n["negril"][0]="Negril|Jamaica|jm|Central America";
n["negril"][1]="Negril is a beach resort on Jamaica's westernmost tip and although thousands of package tourists arrive there every year, it has retained a laid back atmosphere. One of Negil's prime attractions is that you can tan the whole booty there, without too many problems. Negril is also one of the few places in Jamaica where contacts with the locals are quickly made. Woodcarvers sell their crafts on the beach and the roads are lined with numerous makeshift food and jerk pork stalls that are manned by friendly locals.|An interesting place to visit it the Negril Watershed Environmental Protection Area. It is Jamaica's oldest protected wilderness zone and was created in order to preserve wildlife in the entire Negril region. The reserve includes a marine park, the Great Morass swampland north of Negril town and nearby mangrove forests.|Negril has a stunning, 11 km (7 miles) long beach. There are many hotels and restaurants in town. Negril is 170 km west of Kingston.";
n["nelspruit"][0]="Nelspruit|South Africa|sf|Africa";
n["nelspruit"][1]="Nelspruit is the capital of Easern Transvaal. It is the largest town in the area and it is surrounded by citrus plantations. There are several interesting sights in Nelspruit.|A craft market is held on Saturdays in the pedestrians-only Promenade. Just south of the center is the Sonheuvel Reserve, where rock paintings can be seen. In the same area are some nice hiking trails, such as the Kaapschehoop Trail and the Uitsoek Trail.|There are quite a few hotels and restaurants in town. The minibus and taxi park is on Brown Street and long distance buses stop at the corner of Louis Trichardt and Paul Kruger. Nelspruit is 280 km east of Pretoria.|The towns of Barberton and Witrivier are quite interesting, and not too far from Nelspruit. One of the entrance gates to the Krugerpark is 40 km east of town.";
n["nesebar"][0]="Nesebar (Несебър)|Bulgaria|bu|Europe";
n["nesebar"][1]="Nesebar (or Nesebur, depending on how you translate it from Bulgarian) is a laid-back town on the Black sea coast, 30 km northeast of Burgas, and only a few km from the resort of Sunny Beach. Nesebar was founded in 510 BC by the Greeks, on the site of a Thracian settlement. During Greek times the town was known as Mesembra. There are many narrow, winding streets paved with cobbled stones and lined with old wooden houses, as well as the ruins of 40 old churches that were built there during the 5th and 6th centuries. The remains of the 2nd-century city walls are also visible at some places. Up until the 18th century it was an important trading post, but nowadays the main business is tourism. Nesebar has a quiet fishing port and an old wooden windmill. It is a very nice place to just stroll around and have a drink in one of the many bars and cafés.|There are several hotels and restaurants in Nesebar, but most people prefer to stay in Sunny Beach. The town is 360 km east of Sofia.";
n["nesvizh"][0]="Nesvizh (Njasvizh)|Belarus|bo|Europe";
n["nesvizh"][1]="Nesvizh is one of the oldest settlements in Belarus. It was founded in the 13th century, but it reached its zenith 300 years later, when its ruling merchants had built fortifications that protected it from invaders. Later, however, neglect, fire and war diminished Nesvizh's importance and nowadays it is a mix of painted wooden cottages, bland housing and beautiful 16th century architecture.|The town hall of Nesvizh dates from the 16th century and is one of the oldest in the country. The Slutsk Gate originally dates from the same period, but in the 18th century it was rebuilt in Baroque style. Another one of the city's highlights is the Farny Polish Roman Catholic Church, which was built in Baroque style and has a marvelous façade. Not far from the church is the Radziwill Palace Fortress, which was designed by the Italian architect Bernardoni in the 16th century and nowadays houses a sanitarium for cardiac and neurological patients.|There are several hotels and restaurants in Nesvizh. The city is 95 km southwest of Minsk.";
n["neu-halbstadt"][0]="Neu-Halbstadt|Paraguay|pa|South America";
n["neu-halbstadt"][1]="The town of Neu-Halbstadt is a Mennonite religious community and a good place to buy Indian handicrafts.|Accommodation is available in Neu-Halbstadt. The town is 395 km northwest of Asunción.";
n["newark+california"][0]="Newark (California)|United States|us|North America";
n["newark+california"][1]="Newark is on the east side of San Francisco Bay. Its population has grown with the local development of the San Francisco area in the 1970's and 80's.|Accommodation and restaurants are available in town. Newark is in the west of California.";
