Research Grid

Natural Geographical Characteristics


- The city's land area is around 789.4 km^2.

- Highest point: Todt Hill on Staten Island 124.9 m above sea level.

- The city straddles the border between two geologic provinces of eastern North America: the New England Upland and the Atlantic Coastal Plain.

- The city's bedrock consists mainly of metamorphic rocks such as schist, gneiss, and marble, as well as igneous rocks such as granite and diabase.

- lots of earthquakes, but they are usually minor and rarely cause much damage.

- The city is home to a variety of ecosystems - forests, wetlands, grasslands, and urban habitats.

- The city has one of the world's largest natural harbors, which is the centerpiece of the New York–New Jersey Harbor Estuary.

- Four of the five boroughs of the city are on islands: Manhattan, Staten Island, Brooklyn, and Queens. 

- The city is surrounded by several major waterways, including the Hudson River, the East River, the Harlem River and the Long Island Sound


Sources:

(1) Geology of the New York City Region | U.S. Geological Survey - USGS.gov.
https://www.usgs.gov/geology-and-ecology-of-national-parks/geology-new-york-city-region

(2) Human and Physical Features of Place in New York City.
https://prezi.com/povmlzntunp7/human-and-physical-features-of-place-in-new-york-city/

(3) What is new york geographic features? - TraveliZta.
https://www.travelizta.com/what-is-new-york-geographic-features.html


Man-Made Geographical Characteristics


- The Statue of Liberty, a gift from France and a symbol of freedom.

- The Egg, a performing arts center in Albany with a distinctive shape.

- The Guggenheim Museum, a spiral-shaped building that houses modern art.

- Times Square, a vibrant and illuminated area of entertainment and commerce.

- The Brooklyn Bridge, a historic and iconic suspension bridge that connects Brooklyn and Manhattan.

- The New Croton Dam, a reservoir that supplies water to New York City.

- St. Patrick's Cathedral, a stunning and majestic Gothic-style church.

- The Erie Canal, a waterway that linked the Hudson River with the Great Lakes and boosted trade.

- The Empire State Building, a skyscraper that was once the world's tallest building.

- The Rockefeller Center, a complex of buildings that features an ice rink and a Christmas tree.

 

Source:

(1) 15 Enchanting New York Man Made Wonders - Only In Your State.
https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/new-york/man-made-wonders-ny/

(2) New York City in the 19th Century - ThoughtCo.
https://www.thoughtco.com/new-york-city-19th-century-1774031
(3) Human and Physical Features of Place in New York City.
https://prezi.com/povmlzntunp7/human-and-physical-features-of-place-in-new-york-city/ 

Current Environmental Issues


- Greenhouse gas emissions from buildings and transportation

- Water quality affected by chemicals

- Food waste that produces methane and fills up landfills

- Flood management and resilience to climate change impacts.

- Sea level rise and risk of flooding in costal areas

 

Sources:

(1) 4 NYC Environmental Issues That Need Your Attention | NYXT.
https://www.nyxt.nyc/blog/environmental-issues-nyc/

(2) 11 PROBLEMS FACING NEW YORK CITY - GEOGRAPHY POINT.
https://geographypoint.com/2020/11/problems-facing-new-york-city/


Current Societal Issues


- Congestion and pollution caused by traffic and housing, affecting health and well-being.

- Development of slums and homelessness, resulting from unemployment, immigration, and housing shortage.

- Increased crime and social problems, such as drug addiction and racial discrimination.

- Environmental degradation and climate change, threatening the city's biodiversity, water quality.

 

Source:

(1) 11 PROBLEMS FACING NEW YORK CITY - GEOGRAPHY POINT.
https://geographypoint.com/2020/11/problems-facing-new-york-city/

(2) Five Issues New York City Must Address To Reinvigorate Itself - Forbes.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/fredpeters/2020/12/02/new-york-is-a-wonderful-town-five-important-issues-it-has-to-address/

(3) Social Conditions and Trends - The New York Times.
https://www.nytimes.com/topic/subject/social-conditions-and-trends/ 

Miscellaneous

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