Time Zone |
America/Chicago |
Standard Time GMT / UTC |
UTC-6 |
Daylight Saving Time |
UTC-5 |
Time Zone |
Europe/Budapest |
Standard Time GMT / UTC |
UTC+1 |
Daylight Saving Time |
UTC+2 |
Ames is located in the central part of the U.S. state of Iowa, about 50 miles (80 kilometers) north of the capital city of Des Moines, and is one of the county seats of Boyd and Story counties, as well as the state's most important educational and livable city. As the home of Iowa State University (ISU), Ames has been deeply tied to the university since its founding in 1888, and the university is nationally renowned for its agricultural engineering, veterinary medicine, materials science and other disciplines, infusing the city with a strong academic and innovative atmosphere. With the university's resources, Ames has developed into a center for biotechnology, high-end manufacturing and aerospace research, with leading research institutions such as the National Advanced Driving Simulator Laboratory. With a population of approximately 66,000 (2020 data), the city has been repeatedly recognized as one of the safest and most livable areas in the nation, combining urban convenience with a small-town friendliness that attracts numerous academic conferences and tourists each year.
Budapest, the capital of Hungary and the country's political, economic and cultural center, is located on both sides of the Danube River and is known as the "Pearl of the Danube". This ancient city with a history of more than 2,000 years, consisting of Buda (mountains) and Pest (plains), was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 199. Famous sights include the Gothic Buda Castle, the Neo-Renaissance Parliament building (the second largest parliamentary building in Europe), the White Fisherman's Castle, and the Széchenyi Thermal Baths (one of the largest spa complexes in Europe). As the former capital of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, Budapest is one of the most attractive tourist destinations in Central Europe, with its blend of Baroque and neo-classical architectural styles, and its view of the Danube River from the Elisabeth Bridge, which attracts millions of tourists every year.