Central Park

Central Park is one of the most famous urban parks in the world. Located in the center of Manhattan in New York City, it attracts millions of visitors annually. It is 843 acres large, and was opened in 1857. It is home to twenty-nine sculptures, including Alice in Wonderland, Balto, and Duke Ellington. Several lakes and ponds are found throughout the park. It is also used for public performances, and occasionally art instillations, such as Christo and Jeanne-Claude's installation, The Gates in 2005.

Central Park also has over 25,000 trees, including a stand of American Elms, which live there and had been protected from the sweep of Dutch elm Disease that that destroyed the species elsewhere in its natural habitat. If geology is among your interests, there are various outcroppings of rocks throughout the park, mostly Manhattan schist and Hartland schist. The Park is maintained by the Central Park Conservancy, and while the park's aesthetic appears natural, the majority of it is carefully landscaped. The six miles of paths are wonderful for quiet contemplation, just watch out for cyclists! Overall, Central Park offers so many different things in one place, it is a wonderful place to check out even if you are just visiting New York City for a short while.