n["newark+delaware"][0]="Newark (Delaware)|United States|us|North America";
n["newark+delaware"][1]="Newark was settled before 1700. Not far from town is Cooch's Bridge, where the only Revolutionary battle on Delaware soil was fought in September 1777. Newark is the second-largest city in Delaware. The city has an automobile assembly plant, several research laboratories and a variety of light manufactures. It is the seat of the University of Delaware.|Accommodation and restaurants are available in town. Newark is in the northwest of Delaware, 60 km northwest of Dover and 120 km southwest of Washington D.C.";
n["newark"][0]="Newark (New Jersey)|United States|us|North America";
n["newark"][1]="Newark was settled in 1666 by Puritans from Connecticut under Robert Treat, who later became the colonial governor of Connecticut. Newark was the scene of Revolutionary skirmishes. After the American Revolution and aided by the development of transportation facilities, Newark's industry began to grow. The city's leather industry dates from the 17th century and its still-significant jewelry manufactures and insurance businesses began in the early 19th century. The Morris Canal was opened in 1832 and the railroads arrived in 1834 and 1835. A flourishing shipping business emerged and the city soon became the region's industrial center. In the late 19th century, Newark's industry was further developed, especially through the efforts of such men as Seth Boyden and inventor J. W. Hyatt.|Newark Port opened in 1915 and the city's shipbuilding played an important role in World War I. During the second half of the 20th century, Newark's economy and living standards greatly declined. Many residents moved to the suburbs, which were marked by a boom in corporate development, shopping center growth and housing construction. Poverty and unemployment plagued Newark and in July 1967, the city saw a major race riot. Only two industries experienced continuing growth during that time, the port and the airport. The port has known a steady increase in volume of exports of containerized cargo since 1985 and Newark International Airport has expanded greatly. As part of an effort to revitalize the downtown, the New Jersey Performing Arts Center was opened there in 1997.|There are numerous interesting sights in Newark. Trinity Cathedral was constructed in 1810 and features the spire of a earlier church that had been built in 1743. Construction on the Sacred Heart Cathedral was begun in 1899, but the building was not completed until 1954. The First Presbyterian Church dates from 1791 and the Newark Public Library was founded 1888. The Newark Museum was founded in 1909 and the county courthouse in 1906. A statue of Lincoln stands in front of the courthouse. It was made by American sculptor Gutzon Borglum. The artist made the group called Wars of America in 1926. It can be found in Military Park, which used to be a Revolutionary War drilling ground and a Civil War tenting area. Newark features many historic homes. Both politician Aaron Burr and poet Stephen Crane were born in Newark.|Newark's educational institutions include Rutgers University in Newark, Newark College of Engineering, the New Jersey Institute of Technology, Essex County College, the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey and a preparatory academy that was founded in 1774.|Newark is a transportation, industrial, commercial and manufacturing center. Some of the many products that are manufactured in the city include beer, cutlery, electronic equipment, textiles, pharmaceuticals, fabricated metal items, paints and canned goods. Newark International Airport is one of the busiest in the United States. The city boasts an important seaport, which is operated by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. Newark is a port of entry to the United States. The city has a large minority population. More than 50% of its residents are African Americans.|There are many hotels and restaurants in Newark. The city is on the Passaic River and Newark Bay in the northeast of New Jersey. Newark is only 13 km (8 miles) west of New York City, 80 km northeast of Trenton and 300 km northeast of Washington D.C.";
n["newbedford"][0]="New Bedford|United States|us|North America";
