New York

New York has a population of about 8 million people not including the suburbs. It is the largest city in the USA and it is located on the Hudson River. It has 5 boroughs: Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, Richmond, and the Bronx. It is a financial, commercial, cultural and industrial centre with the nickname of The Big Apple or the Melting pot (because of the great number of immigrants living there).

Regarding history, in 1624 it was called New Amsterdam as it was established by the Dutch. The island was bought from the Indians for goods worth only 24 dollars. In 1664, it became an English colony named New York (after the Duke of York). The English conquered it without a fight. Since 1886, the Statue of Liberty has welcomed emigrants as they enter the city. In 2001, there was a terrorist attack on the Twin Towers (the World Trade Centre).

Regarding the layout of the city, Manhattan Island is 23 km long and 3 km wide. It is divided into 3 parts: Uptown, Downtown, and Midtown. There are 12 avenues that run vertically and 220 streets that run horizontally. There is also one diagonal street – Broadway. The communities of immigrants are: Chinatown, Little Italy, the Jewish neighborhood, and Harlem – the African American community.

Regarding sightseeing in Uptown, there is Central park, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and Columbia University. In Midtown, there is Madison Square Garden (it was made as a park but is now used for sports) and the Empire State Building. It is the highest building in NY and it was built during the Great Depression as a symbol of prosperity. There is also Times Square which is named after the magazine. It is a place of entertainment and for celebrating the New Year. The Rockefeller Centre is a complex of 19 buildings and it is a cultural place for concerts and exhibitions, but it also contains some luxury shops. St. Patrick´s Cathedral was inspired by European gothic cathedrals. The UN Headquarters are also located in Midtown. In Downtown, we can see the Statue of Liberty on Liberty Island. It is a symbol of freedom and of French and American friendship. There is a restaurant at the top. We can also see Ellis Island, also known as the island of hopes and fear. It was a gateway to America for immigrants. Wall Street is the most important business street in the world, with many banks situated on it.

Regarding transportation in NYC, we can take the old and dirty subway or yellow taxi cabs (they can get on the streets and are not so expensive). There are also several airports: J. F. Kennedy International Airport, Newark International Airport, and La Guardia Airport. For shopping, there is 5th Avenue (the location of the Rockefeller centre with its luxury shops), or there are also auction halls such as Christie´s and Sotheby´s.




Přidal: sheeni 19. 5. 2011
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