In the northeast of the United States of America, in the state of New York, there is a megalopolis of the same name spread over several islands, which is sometimes also called the Big Apple. The Hudson River flows through the city, which flows into a small bay and then into the Atlantic Ocean. Most of New York is made up of the islands of Manhattan, Staten Island and Long Island. During the time of Dutch colonization, the land was constantly modified, clay and stones from buildings were loaded here and the coast was dried. The most intensive work took place in lower Manhattan.
According to act-test-centers, New York covers an area of 1,214.4 km2, of which 789.5 km2 is land and 428.8 km2 is water. The city was founded by the Dutch in 1625, and since 1790, New York has been the largest, most populous and busiest city in the United States of America – over 8 million people live here. The population density is 10,316 inhabitants per km², which is the highest in the entire USA. In this cosmopolitan city, you will meet people of all nationalities, skin colors and all kinds of opinions and behaviors. It is the world center of trade, finance and, thanks to the seat of the United Nations, also the center of diplomacy and international relations. Additionally, New York has global influence in media, politics, education, entertainment, art, fashion and advertising.
New York consists of five boroughs: Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens, Bronx and Staten Island:
Brooklyn is the most populous borough, until 1898 it was even a separate city. Located southeast of Manhattan, it is characterized by great cultural, social and ethnic diversity, an independent art scene, many unique neighborhoods with interesting architecture. The symbol of Brooklyn is naturally the architecturally unique Brooklyn Bridge, which connects the borough with lower Manhattan. One of the first recreational areas in the USA – Coney Island – grew up in Brooklyn in the 1870s.
Manhattan is the true heart of New York and is characterized by multi-story skyscrapers as well as Central Park and Harlem, where you can get a glimpse of African-American culture. It is the most densely populated part of the city, the financial center of the city and the whole world. Many important companies, universities, galleries, museums and also theaters are located here. Manhattan is unofficially divided into lower, middle and upper sections. Upper Manhattan is further divided by Central Park into the Upper East Side and the Upper West Side. The island, only about 3.5 kilometers wide and about 22 kilometers long, is a symbol of the city.
The largest borough is Queens. In the past, only a few small towns and villages stood in these places, today the place is a sought-after location for the middle class. Queens is the most ethnically diverse corner of New York City and, thanks to its ever-growing population, is likely to soon become the city’s most populous borough. Although Queens is not as popular with tourists as Manhattan, you will also find a number of places that are worth seeing. For example, the home stadium of the New York Mets – Shea Stadium – is located here and the famous US Open is held here every year. Queens is home to two of New York’s largest airports – La Guardia and JFK.
The Bronx is the northernmost borough, which still makes people feel not very safe because of the past. It used to be a wild neighborhood full of gangs that settled scores with each other even in broad daylight. Today, the situation has changed and the Bronx is much safer, but tourists prefer to avoid it. The Bronx still has a lot to offer, especially its zoological and botanical gardens, the home stadium of the New York Yankees team – Yankee Stadium, or the largest cooperatively owned complex in the USA, Co-op City. The Bronx is the only part of New York that is located on the American mainland, it is the birthplace of rap and hip-hop.
The last part of the city is Staten Island, which, however, is a bit out of the interest of tourists. The only exception is the Staten Island Ferry, which transports people from lower Manhattan to Staten Island past the Statue of Liberty every few dozen minutes. The ferry ride is one of the most popular attractions in the city, as it offers a great view of not only the Statue of Liberty, but also neighboring Ellis Island and lower Manhattan. Many people don’t even get off the ferry and sail right back to the port. At the same time, Staten Island offers parks with an area of 25 km2 and 56 km of hiking trails. You will also find untouched forest stands, which have been included in the nature protection system since 1984.
Most visitors to this ever-living and vibrant American metropolis head to Manhattan first. It is here that you will find most of the landmarks without which a visit to New York would not be complete. Although New York is really huge, orientation in it is not that much of a problem. Just remember that the vertical series of streets are called “Avenues” and the horizontal “Streets”. They cross each other and create such a checkerboard. The only long diagonal street in Manhattan is Broadway, which leads you to Times Square full of billboards and theaters where the world’s most famous musicals are performed. The tallest building in New York is now the Empire State Building, which has 103 floors and is 443 meters high. It offers a beautiful view of the entire city. The oldest skyscraper in the city is the Flatiron Building located in the area called Midtown. In Midtown you will find other great attractions of the city – Rockefeller Center, the Cathedral of St. Patrick, Madison Square Garden, Chrysler Building and more.
The only green space in the city where people go to relax, play sports or just walk is Central Park with lakes, which is the work of Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Caux. With nearly 30 million visitors, it is the most visited park in the United States. It starts above Midtown and its rectangular shape stretches far north. The park is criss-crossed by a number of cycle paths and roller-skating paths. You can also see local artists here, presenting their work and offering art. It is flanked by the Upper East Side and Upper West Side.
The symbol of New York and perhaps the entire United States is the Statue of Liberty, which stands on Liberty Island. There is a viewpoint in the crown of the statue, but it has been closed for security reasons since the terrorist attacks in 2001. A unique experience can be a walk through Chinatown, Little Italy, Soho, Tribeca or Greenwich Village, etc., which are actually cities within a city.
