The most famous island in the world
The 58 sq km/22.4 sq mi borough Manhattan might be New York's smallest borough, but it is the best known and the centre of the city. Along with a few smaller islands, it consists of the 21km/13mi-long and only 3km/1.9mi-wide island of the same name between the Hudson River, East River and Harlem River, and is home to about 1.5 million people. On this, the most famous island in the world, the most important attractions, and most hotels, restaurants, musical theatres and jazz clubs are found – this is the reason that, for most visitors, Manhattan is New York. Native Americans still lived on Manhattan Island at the beginning of the 16th century. But then the explosive development which would create a world metropolis began. Nowhere are the results of such development so clearly seen as here. The city's character is defined by its residents, immigrants or their descendants, who in part still live in certain neighbourhoods like Chinatown or Little Italy; but it is also defined by the stunning Skyline of Manhattan, the most beautiful conglomeration of skyscrapers on the smallest area, a unique collection of historicizing building styles – classical, Gothic, Art Deco and modern.
Manhattan is arranged like a chessboard; twelve consecutively numbered avenues run north to south, the altogether more than 200 streets from east to west.
more Manhattan photos
