New York City

By Lionel Knulst

If people are asked what they know of New York City, their common answers are

that it is the most important city in the United States, that it is very modern, that there are

a lot of things to do and it is impossible to get bored, and so on. What they do not know is

that New York is one of the oldest cities in the United States, has a rich history and is one

of the most culturally diverse cities in the world.

Geography

Regarding the geography of New York, one must not confuse the State of New York

and the City of New York. New York City, located in the south east of the State, is divided

into 5 boroughs: Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, Bronx and Staten Island. Manhattan is the

most known and important borough of NYC. This island is situated east of the city

surrounded by the Hudson River and the East River. Bronx is located north of Manhattan

and Queens and it is the only borough that is set primarily on the mainland; Staten Island

is also known as Richmond County and is placed southwest of the city between New

Jersey and Brooklyn; Queens is the largest of the 5 boroughs and it is located at south east

of NYC; Brooklyn is located south of Manhattan, between Staten Island and Queens.

Climate

The climate in New York City is cold and temperate. The annual temperature is

12.1 C. July is the warmest month with an average of 24.5 C. In contrast, January is the

coldest with a temperature of -0.6 C. During the year, the average temperatures vary by

25.1 C. Even in the driest months NYC has an incredible amount of rainfall during the year

with an average of 1144 mm. between the wettest month and the driest month the

precipitation varies 29mm, with precipitations of 78 mm. February is one of the driest

months while May is one of the wettest with precipitations of 107 mm.

History

The first inhabitants in the place that now is called New York City were the

Algonquians and the Haudenosaunee or People of the long house. In 1609 Henry Hudson,

an explorer hired by the Dutch, sailed up trying to find a shorter way to China. He bought

fur from the Indians and sailed back to show what he had discovered. After that, the

Dutch came back and bought more fur from them and in 1626 they paid 24 dollars to the

Indians for the heart of New York, the Manhattan Island. The Dutch called it New

Amsterdam and it became a trading colony. Almost 55 years later, an English fleet sailed

into New Amsterdam taking control of the city which was renamed New York, in honour

of the Duke of York.

Entertainment and tourism

New York City is one of the ten most visited cities worldwide. Every year more than

10 million people discover the wonderful attractions of the Big Apple. For example, The

Empire State Building provides an unforgettable view of NYC from the 86th or 102nd

floor; The Statue of Liberty was a friendship gift of France as a symbol of freedom and

democracy. People can visit the park, the pedestal or the crown. For those who dont

want to spend a dime, there are some free events. For example, Smithsonian magazine

hosts a day free admission at museums around the country. There is an attractive park

called Hudson River Park with free walking tours on Sundays. In Central Park there are a

lot of outdoor activities like hiking, biking and ice-skating. All this activities are must-see

for anyone who visits NYC.

Bibliography

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http://www.britannica.com/place/Manhattan-New-York-City

Bronx, Encyclopedia Britannica, retrieved from

http://www.britannica.com/place/Bronx-borough-New-York-City

Brooklyn, Encyclopedia Britannica, retrieved from

http://www.britannica.com/place/Brooklyn-borough-New-York-City

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http://www.britannica.com/place/Queens-New-York

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