U Thant Island facts for kids
U Thant Island from the north, with the Williamsburg Bridge in the background
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| Geography | |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 40°44′48″N 73°57′52″W / 40.746599°N 73.964387°W |
| Administration | |
| State | New York |
| Borough | Manhattan |
U Thant Island, officially known as Belmont Island, is a very small artificial island in New York City. It is located in the East River, which flows through the city. This tiny island was created when workers dug tunnels deep under the river. It is the smallest island in the borough of Manhattan.
Location and Purpose
This small island is about 100 by 200 feet (30 by 60 m) in size. It sits in the East River, just south of Roosevelt Island. You can find it between the United Nations Headquarters in Manhattan and Gantry Plaza State Park in Queens. Even though it's tiny, it's officially part of Manhattan.
The New York State Government owns the island. It is a special protected area for migrating birds. Many double-crested cormorants live there. Their numbers have grown a lot over the years. Because it's a bird sanctuary, people are not allowed to visit the island. The United States Coast Guard has a tall, lighted beacon on the island. This light helps boats navigate the river safely.
How U Thant Island Was Made
In the 1890s, a man named William Steinway started building tunnels under the East River. These tunnels were for trolleys to travel between Manhattan and Astoria, Queens. To build the tunnels, workers had to dig a shaft into a rocky area called Man-o'-War Reef. All the extra rock and dirt from digging was piled up, and that's how this small island was formed!
William Steinway passed away before the tunnels were finished. Another important person, August Belmont Jr., completed the project in 1907. The island was then named Belmont Island after him. Sadly, some workers lost their lives during the tunnel construction in 1906. Today, the tunnels under the island are still used by the New York City Subway system.
Island's New Name and Role
In 1964, a large oil tanker accidentally hit the island, causing problems for boats in the East River.
Later, in 1972, some activists briefly took over the island. They called it "Soviet Jewry Freedom Island." They were protesting a speech at the United Nations and rules that made it hard for people to leave the Soviet Union.
In 1977, a group called the Peace Meditation at the United Nations adopted the island. These were people who worked at the United Nations and followed a spiritual teacher named Sri Chinmoy. They leased the island from New York State. They made the island greener and unofficially renamed it after U Thant. He was a former United Nations Secretary General and a friend of Sri Chinmoy. Even though it's not its official name, most people now call it U Thant Island. There is a metal "oneness arch" on the island that holds items belonging to U Thant.
In 2004, an artist named Duke Riley rowed to the island at night. He declared it a new, independent nation! He even put up a large flag. He was stopped by the United States Coast Guard on his way back, but he wasn't arrested. He filmed the whole adventure for an art project.
See also
In Spanish: Isla U Thant para niños