n["newbedford"][1]="New Bedford was first settled in 1640. It was set off from Dartmouth in 1787 and incorporated as a city in 1847. During the Revolution, New Bedford's harbor was a haven for American privateers, which prompted the British to invade and burn the town in 1778. After the Revolution, the whaling industry boomed, reaching a peak in the 1850's, when New Bedford had become one of the world's greatest whaling ports. Later it became a leading port for the fishing and scalloping industries, but government regulations and a dwindling fish population hurt those industries too. In 1846, the first cotton-textile mill was built, but the textile industry declined in the 1920's. Nowadays, New Bedford handles transatlantic and intracoastal trade. Clothing, textiles, electrical machinery, electronic components, rubber products and metal goods are all manufactured in town.|New Bedford is home to the Bourne Whaling Museum, the Old Dartmouth Historical Society and the Seamen's Bethel, which was described by Herman Melville in his book Moby Dick. The Friends' Academy, which dates from 1810 and the Swain School of Design are also in New Bedford. The Free Public Library holds a large collection of material on whaling. New Bedford is home to a sizable Portuguese-speaking minority.|Accommodation and restaurants are available in town. New Bedford is in the southeast of Massachusetts, at the mouth of the Acushnet River on Buzzard's Bay. It is 80 km south of Boston and 590 km northeast of Washington D.C.";
n["newbight"][0]="New Bight|The Bahamas|bf|Central America";
n["newbight"][1]="New Bight sits on the southern end of Cat Island. It was originally a settlement for freed slaves in the 19th century and it boasts several interesting sights. The Holy Redeemer Catholic Church was built by Father Jerome, an Anglican priest and architect who also designed the Mt Alvernia Hermitage. The Hermitage sits atop a hill at the end of a stone staircase and provides excellent views over the area.|Not far from town is the Armbrister Creek, a mangrove estuary that can be explored by canoe. These can be rented at the Fernandez Bay Village resort, not far from the creek. The Armbrister Creek leads to a beautiful lake called Boiling Hole, because it bubbles and churns under certain tidal conditions. According to legend a monster in the lake causes the bubbles. The only 'monsters' you will see are baby sharks and rays cruising the lake's sandy bottom.|There are several hotels and restaurants in town. New Bight is 205 km southeast of Nassau and has air connections with that city.";
n["newcastle+as"][0]="Newcastle|Australia|as|Oceania";
n["newcastle+as"][1]="During the convict days of the 19th century, Newcastle was known as 'the hell of New South Wales', because only the hardest criminals were locked up there. Nowadays, Newcastle is a thriving city with an interesting music and arts scene.|Accommodation and restaurants are widely available in Newcastle. The city is 120 km north of Sydney and 360 km northeast of Canberra.";
n["newdelhi"][0]="New Delhi (and Delhi)|India|in|Asia";
n["newdelhi"][1]="The area around Delhi has been inhabited since about 500 BC. In the 12th century Delhi became northern India's most important Hindu center, when the Chauhans took control over the area. In 1193 Muslim Qutab-ud-din Aibak conquered the city and the Delhi Sultanate ruled from 1206 until 1526. After that the powerful Moghuls took over and in 1857 six centuries of Muslim rule ended. During the time of the Moghuls, most of Delhi's Old City was built. The most significant monuments were built by emperor Shah Jahan who ruled from 1628 to 1658.|In 1803 the British installed a British administrator in Delhi. At that time it was not the country's capital, but it was one of its most important commercial centers, with a population of about 150,000 at the beginning of the 20th century (15 million at the start of the 21st century). In 1911 they decided Delhi would become India's capital and New Delhi was built.|Only 16 years after the inauguration of the new capital, India and Pakistan became independent and the Partition caused 1 million of Delhi's Muslims to move to Pakistan and 2 million Hindu's, mostly from Lahore to move to Delhi. Nowadays Delhi is an overcrowded, smelly, polluted and noisy city, but despite of all that there are numerous sights that make the capital an interesting place to explore. Some of Delhi's monuments belong to the most architecturally striking in India. The city is home to several formidable mosques, monuments and forts. It's a lively area of colorful bazaars, narrow streets and barely controlled chaos and although it's a very large city, it is easy to navigate.|Delhi sits at the western end of the Gangetic Plain, bordered on the eastern side by the state of Uttar Pradesh, and on the other three sides by the state of Haryana. It is an excellent place to base yourself if you want to visit Agra and the Taj Mahal, as well as Jaipur. Delhi is northern India's main transportation hub, so you'll probably end up there one way or another when traveling through the country.|
