NYC: Big Apple or sardine can? Can the entire world squeeze into New York City?
Ever wondered if your daily commute on the subway feels like you're packed in with the entire population of a small country? Well, what if I told you that, technically, the entire world could be crammed into the concrete jungle that is New York City?
Hold on, buddy, that's crazy talk!
Not so crazy! Here's the thing: New York City, despite its towering skyscrapers and bustling avenues, is actually quite small compared to the vast sprawl of the planet. We're talking about 303 square miles of land area, which might seem like a lot when you're stuck in rush hour traffic, but it's a mere blip on the global map.
So, how many sardines can we fit in this can, er, city?
If we got everyone on Earth standing shoulder-to-shoulder, with barely enough space to breathe (let's not even think about personal space!), estimates suggest we'd need a square area of roughly 18.6 miles on each side. That might sound like a lot of real estate, but guess what? New York City is bigger than that! In fact, with some creative shuffling, we could probably squeeze in the entire global population and still have enough space for a hot dog stand (essential for any apocalypse scenario, obviously).
But wait, there's more!
Let's get borough-specific for a second. Imagine cramming everyone into Manhattan – you'd be looking at a cozy situation for about 590 million people. Brooklyn could handle a cool 1.38 billion, while Queens would be the undisputed champion with a staggering 2.83 billion. Staten Island and the Bronx wouldn't be too shabby either, comfortably accommodating over a billion folks each. Basically, New York would become the ultimate game of human Tetris!
Of course, this is all a fun thought experiment. Living like sardines (even with a killer view!) wouldn't exactly be sustainable. But hey, it's a fun fact to file away for that next trivia night.
FAQs for the aspiring global citizen of NYC
How to apply for citizenship in this sardine-stuffed utopia? Hold your horses! This is purely hypothetical (for now).
How to avoid claustrophobia in a world-sized NYC? Deep breaths and a positive attitude! Maybe a zen garden on top of the Empire State Building?
How to find your apartment in this human-packed metropolis? Good luck! Maybe prioritize a balcony for some fresh air.
How to deal with rush hour commutes? Teleportation highly recommended.
How to maintain social distancing in a world without space? Let's just say social distancing goes out the window in this scenario!
