New York Daily Photo Analytics

Tuesday, May 08, 2007

Waterworld

Manhattan is not known for watersports - until very recently our waterfronts have been relatively unused for recreational activities. Atypical given that water frontage is generally such a huge asset in most locales worldwide; surprising since everything in NYC has been developed and exploited. But the waterways are finally seeing their day. Fishing, boating, sailing, kayaking and even some swimming (under certain conditions) are now all commonplace. The Hudson river, once seen as a garbage dump, has become cleaner than anytime in the last 100 years - fish and other aquatic life have returned. The photo is of members of the New York Kayak Club, which provides a kayak launch, storage, locker rooms, instruction, guided tours and a shop. They are situated at Pier 40 at West Houston Street and the West Side Highway. There are a number of kayaking facilities in the city click here for a list with links. Cautionary Note - NYC is one of about 800 cities in the US which uses a combined sewer system - storm water and sewage are combined. When it rains, the system can become overloaded and the sewage and polluted stormwater are dumped into the waterways - over 27 billion gallons are discharged untreated annually via combined sewer overflow (CSO) outfall pipes (there are about 450 in NYC harbor). The problems of this antiquated system are being addressed - until then, beware of NYC waters after a rainstorm ...

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

And what about crocodiles in Hudson river? :)
I heard that in 1930 in NYC sewer was found huge alligator

Anonymous said...

I like this photo even better than the one I commented on earlier. Nice work. Never disappointing.

I got to fly last night. I mean I just dove in and flew. You can find out how on my blog post today.

Dina said...

we have some people here from Hawaii that paddle around the statue of Liberty. It looked very cool. gotta be careful of the waste in the water...not worth getting staph infection!!

Brian Dubé said...

prokur - alligators and crocodiles. I would have to investigate whether this is an urban legend or not.

abraham - thanks again.

Brian

Kate said...

I'm glad you used a collage because it gives a better insight into the activity. Love the photos.

Merisi said...

I have only recently begun to enjoy the Danube river waterfront, and I am amazed at how many activities are taking place along the old river and on the island between it and the so-called New Danube (a sidearm, that has been harnessed, to keep the city from being flooded by the often high water of the Danube river). Part of that Island area is called Copa Kagrana (Kagran being the District where it is located), because in the summer there is so much going on there.