New York is one of the largest cities in the world. It was founded three hundred years ago at the mouth of the Hudson river.
The centre of New York is Manhattan Island. In 1626 it was bought from the Indians for a handful of trinkets that cost twenty-four dollars. Today Manhattan is the centre of business and finance. Numerous skyscrapers house banks and offices of American business. Broadway begins here, the Stock Exchange is located here, too. Very few people live in Manhattan, though the majority work here. Numerous bridges link Manhattan with the opposite shores.
New York is inhabited by people of almost all nationalities and races. It is called "modern Babylon". At the turn of the twentieth century a lot of people came to the USA from different countries of the world. They entered the USA through New York, the Gateway of America.
New York is one of the leading manufacturing cities in the world. The most important industries are those producing paper products, vehicles, glass, chemicals, machinery. New York has a heavy traffic. The sea encircles many of the city areas and the ships go over or under New York traffic routes.