New York

New York is the largest city in the USA and one of the largest cities in the world. It was founded three hundred years ago at the mouth of the Hudson River. The center of New York is Manhattan Island. In 1624 Dutch settlers bought the island from local Indians for a handful of trinkets that cost 24 dollars. It was named New Amsterdam. In 1660 under British control it was renamed and became New York.

Nowadays New York City consists of five parts: Manhattan (the centre of business and finance), Brooklyn, Queens (Long Island), the Bronx and Staten Island.

New York is the world financial center and one of the busiest ports. It is the artistic and publishing center of the United States.

There are many world-famous streets and avenues in New York. Wall Street is the street of finance; Broadway is famous for its theaters; Madison Avenue is known for advertising and Fifth Avenue – for shopping.

The major tourist attractions of the city are the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Guggenheim Museum, Central Park, the Empire State Building, Liberty Island with the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island with the Museum of Immigration.

New York’s population is the most ethnically varied of any American city. It is called “modern Babylon”. At the turn of the 20^th century a lot of people came to the USA from different countries of the world. They entered the USA through New York, the Gateway of America. There are large number of African Americans, Puerto Ricans, European and Asian immigrants.

Many people think New York is not a typical American city, although it is the best example of cultural and ethnic diversity in the American society.