Places to Visit in 'Old' Delhi
|Red Fort
|The Red Fort (or Lal Qila) is called so, because it was built out of red sandstone, causing its reddish color. The walls around the fort were built in 1638 by the Moghul emperor Shah Jahan. They are 33 m (108 feet) high and provide good views over the surrounding neighborhoods. Inside the walls, all the noise and hustle of the city disappear and the fort is a haven of peace in the chaotic city. There are beautiful gardens around the Red Fort and large crowds gather around the Lahore Gate, the fort's main gate, each year on Independence Day.|The Chatta Chowk is the covered bazaar that leads into the fort's compound. Within the fort's walls are several buildings, including the Drum House, the Hall of Public Audiences, the white marble Hall of Private Audiences, the Pearl Mosque, the Royal Baths and the Palace of Color. In the evenings a sound and light show displays the fort's history.|Jama Masjid
|Jama Masjid is the largest mosque in India. About 25,000 devotees can fit in its courtyard. Shah Jahan, who also built the Red Fort, constructed the mosque in 1644. The mosque is beautifully decorated and its two 40m (135 feet) tall minarets have distinctive strips of red sandstone and white marble. The Jama Masjid has four smaller towers and three entrances. You can visit the mosque and you can hire robes that cover your shoulders and legs. It will probably by one of the few times you can dress like one of the locals and don't feel like an idiot.|Chandni Chowk
|The Chandni Chowk is 'Old' Delhi's main drag. There is a colorful bazaar and the chaos is just unimaginable. There are street-vendors and artists, rickshaws and traffic congestions 24 hours a day. During the times of the Moghul emperors the street was renowned throughout the continent for its beauty. It was lined with marvelous mansions and a canal ran through its center. At the eastern end of the street, not far from the Red Fort is a Jain temple, while the Fatehpuri Mosque is at its western end. The mosque was built in 1650 by one of Shah Jahan's wives.|Spice Market
|The street that runs from the Fatehpuri Mosque to the western end of the old city is called Khari Baoli. It is one huge spice market and it hasn't changed for centuries. It is a unique experience to wonder around there and take in the sights and above all the smells of innumerable different sorts of spices and herbs. Laborers bring in the goods that include lentils, rice, jars of chutneys, pickles, nuts, tea and of course spices, on long, narrow barrows.|Humayun's Tomb
|The beautiful Humayun's Tomb was built in the 16th century and is one of the best-preserved Moghul buildings. It has high, arched entrances and a massive dome. There are nice gardens around it. Haji Bagum, the wife of the second Moghul emperor Humayun, erected the tomb after her husband's death. Decorations similar to the ones on the tomb were later used in refined forms on the Taj Mahal in Agra. Smaller tombs in the gardens were built for Humanyn's wife and his barber.|Qutab Minar
|Qutab Minar is a 73 m (240 feet) high tower that symbolizes Islamic rule of Delhi. The tower was erected by Qutab-ud-din to celebrate his victory over Delhi's last Hindu kingdom in 1193. It has 5 stories, each one narrower that the one below. At its base the tower measures 15 m (50 feet) in diameter, while the top it is only 2.5 m (8 feet). The two highest floors are made out of marble and sandstone, while for the rest of the tower only sandstone was used. The stairs inside are very steep and narrow and have been closed to the public ever since a stampede caused several deaths in 1979.|India's oldest mosque stands at the foot of the tower. The Quwwat-ul-Islam Mosque was built from the rubble that was left after 27 Hindu temples were destroyed, or so an inscription above its eastern entrance says. In the mosque's courtyard stands a metal pillar, where you can make a wish if you can encircle it with your hands whilst standing with your back to it.|Raj Ghat
|A commemorative ceremony takes place every Friday in the district of Raj Ghat, at the black marble monument that stands on the place where Mahatma Gandhi was cremated after his assassination in 1948. The monument stands near the banks of the Yamuna River. Two museums dedicated to Gandhi are in the vicinity.|The cremation of Jawaharlal Nehru took place at Shanti Vana (Forest of Peace), not far away and the park is a nice place to get away from all the hustle. The Zinat-ul Masjid, which means the 'most beautiful of all mosques' is also situated in Raj Ghat.|Coronation Durbar Site
