New York: Before It Was New York, New York
Imagine this: no towering skyscrapers, no yellow cabs honking their way through traffic, and definitely no endless lines for Broadway shows. Instead, picture a sprawling, green wonderland – a place where the only sounds were birds chirping and the wind rustling through trees. That, my friends, was New York City before humans decided to turn it into a concrete jungle.
A Pre-Human Paradise
Before the Big Apple was a thing, the area was a lush, forested landscape. Can you picture it? Central Park, but without the crowds and the annoying guy playing guitar? Yeah, something like that. There were rolling hills, sparkling rivers, and probably a few bears wandering around (sorry, no evidence of bears, but it's fun to imagine). The Native Americans, the Lenape people, called the area Mannahatta, which roughly translates to "Island of Many Hills." So, basically, they had better real estate agents than us.
Fast Forward to Humans: Oops
Then came the Europeans, all bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, ready to "discover" a new world. They saw all that green space and thought, "Hey, let's build a city here!" And so, they chopped down trees, filled in wetlands, and generally turned the place upside down. It's like they were playing a really destructive game of Minecraft.
What's Left of the Old New York?
You might be wondering, "Is there anything left of this pre-human paradise?" Well, surprisingly, yes! Central Park is a pretty good attempt at recreating a natural space, and there are still some remnants of the original landscape in places like Flushing Meadows Corona Park. Plus, there are always the parks in New Jersey, just across the river.
So, next time you're caught in a crowd of tourists or dodging puddles of questionable liquid, take a moment to appreciate the fact that you're standing on land that was once a wild and wonderful place.
How To...
- How to imagine what New York looked like before humans? Close your eyes, picture a forest, and replace the squirrels with people in suits.
- How to appreciate nature in the city? Visit a park, look up at the sky, and try not to think about rent.
- How to contribute to a greener New York? Recycle, compost, and maybe consider getting a plant.
- How to escape the city? Take a weekend trip to the countryside or at least visit a zoo.
- How to find peace in the chaos? Meditation, yoga, or a really good book can help.