Coney Island Peninsula in New York

Geographical position

The Coney Island Peninsula is located in the southern part of Brooklyn (New York) on the northeastern coast of the United States. It includes 4 districts:

1. Brighton Beach - occupies the central part of the peninsula. Today, many emigrants from the former USSR live in this microdistrict.
2. Manhattan Beach is a neighborhood in the eastern part of the region.
3. Sea Gate is an aristocratic village in the western part, surrounded on 3 sides by the sea. A quiet and measured life reigns here. Residents of this microdistrict have separate beaches, infrastructure, and shops.
4. Gravesend is a neighborhood in the northern part.

Attractions

The main attractions of the Coney Island Peninsula are:

• New York Aquarium, located on the Atlantic coast. It contains over 2 thousand animals, representing 350 species of marine fauna.
• Nathan's Famous, best known for hosting the World Hot Dog Eating Championships.
• An amusement park with a Ferris wheel, a dizzying roller coaster, and a parachute tower.
• The building is a former cinema, vaguely reminiscent of an Italian palazzo.
• The amphitheater on the Rigelman embankment, which hosts various concerts.
• The famous huge beach is a favorite vacation spot for New Yorkers. The Brighton Beach area itself also deserves attention as a place of residence of the Russian diaspora; it is also called “little Odessa”. There are many signs in Russian and Russian speech is often heard.

Climate on the peninsula

Coney Island is located in a humid subtropical climate. It is characterized by hot and sunny summers, mild autumns and springs, and cold winters.

Thanks to the proximity of the Atlantic Ocean, a pleasant breeze blows here in summer, refreshing and giving long-awaited coolness on hot and stuffy days.

Climatic characteristics:

1. Average temperature in January: +1 ºС.
2. Average temperature in July: +26 ºС.
3. Relative humidity: 70%.

History of the famous area

Long before Coney Island became attractive to numerous emigrants and tourists, Indian tribes lived on its territory. They gave this area the name "Land without Shadow" due to the many sunny days a year.

The first Europeans to settle the region called it Konijn Eiland, which translated from Dutch meant “Rabbit Island”. Over time, this name was slightly distorted. It took on its modern form - Coney Island.

Coney Island became a peninsula relatively recently. Previously, this territory was separated from the mainland by a narrow strip of strait. In the XX century. The channel was covered with sand. A metro line was built here, making access to the resort area easier. Bars, nightclubs, attractions and various entertainment venues began to open on its territory, attracting a large number of vacationers from New York.

Important dates and events:

1. 1876 ​​– installation and opening of the first carousel.
2. 1880-1940 – The peninsula becomes the largest entertainment region in the United States.
3. 1897 - opening of the Steeplechase entertainment center.
4. 1941 - the extreme attraction “Parachute Jump”, 58 m high, is installed on the territory of Steeplechase Park. Despite the fact that it is not currently in operation, the attraction is the most recognizable object of Coney Island. Its appearance earned it the nickname Brooklyn's Eiffel Tower.
5. 1903 – opening of Luna Park. It existed until 1944, after which it was closed.
6. 1904 - opening of an entertainment center. In 1911 it was closed.
7. 1962 - opening of an entertainment center. It was closed in 2008. In its place, the updated Dreamland was built.
8. 2010 – opening of a new Luna Park.

Entertainment industry

Enterprising Americans know where they can invest their money profitably. The strip of ocean coast has become a springboard for the entertainment industry. Already at the end of the nineteenth century, grandiose amusement parks appeared, ready to welcome everyone. Guests of the resort delightedly admired the delights:

• "Moons";
• Steeplechase;
• "Dreamland".

To this day, only one amusement park from this magnificent trinity has survived.

Steeplechase

This park existed for 67 years and closed during a difficult period in 1964. Each entertainment center had its own flavor, or even several. The park featured rides that challenged visitors to stay on a spinning horse or person. It was always echoed with the laughter of onlookers, who themselves did not always risk testing their dexterity.

