New York

New York is the largest city in the USA and one of the largest and most fascinating cities of the world. Its present population is more than 14 million people.
New York, originally called New England, was a little Dutch town built on a small part of Manhattan. In 1626 the Dutch colonizers bought the island from Indians for 24 dollars in goods. The Dutch protected the town against Indians by a wooden wall. Now in the place of the wall there is Wall Street which is known as the world’s most important financial centre. After the War of Independence, New York was the capital of the USA for four years and its first President was inaugurated there in the 18th century.
One of the most impressive views of New York City is the typical Manhattan skyline, seen from Liberty Island, which is dominated by a number of skyscrapers.
One of the most famous attractions, the Empire State Building, built in 1931, was also called “the eighth wonder of the world“. It has 102 storeys and has been the highest building in the world until 1954. This year, the World Trade Centre buildings were built, which had 110 storeys. They were completely destroyed in September 2001 by a terrorists’ attack.
Another famous place is the Rockefeller Centre, a large business and entertainment complex of 21 buildings, mostly skyscrapers.
The Brooklyn Bridge is the longest in the world. It connects Brooklyn to Manhattan Island. It was built in the 19th century and was the first bridge to use steel for cable wire.
In the New York City Harbour there is the Statue of Liberty with her torch, standing on Liberty Island. It is 9o meters high and weighs 225 tons. It was donated to the American people by France in 1886 to commemorate the alliance between the USA and France during the American Revolution. The Statue symbolizes freedom and democracy.
Another interesting place for visitors of New York is the Fifth Avenue, famous for its luxurious shops, jewelries, and office buildings. It runs six miles through the city.
Equally famous is Broadway, an old Indian road. Most of theaters, including the well known Metropolitan Opera and Carnegie Hall, many cinemas and bars are concentrated on it.
Central Park is the largest and most important park in New York City. It was officially opened for public in the 19th century. It offers both summer and winter attractions, such as a zoo, an ice-skating rink, an open-air theatre, tennis courts, biking paths, children’s playgrounds, concerts and dances. There is the Metropolitan Museum of Art in the par