NEW YORK

NEW YORK

New York, the “city that never sleeps” or Big Apple, is one of the most exciting, cosmopolitan cities in the US. More than 8 million people live here, making it one of the largest cities in the country. The city is made up of 5 boroughs – Manhattan, The Bronx, Staten Island, Brooklyn, and Queens. Boroughs are basically large neighborhoods used to govern large populations more easily. Big Apple is the centre of the financial and art world and is admired for its modern high-rise architecture. I would definitely take an elevator up the currently tallest building in town, the Empire State Building, built in the 1930s, or walk through the Theatre District along Broadway.

Originally the area was home to Native Americans. The first documented European sail into NY was made in 1524. s. In addition to fur-trading business, many Dutch came here to settle for religious freedom. The area became known as New Amsterdam, surrounded by the Dutch colony called New Netherland. The city expanded rapidly, and the deal of the century was made. Manhattan Island was purchased from the natives in exchange for goods. The value of goods was equivalent to about $1,000 today. There were tensions between Indians and European because of expansion and European domination. After massacres by the natives, a wall was built for protection against them but also against British. That is how the famous Wall Street got its name. And actually, British easily took the city from the Dutch.
During the 19th century various gangs dominated the boroughs. The most notorious (Italian) gang was called Five Points. One recruit, Alphonse Capone, a teenage boy from Williamsburg, Brooklyn, would go on to become America’s most infamous12 gangster, known as Al Capone or “Scarface” because of a permanent mark on his face.
In the first half of the 20th century, NY became a world centre of commerce, industry and communication. Many skyscrapers were built.
21st century is marked by terroristic attacks on WTC twin towers. Nowadays there stands One Trade Centre and is more protected in case of the same attacks.

The Bronx - has a negative reputation for being the city’s most dangerous borough. There are many houses and flats built for poor families, “housing projects”, where crime is common. Despite this fact we can find there many beautiful and safe places like Pelham Park (the largest NYC park), Woodlawn Cemetery, the New York Botanical Gardens and the Bronx Zoo. It is home of rap and hip hop too. Manhattan is the most densely populated of the five boroughs and also richest. Three rivers surround Manhattan: the Hudson River to the west, the Harlem River to the north and the East River to the east and south. The streets run east to west, the avenues run south to north. Here we can find Wall Street (NY Stock Exchange), 5th avenue full of shops, Broadway (centre of cultural life, Metropolitan Opera and many theatres), SOHO (shopping) and Chinatown (largest enclave of Chinese people in Western Hemisphere). The Metropolitan Museum of Art, the “Met” as it’s popularly known, is one of the most important art institutions in the world. (Manhattan, Harlem). Manhattan skyline – many skyscrapers. The most famous buildings are The Empire State Building and One World Trade Center. Times Square is perhaps the most famous square in NY, probably for its New Year’s celebrations. Statue of Liberty is situated on Liberty Island in New York’s harbour. The lady has torch in her hand and in other hand she has the Declaration. It is symbol of freedom. Brooklyn Bridge in New York City and is one of the oldest roadway bridges in the United States.