grand Canal which officially opened the Venice Carnival on February 16, 2014 in Venice, Italy. (Marco Secchi/Getty Images) # 6 Revelers participate in the traditional 28th Bloco da Lama (Mud block) carnival in Parati, Brazil, on March 1, 2014. The event, which was begun by two men in a playful manner in 1986, has now become a traditional carnival in which participants disguised as primitives with rags, lianas or skulls and bones, dive in the mud. (Victor Moriyama/Getty Images) # 7 Partygoers in the 28th Bloco da Lama (Mud block) carnival in Parati, Brazil, on March 1, 2014. (Victor Moriyama/Getty Images) The Carnival competition sees the city's top samba groups parade in the Sambadrome, each delivering an over-the-top, hour-long display aimed at capturing the annual title. Imperio da Tijuca, the school that opened this year's competition, put on a African theme, with a huge crab-shaped float. Mangueira, one of the most famous schools known for its distinctive green and pink colors, turned to Carnival itself for a parade that feted Brazil's traditional celebrations in a sea of salmon pink and lime green feathers. Each samba school is judged in 10 categories, from the quality of the drum sections to the beauty of the costumes. Whichever group comes in last falls from the top-tier competition into a lower category contest. The competition continues Monday night with displays by six additional schools. Scroll down for video +27 Colorful: Dancers from the Mangueira Samba School celebrate during their parade at 2014 Brazilian Carnival at Sapucai Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil +27 Spectacular: Drum Queen Viviane Araujo of the Salgueiro samba school shows off her stunning festival costume during the annual Carnival parade in Rio de Janeiro's Sambadrome today +27 Jubilant: The Rio Carnival burst into life with a stunning fireworks display and the cheers of thousands of tourists and locals +27 Vibrant: Members of Mangueira Samba School celebrate during their parade at 2014 Brazilian Carnival at Sapucai Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil +27 Impressive: Thousands of tourists and locals head to the Sambadrome to watch the amazing parade of Rio Carnival floats +27 Samba time: Members of the 'Beija-Flor' samba school perform during celebrations of the Carnival at the sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, today Rio's colorful Carnival parades dazzle spectators   +27 Festival: Revellers from the Beija-Flor samba school light up the annual Carnival parade in Rio de Janeiro's Sambadrome, with their dragon float +27 Spectacular: Thousands of tourists were treated to a parade by giant floats during the Carnival parade in Rio de Janeiro's Sambadrome +27 +27 Fun: A dancer wears a fruit inspired costume, left, while actress Claudia Raia, right, jokes with spectators as she dances for the Beija-Flor samba school at the annual Carnival parade in Rio de Janeiro's Sambadrome +27 Acrobatic: The 'Beija-Flor' samba school performs an acrobatic routine from the high wires during celebrations of the Carnival at the sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, today +27 High spirits: The annual Carnival at the sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, is an excuse of a massive celebration +27 +27 Celebration: Revellers of the Salgueiro samba school participate in the annual Carnival parade in Rio de Janeiro's Sambadrome +27 Party time: Performers from the Mangueira samba school parade during carnival celebrations at the Sambadrome in front of thousands of spectators +27 Crowd-pleaser: The Mangueira samba school parade featured giant birds and dancers on top of the float +27 Striking: Hundreds of performers in vivid costumes create a sea of colour during the opening day of the Rio Carnival +27 Rivalry: The Carnival competition sees the city's top samba groups, or schools, parade in the Sambadrome +27 Entertainment: Dancers gyrated atop beautifully prepared floats during the stunning Rio Carnival +27 Atmosphere: A dancer from the Beija-Flor samba school dresses as a horse for the annual Carnival parade in Rio de Janeiro's Sambadrome +27 Audacious: A performer climbs on top of one of the floats in the Rio Carnival in the city's Sambadrome +27 Smoking: The stunning festival draws thousands of spectators from all around the world to see the Rio Carnival +27 Preparation: The samba schools spend months preparing their routine and floats for the extraordinary Rio Carnival +27 Overwhelming: The annual Carnival parade in Rio de Janeiro takes over the Sambadrome, filling it with a cacophony of sound +27 Elaborate: Revellers who joined the Rio Carnival showed off an amazing array of floats +27 Energetic: Mangueira Samba School dancers celebrate during their parade at 2014 Brazilian Carnival at Sapucai Sambadrome in a vivid pink and yellow costume +27 On show: A dancer from the Sao Clemente samba school performs during the first night of carnival parade at the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro today           8 Performers dressed as witches parade across the market square in Waldkirch, Germany, on March 1, 2014.