The Geology of Manhattan, Research Paper Example

The geological area I selected to analyze for this assignment is Manhattan because it is one of the country’s largest cities. We often hear about New York City in historical texts because the initial settlement by Europeans was initiated due to the vase number of resources that its location allowed. Since Manhattan is a large island, it allowed for easy transportation between major cities, facilitating trade and development. This geological advantage still contributes to the development and widespread interest that many individuals have in the city today. Interestingly, the continued construction that has been occurring on the island has meant that the original boundaries of the island are no longer in place; the island itself has been purposely expanded over the years.

One interesting characteristic of the island of Manhattan is the heavy bedrock that makes up its plates. It is a metamorphic rock that scientists hypothesize was a component of Pangea, although it is difficult to be certain from which part of this original continent the island derived. Therefore, we can conclude that the rock that Manhattan is comprised of is very ancient. Since the landmass existed for many hundreds of thousands of years, it is not surprising that the island has many hills. Many of the areas that are flat that currently exist were constructed this way by humans and are not natural. However, many of the landmasses that were originally a part of Manhattan can be seen in Central Park, which was left relatively untouched. A majority of these landmasses are rocky and there is a lot of wildlife that is able to make this habitat their home.

The geology of this area has significantly shaped the region because New York is considered to be the arts capital of the world, attracting many diverse groups of people. The geology plays a role in this because it is very accessible. Originally, the accessibility was due to the fact that the island had many functional ports available for ocean travel, which helped enhance trade and a lifestyle that promoted luxury due to the availability of goods. Over time, this attracted many different people, which led to the need to develop mass transit by train, and later on airports, to bring people to the area from all over the world. Therefore, the island’s geology helped the population of the city rise, contributing to the characteristics that make it so popular today.

Furthermore, an interesting aspect of Manhattan is its close proximity to New Jersey City, which has benefited by its proximity with Manhattan. Therefore, the proximity of the city to other valuable landmasses contributed to its value. The significance of this in earlier times would have been that the exchange of food and clothing between these regions was simpler. It is likely that many of the Native American tribes living in what is now the tri-state area regularly moved between these areas in order to ensure that their ability to survive would be enhanced. In the modern era, we still trade amongst the major cities and towns in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, and Pennsylvania. Doing so would not be possible if New York did not have such an advantageous geology.

Another major aspect of the city’s geology that has contributed to its character is the fact that it is relatively small, but long. Therefore, the transportation of the city has developed in a manner that allowed the building of straight train lines in order to connect the ends of each part of the island. This ability to engage in efficient transportation in a dense community is one of the factors that allows the island to continue to support itself. Since many individuals work here but do not live, here, it supports the opportunity for commerce in the city. Therefore, many businesses have been opened here by non-residents that contribute to Manhattan’s economic strength. These economic developments will likely continue into the future because the city’s government plans to extend transportation and therefore accessibility of residents and non-residents alike.

Ultimately, geology has given me a better understanding of New York City’s history and dynamics because geology is a major contributing factor of what has led to the island being a leading world metropolis. A majority of modern cities are located near waterways because this allowed for efficient sea travel, which was faster that transportation by land. When larger boats and ships were developed, this meant that cities were able to export and import a greater degree of goods for trade, thereby enhancing the local economy. Furthermore, the availability of resources was such that the import of goods allowed Manhattan residents to convert them to new products, thereby increasing their value, further enhancing the products that the city had to offer.

Even though the geology of the area has contributed to economic development, the Manhattan landmass is also enjoyable for recreational purposes. A major highlight of living in the urban setting is that one could occasionally escape from it into nature by exploring Central Park. As an individual who enjoys hiking, it is fun to occasionally enter the park and take long walks. Furthermore, the local government invests some of their funds into providing civilians with free entertainment through the parks service. Therefore, the park offers many free activities and there are many opportunities to enjoy the waterways for free as well, by participating in free kayaking events during the summer. The geology of the area has also contributed to the development of the large skyscrapers and buildings in the area, which are relatively impervious to earthquakes due to the strong schist that they were built upon.

In conclusion, the geology of Manhattan has contributed significantly to Manhattan’s landscape and lifestyle. The land supports the city’s characteristic buildings, and the waterways have allowed the city to become stable in terms of its economy and ability to support life. Furthermore, the proximity of the town to other important areas have facilitated its success, convincing many individuals that travel to the area would be beneficial to them. As a consequence, many individuals travel to New York City from all across the country and the world. It is important to consider that the geology of a vast quantity of cities and towns develop a character based on the landmasses upon which they are built. Larger cities tend to be located near water, allowing for transportation while smaller towns are more likely landlocked. Ultimately, we can tell a lot about a place by understanding its geology, and this understanding helps link our knowledge in the context of both the past and present occurrences of these areas.

References

Cudahy, Brian J. Cudahy (1990). Over and Back: The History of Ferryboats in New York Harbor. Fordham University Press.

Feirstein, Sanna. (2001), Naming New York: Manhattan Places and How They Got Their Names: New York: New York University Press.

McGeehan, P. (2011). As City Closes In on 50 Millionth Visitor, British Couple to Be Feted. The New York Times.

Rangroo, A. (2010). Times Square Crossroads of the World New York City Info. (C) 1980–2010 TimesSquare.com A Dataware Corporation Company.