Townsville, the economic capital of northern Queensland, is one of Australia's largest ports and a major military base. Behind these unattractive attributes, this city is similar to Cairns in many ways - same number of inhabitants, colonial architecture, lively city centre, relaxed population, artificial lagoon, starting point to the Great Barrier Reef - less glitz and glamour but more authenticity. The Ross Creek River which divides the city in two, the pretty wooden houses on stilts, the colossal esplanade on the seafront, the pretty beaches and the breathtaking view of Magnetic Island make it a underrated city that deserves to be better known. With a population of nearly 140,000 and located 200km north of Airlie Beach, the city marks the beginning of the rainforest, the boundary between Australia's subtropical and tropical regions. For decades, Townsville and Cairns have been overflowing with energy to win the title of Capital of Northeast Australia. Each has undeniable assets but Cairns has the advantage since it enjoys an international reputation while Townsville is more intimate. Townsville is a city on Australia's northeast coast, located in the state of Queensland. It is the largest city in North Queensland, and its unofficial capital. By 2012, it had a population of 184,768. It is administered within the Town of Townsville. The Townsville area is sometimes called "Twin Cities" because the area includes the towns of Townsville (on the coast and southern part of the region) and Thuringowa (inland and northern part of the region). Since 2008, Thuringowa has also been administered by the City of Townsville. The city's main attractions are The Strand, a long tropical beach, Riverway, an amusement park, Reef HQ, the world's largest coral aquarium, the Museum of Tropical Queensland and nearby Magnetic Island, largely listed as a national park.