Waterfalls as Urban Art (UPDATE) - The New York City Waterfalls Now Open (GALLERY)

New York City now offers a spectacular public waterfall installation for those who yearn to see cascading falls but are far from what one would consider to be an outdoorsy type. There’s no hiking involved to see Olafur Eliasson’s The New York City Waterfalls, the $15.5 million project which opened last week. The project was commissioned by The Public Art Fund, a nonprofit group that installs art around the city.

“Located at four points along the East River in lower Manhattan, the falls cost $15.5 million to build and involved an American-based crew of almost 200 engineers, designers, consultants, permitting specialists, and electricians,” New York Magazine says.

“The waterfall under the Brooklyn Bridge is especially captivating and seems to appear out of nowhere like a portal from another dimension. The Governors Island cascade almost rises up from the surface of water. The one near the Brooklyn Navy Yards is like a primordial water spout. Lit at night, the falls turn ghostly. Coming upon each in a boat is like visiting an alien life form.”

There are boat rides which tour the falls, which offer neat tidbits of information such as the fact that the biggest fall is taller than the Statue of Liberty.

The gallery shows 10 different magnificent views of the falls.

Eco-Tourism Falls To New York - Olafur Eliasson Waterfalls Will Grace City

New York will get four giant waterfalls during the summer as a city art project and tourism draw. NYC tourism got a huge boost when Christo put his panels in Central Park. Seeing a great opportunity, the… [More]