(AP Photo/dpa, Patrick Seeger) # 9 A woman, covered in oil and soot wearing bull horns on her head and cowbells on a belt representing the devil, runs around while participating in carnival celebrations in the small village of Luzon, Spain, on March 1, 2014. (AP Photo/Andres Kudacki) # 10 A young woman carries her mask before performing in a carnival procession in the southeastern Macedonian town of Strumica, on March 1, 2014. Some 2,500 costumed people participated on the main carnival evening. (AP Photo/Boris Grdanoski) # 11 Children wearing masks rest inside a house during Bele Poklade carnival celebrations in the village of Lozovik, some 100 km (62 miles) from Belgrade, Serbia, on March 2, 2014. Bele Poklade has its roots in old pagan customs and is marked annually seven weeks before Easter. (Reuters/Marko Djurica) # 12 A boy wearing a mask jumps over a fire during Bele Poklade carnival celebrations in Lozovik, Serbia, on March 2, 2014. Bele Poklade has its roots in old pagan customs and is marked annually seven weeks before Easter. Children walk through the village to collect eggs, and at the end they jump over a fire to banish evil demons. (Reuters/Marko Djurica) # 13 A reveler dressed as a devil is reflected in a puddle before he takes part in a carnival parade in Lazarim, Portugal, on March 1, 2014. People in Lazarim wear specials wooden masks made by local carpenters during the carnival festivities.(AP Photo/Francisco Seco) # 14 Revelers parade during the "Simpatia e Quase Amor" street carnival bloco along Ipanema Beach in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on March 2, 2014. (Mario Tama/Getty Images) # 15 A woman takes part in the annual block party known as "Ceu na Terra" or (or Sky on Earth), one of the many carnival parties to take place in the neighborhoods of Rio de Janeiro, on March 1, 2014. (Reuters/Pilar Olivares) # 16 A man holds a bottle of sparkling wine as he drives a car at the "Ceu na Terra" block party during Carnival celebration in Rio de Janeiro, on March 1, 2014. Rio's over-the-top Carnival is the highlight of the year for many local residents. Hundreds of thousands of merrymakers will take to Rio's streets in the nearly 500 open-air "bloco" parties. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana) # 17 A woman dressed as a character from the movie Avatar poses for a photo at the "Ceu na Terra" block party during Carnival celebration in Rio, on March 1, 2014. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana) # 18 Daniela Solares from Bolivia walks past the camera as lightning strikes over Copacabana Beach during the "Vem Ni Mim Que Sou Facinha" street carnival bloco in Rio, on February 28, 2014. (Mario Tama/Getty Images) # 19 At the Sambadrome in Rio, a performer in the Mangueira samba school, during the first night of carnival parade, on March 3, 2014.(Yasuyoshi Chiba/AFP/Getty Images) # 20 Performers of the Mangueira samba school participate in the annual Carnival parade in Rio, on March 3, 2014(Reuters/Ricardo Moraes) # 21 Dancers of the Mangueira samba school, at the Sambadrome in Rio, on Monday, March 3, 2014. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana) # 22 The Imperio da Tijuca samba school participates in the annual Carnival parade in Rio, on March 2, 2014.(Reuters/Ricardo Moraes) # 23 Performers from the Grande Rio samba school, during the first night of Carnival in Rio, on March 2, 2014.(Tasso Marcelo/AFP/Getty Images) # 24 The Imperio da Tijuca samba school parade, on a float during carnival celebrations at the Sambadrome in Rio, on March 2, 2014.(AP Photo/Felipe Dana) # 25 Dancers of the Grande Rio samba school perform during at the Sambadrome in Rio, on March 2, 2014.(Christophe Simon/AFP/Getty Images) # 26 A member of the Salgueiro samba school parades on a float in Rio, on March 3, 2014. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana) # 27 A dancer from the Grande Rio samba school performs during the first night of Carnival, on March 2, 2014.(Yasuyoshi Chiba/AFP/Getty Images) # 28 Performers from the Beija Flor samba school, at the Sambadrome in Ri, on March 3, 2014. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana) # 29 A member of the Grande Rio samba school performs at Rio's Sambadrome, on March 2, 2014.(Yasuyoshi Chiba/AFP/Getty Images) # 30 Members of Mangueira Samba School celebrate during their parade at 2014 Brazilian Carnival at Sapucai Sambadrome in Rio, on March 02, 2014. (Buda Mendes/Getty Images) # 31 A dancer from the Grande Rio samba school performs during Carnival, at the Sambadrome, on March 2, 2014.(Yasuyoshi Chiba/AFP/Getty Images) # 32 Performers from the Sao Clemente samba school parade through the Sambadrome, on March 3, 2014. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana) # 33 A dancer from the Grande Rio samba school parades on a float in Rio, on March 2, 2014. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana) # 34 Performers from the Sao Clemente samba school parade during Carnival in Rio de Janeiro, on March 3, 2014.(AP Photo/Felipe Dana) # 35 First Princess of the Carnival, Clara Cristina Paixao de Oliveira, performs at the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on March 2, 2014. (Yasuyoshi Chiba/AFP/Getty Images)