|The Coronation Durbar Site is the place where the durbars were enacted in 1877 and 1903 and where King George V was declared emperor of India in 1911. It is marked by an obelisk in a large field, north of 'Old' Delhi. A walled garden nearby has the marble statues of former Imperial dignitaries, including a 15 m (50 feet) high one of King George V. That statue was removed from its original place along Rajpath, not long after India's independence.|Shalimar Bagh
|The Shalimar Garden is on the outskirts of Delhi, some 10 km (6 miles) northwest of 'Old' Delhi. It is the city's most significant Moghul garden and the site where Aurangzeb was crowned emperor in 1658. The Shish Mahal, the garden's pavilion, was built by Shah Jahan.|Sulabh International Museum of Toilets
|The Sulabh International Museum of Toilets is the world's largest toilet museum. Since you will probably have some uncomfortably toilet experiences when visiting the country, it might be a good idea to visit this museum as well. The money raised by the museum is used to install waste disposal systems in Delhi. Inside the museum you can see the development of toilets, including a sewer system from 2500 BC. India was the world's first country to develop a waste sewage system, although during your visit to the country you might sometimes thing that system is still in use today.|New Delhi
|When the British decided that Delhi would become the capital of India in 1911, New Delhi was built on a grand scale by the Imperial rulers, not far (enough) south of Delhi. It only took 20 years before New Delhi became part of ever expanding Delhi again. Architect Edward Lutyens planned most of the avenues and marble buildings, on a scale that echoed the old Moghul architecture; although most buildings were build without any reference to Indian building styles. Because of its spacious design, there are few shaded areas in New Delhi.|There are several interesting sights in New Delhi. The Indian President resides in the Rashtrapati Bhavan (in British times it was the residence of the Viceroy). Parliament House is also in New Delhi, as well as the Secretariat buildings. New Delhi is India's seat of government and capital. The India Gate is a 40 m (135 feet) high memorial and the Rajpath is a wide avenue where parades are held occasionally. Most action takes place around Connaught Place.|Other Activities
|Delhi has numerous sporting facilities, but they are all quite expensive. You can play tennis and golf at the New Delhi Golf Club. Most of the better hotels have private swimming pools, but you can also try the public one in the Talkatora Gardens. That one is not very hygienic though.|The same can be said for most of the city's water bodies. Dinghys can be rented along the Rajpath to peddle around the pools and pedal boats are available at the Purana Qila. Rock climbing can be done at Lado Sarai adventure park.|When to Go
|The best time to visit Delhi is between November and March, when the weather is usually dry and not too hot, on average temperatures hover between 21 and 30°C (70-86°F) during that period.|Some of the city's major festivities are also held during the better time of year, including the Republic Day march in January and the Hindu festival of Holi in February or March, depending on the year. During the festivities that mark the end of the winter, people throw large quantities of colored water and powder at each other.|In March or April, Hindus celebrate Rama's birth by reading the Ramayana at temples all over Delhi. A similar festival by Sikhs, known as Baisakhi is held in April or May. They read the Granth Sahib and have massive feasts afterwards. In July the International Mango Festival is held in the Talkatora Stadium and during the months of August and September there are heaps of things going on, such as Ganesh Chaturthi, the celebration for the elephant-headed gods, Janmashtami, to commemorate Krishna's birth and Ram Lila, which lasts 10 days. During this last festival the Ramayana is reenacted and large pictures of the demon, Ravana are burnt. At the end of October, during the festival of Diwali, Hindu people light oil lamps to guide their god Rama home from exile.|Muslims in Delhi celebrate their usual Muslim festivals, including Ramadan to commemorate the revelation of the Qu'ran to Mohammed and Id-ul-Fitr, which marks the end of Ramadan. Id-ul-Fitr is usually celebrated at the Jama Masjid.|At the end of April the weather starts to get very hot and until July it is intolerably hot. After that it gets cooler, but it rains most of the day until September/October.|Transportation
|Delhi has air connections with most other large cities in India, as well as numerous international destinations. The Interstate Bus Terminal, at the Kashmiri Gate, just north of the 'