Earth from space: New York City
Earth from space: New York City Today’s Video of the Day from the European Space Agency features a Copernicus Sentinel-2 view of New York City, including the island of Manhattan and the Hudson, East and Harlem rivers.
New York City is the most densely populated major city in the United States with a population of over 8 million people.
Like so many other cities, New York faces a high risk of flooding due to rising sea levels. Since 1993, the average sea level has risen by just over 3 millimeters worldwide every year.
A survey conducted last year suggests that nearly 40 percent of lower Manhattan will be at risk for destructive storm surges by the middle of this century. New York City traces its origins to a trading post founded on the southern tip of Manhattan Island by Dutch colonists in 1624. Also the settlement was named New Amsterdam in 1626 and was routed as a city in 1653. The city came under English control in 1664 and was renamed New York after King Charles II of England granted the lands to his brother, the Duke of York. Therefore the city was gained back by the Dutch in July 1673 and was renamed New Orange for one year and three month. The city of New York has been continuously named New York since November 1674. New York City was also the capital of the United States from 1785 until 1790, and has been the largest U.S. city since 1790.
Video Credit: ESA
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By Chrissy Sexton, Earth.com Staff Writer