SKIN HUES AND ECONOMIC INEQUALITIES: America's wealthiest are also the most unequal

 

 

 

A revealing new map has made it clear where hundreds of hate groups are based in the United States, showing how racist and radical groups are still largely found in the South but the number of groups has multiplied  dramatically since President Obama too office. The Southern Poverty Law Center has released a 'hate map' last week which shows the national distribution of the various groups that they could confirm. The overall number of groups actually dropped from 1,007 in 2012 to 939 in 2013- the last full year with available data- but one of their more troubling observations is that some of the far-right leaning groups have had their ideologies picked up by conservative Republican politicians. +4 California has the most hate groups with 77 in the state but the majority is still largely found in the southeast of the country +4 Growing trend: The number of hate groups jumps during Democratic administrations but particularly during that of President Obama ‘The idea that the Muslim Brotherhood has infiltrated the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security, among others, is being plugged by U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.). Last November, U.S. Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-Texas) suggested the president was using the Affordable Care Act as cover to set up a “secret security force,”’ the report states. ‘Earlier in 2013, U.S. Rep. Steve Stockman (R-Texas), echoing many Patriot groups, falsely claimed that a proposed United Nations arms treaty “set the stage for [gun] confiscation on a global scale.”’ The SPLC, which focuses much of its work combating racist groups, said that the lack of clear legislative victories for the Obama administration on gun control in the wake of Sandy Hook and the upcoming immigration reform battle appear to have effectively calmed some of the far-right groups. ‘Those factors, along with the collapse or near-collapse of several major groups for a variety of reasons, seem to have taken some of the wind out of the sails of the radical right, leaving the movement both weaker and somewhat smaller,’ the report states. Many states have varying bands of hate groups, but for their map, the SPLC qualified them into eight categories: black separatist, neo-confederate, Christian identity, racist skinhead, white nationalist, neo-Nazi, Ku Klux Klan and general hate. There is only one state- Hawaii- that has no known hate groups but a vast majority of the rest can be found below the Mason Dixon line. The 11 states that make up the area between Texas and the Atlantic are home to 589 of the 939 active groups that the SPLC identified- a whopping nearly 63 per cent. Though Florida hosts 58 groups and Texas has 57, they do not take the top slot this year. More... Has your town made you RACIST? Living in 'ethnically diverse' areas makes people more tolerant without knowing it California actually made the top of the list, which comes as a bit of a surprise given the large immigrant population in the state and the fact that unlike the South, it does not have a history of slavery. +4 Face of the uprising: Members of the National Socialist Movement are seen at a rally near Los Angeles, and like many far right groups, they are campaigning against immigration +4 Dropping slightly: The number of groups in the U.S. dropped from 1,007 in 20

Tales of two cities: America's wealthiest are also the most unequal: Study shows gap between rich and poor is widest in Atlanta, San Francisco and Miami In Atlanta, Georgia, average income for the top 5percent of wealthiest residents ($280,000) in nearly 20 times that of the bottom 20percent (less than $15,000) New York ranks sixth in income disparity with the wealthiest residents making 13 times as much as the bottom 20percent The income gap has become a hot button issue in both national and local politics New York Mayor Bill de Blasio made it a central part of his campaign with the 'tale of two cities' The gap between the wealthy and the poor is most extreme in several of the United States' most prosperous and largest cities. The economic divides in Atlanta, San Francisco, Washington, New York, Chicago and Los Angeles are significantly greater than the national average, according to a study released last week by the Brookings Institution, the Washington-based think tank. It suggests that many sources of both economic growth and income inequality have co-existed near each other for the past 35 years. These cities may struggle in the future to provide adequate public schooling, basic municipal services because of a narrow tax base and 'may fail to produce housing and neighborhoods accessible to middle-class workers and families,' the study said. Enlarge +4 This Brookings Institute maps shows the economic inequality in large cities, with dark green circles (like Atlanta and San Francisco) representing more wealthy disparity +4 Explained: In Atlanta, the average income for the top 5percent of residents is nearly 20 times of that of the income for the bottom 20 percent of residents. 'There's something of a relationship between economic success and inequality,' said Alan Berube, a senior fellow at Brookings. 'These cities are home to some of the highest paying industries and jobs in the country.' At the same time, Berube noted, many of these cities may inadvertently widen the gap between rich and poor because they have public housing and basic services that make them attractive to low-wage workers. The findings come at a delicate moment for the country, still slogging through a weak recovery from the Great Recession. Much of the nation's job growth has been concentrated in lower-wage careers. Few Americans have enjoyed pay raises. President Barack Obama is pushing for a higher minimum wage. Protesters in San Francisco have tried to block a private bus that shuttles Google employees from gentrifying neighborhoods to their offices in Silicon Valley. Many wealthy Americans, from venture capitalist Tom Perkins to real estate billionaire Sam Zell, argue that the nation has tipped toward class warfare. Incomes for the top 5 percent of earners in Atlanta averaged $279,827 in 2012. That's almost 19 times more than what the bottom 20 percent of that city's population earned. +4 Unequal and rising: The gap between rich and poor has also grown the most in San Francisco, Atlanta and Miami since the Great Recession as poor families get even poorer. Meanwhile, the gap has actually shrunk in Seattle and Denver This ratio is more than double the nationwide average for this measure of income inequality. The top 5 percent of earners across the country have incomes 9.1 times greater than the bottom quintile. Major chasms also appeared in the tech hub of San Francisco, the financial center of New York, the seat of the federal government in Washington and the home of the entertainment industry in Los Angeles. 'In San Francisco, skyrocketing housing costs may increasingly preclude low-income residents from living in the city altogether,' the study said. San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee said in an editorial published last week that 'working families cannot support themselves on the (city's) current minimum wage of $10.74 per hour' - already $3.49 above the federal minimum and 64 cents more than Obama's proposed increase. Lee has also announced plans to build and restore 10,000 homes for low and moderate-income families by 2020. Not all tech hubs have witnessed rising inequality. +4 Winning issue: Bill de Blasio was catapulted into New York City Hall in part with his 'tale of two cities' campaigning over the city's wealth gap Seattle, where Amazon and Microsoft are based, saw its income disparity decline since 2007. So did Denver. Austin, Texas, experienced a mild uptick. 'Both the tech boom and energy boom are inequality-reducing,' said Michael Mandel, chief economic strategist at the Progressive Policy Institute in Washington. 'Tech introduces a path to good jobs.' The Brookings study also found that inequality increased across cities even though incomes often fell for wealthy households between the start of the recession in 2007 and 2012. During that five-year period, average incomes for the top 5 percent in Jacksonville, Florida, tumbled $18,999 to $152,329. But the bottom 20 percent living in Jacksonville lost a greater share of their incomes over that period, so the level of inequality increased. Significant gaps also exist in Miami and Baltimore. But that's largely because their poorest residents there earn so little. The lowest quintile of Miami residents earned just $10,348 in 2012, about half the national average for that group. Of the nation's 50 biggest cities, just 18 experienced greater income inequality since the recession that was statistically significant. That was due primarily to falling incomes for the poorest residents. This occurred in places that suffered from the burst of the housing bubble - such as Tucson, Arizona, and Albuquerque, New Mexico - and Midwestern cities still reeling from the collapse of manufacturing such as Cleveland, Ohio; Indianapolis, Indiana; and Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Not all the 50 largest cities are bastions of inequality. Some Western and Sun Belt cities with smaller downtowns had a noticeably smaller divide than the national average. These cities such as Mesa, Arizona, and Arlington, Texas, are essentially 'overgrown suburbs,' the study said. They tend to attract neither the highest-paying jobs nor the extreme poverty of the older cities.