Already in 1941, the Brooklyn Eiffel Tower soared above the city. Its height was eighty meters. The attraction was called “Parachute Jump” and attracted the attention of pioneers of extreme recreation. To this day, the tower is a symbol of the resort. It is visible far away day and night, when it is illuminated by hundreds of lights. Now it does not fulfill its direct function and you will not see paratroopers at its top, but the tower has acquired aesthetic and cultural significance.

Source: travelermap.ru

"Dreamland"

The kingdom of dreams delighted visitors for only 8 years, and it disappeared due to an inexorable fire. Talented designers worked on the park project. It was dotted with canals, following the example of beautiful Venice, had towers and looked more like a fairy-tale castle. A special feature of the park can be called a freak show. The habit of laughing at oneself and others is one of the hallmarks of Americans.

Luna Park

Luna Park is considered the largest park project. It was created by 1903. On the territory of the park, minarets soared upward, which were illuminated with lights at night. We must not forget that at the beginning of the century electricity itself was a novelty to many. The grandiose park closed in 1944.

Throughout the second half of the 20th century, Astroland hosted guests. It has become the brightest landmark not only of the peninsula, but of the whole of New York. The fate of the park was the same as that of its predecessors. After existing for half a century, it closed.

Curious facts

In its early days as a resort, Coney Island was closed to crowds of tourists. There was an entrance fee here.

The situation changed in 1923, when free public beaches were opened, which anyone could visit.

Interesting facts about Coney Island:

1. The Ferris wheel in the center of Coney Island is the most romantic place in the resort. In the middle of the 20th century. it was purchased by Greek immigrant Denos Vourderis as a wedding gift to his wife. Since that time, there has been a tradition of proposing marriage near this attraction.
2. At the beginning of the XX century. At Coney Island, premature babies placed in incubators were shown for money. The proceeds from such an attraction were used for the treatment of the children on display. Thanks to this, out of 8 thousand premature babies, the lives of 6.5 thousand were saved.
3. Seagate, Brighton Beach's western neighbor, is surrounded on one side by a high fence topped with barbed wire and is under 24-hour security. The fact is that next to it there is a disadvantaged area where low-income African Americans live in shabby high-rise buildings.
4. In 1885, a 7-story elephant-shaped building stood at the corner of Surf Ave and West 12th Street. At first it was used as a hotel. Over time, the building turned into a brothel. The house burned down in 1896, but its memory lives on today.
5. The world's first roller coaster and the first bike path in the United States appeared in Coney Island.

The most interesting places

The Coney Island peninsula in Brooklyn annually attracts a huge number of tourists who come here not only from various parts of the United States, but also from other countries. Most of the entertainment is concentrated around the beach area. Among them: Luna Park, Amphitheater and Aquarium.

Beaches

Luna Park

Aquarium

Beaches

A wide sandy beach stretches along the Atlantic Ocean for 4 km. It is separated from residential areas by the wooden Riegelmann Boardwalk, which starts from Brighton Beach and runs all the way to the edge of Seagate.

There are a large number of equipped recreation areas, cafes, shops and Russian restaurants on the beach. There are toilets and changing cabins here. Professional rescuers monitor the safety of vacationers.

Amusement park Luna Park

This is the most colorful and most visited tourist attraction on Coney Island. Luna Park can rightfully be called a city of attractions. There is everything you need for a good rest and positive emotions.

The most interesting attractions:

1. Astronomy tower.
2. Roller coaster "Cyclone".
3. Water slide "Wild River".
4. Huge Sling Shot catapult.
5. Extreme swing "Zenobio".

Helpful information:

1. Address: Luna Park, Coney Island, 1000 Surf Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11224.
2. Official website: lunaparknyc.com.
3. How to get there: Stillwell Avenue metro station.
4. Entrance ticket price (October 2018): for visitors under 1.22 m tall – $21. For all other vacationers the cost is $41. You can buy tickets online on the official website of the establishment.

Aquarium

The New York Aquarium is located on the shores of the Atlantic Ocean on Surf Avenue. It first opened its doors to visitors in 1896, making it the oldest continuously operating establishment of its kind in the United States.

This large entertainment complex consists of several swimming pools and pavilions.

During the season, shows are regularly held here with the participation of dolphins, fur seals, otters, penguins and seals.

Many animals were born within the walls of the New York Aquarium. Some of them took part in the filming of popular feature films.

Amphitheater

The Amphitheater is located on the embankment, a few steps from the beach. This is a large structure equipped with an open oval stage, around which there are seats for spectators. During the summer season, it hosts various concerts, sporting events, family, cultural and comedy performances.

Nathan's Famous Diner

This is one of the popular attractions in the area. It is located opposite the metro station, so finding it will not be difficult. Here, in 1916, an immigrant from Poland, Nathan Handwerker, began baking Frankfurters (hot dogs). He used his beloved wife's recipe, the ingredients of which are known only to the owners of the diner.

Every year, hot dog eating championships are held on the premises of the diner. A world record was set here in 2007. In just 12 minutes, American Joe Chestnut was able to eat 66 hot dogs. Thus, he spent about 18 seconds eating each bun with sausage.

Helpful information:

1. Location: On the corner of Surf and Stillwell Avenues.
2. Hot dog cost: $4/piece.

Coney Island

Popular holiday destination

The once former island, now a peninsula located in the south of Brooklyn, is Coney Island. Translated from inaccurate Dutch it means Rabbit Island. The reason for such an incredible number of rabbits is considered to be the lack of shade. Once upon a time, in ancient times, the Mayan Indians called it a place without shadow. In fact, thanks to its sunny climate, Coney Island became a prime destination for commuters in the 19th century.

Interesting components of the place

A wooden Rigelman embankment was built on the ocean coast. It starts at Brighton Beach and ends at the Coney Island border with Seagate. In 1883, the famous Brooklyn Bridge was opened. And there are many times more people wanting to soak up the bright ocean sun. There was not enough nature for everyone. And it was decided to set up giant amusement parks so that everyone could relax. The know-how of construction technology and the entertainment industry was applied here. The first fast food, the first tall ride, and the first roller coaster - all this first appeared and gained enormous popularity in Coney Island.

The Cyclone roller coaster in America is recognized as the world's most colossal and popular attraction. They were erected in Coney Island in 1927. And in the 21st century they were called American national treasures. Tickets cost five and a half dollars for adults. And the attraction is open daily from lunch until evening. At a speed of one hundred kilometers, the carriages fly a distance of 800 meters. By the way, the second attempt is cheaper – $4.

One of the remarkable hotels in Brooklyn, built in the shape of an elephant, is also located here, which is also another undoubted attraction of Coney Island. It was erected in the 18th century. Moreover, in one leg of the elephant there was a cigar store, the other front one served as a diorama. The numbers were placed in the elephant's body, and the stairs leading there were in the hind legs. Moreover, one paw of the animal has a circumference of 18 meters. The locals even developed a casual catchphrase: go and look at an elephant. It meant a quick and short-term date in a hotel room.

Coney Island is also famous for its hot dog eating championships. The first such competition took place in 1916. On the shores of Coney Island are modern variations of Dreamland and Luna Park. The super popular Ferris wheel and parachute tower are here. There is a baseball stadium nearby. In general, it is impossible to get bored here.

Coney Island on a map of Brooklyn

Summer season and mermaid parade

Coney Island is a great place for a summer vacation. During the warmest months of the year, millions of tourists come here to escape the sweltering summer heat and relax by the sea.

The summer season on the peninsula begins with the Neptune Festival and The Mermaid Parade, which is the largest art parade in the United States. This event has been held every year since 1982.

Regardless of the weather, the Mermaid Parade is traditionally held on Saturday, closer to the summer solstice. Its main goals: to attract the attention of tourists to the area, to allow local artists to show their work to the public. As a rule, 3000 people take part in the event.

The Mermaid Parade is famous for its nautical-themed costumes and topless participants. Each year during the event, King Neptune and Queen Mermaid are chosen.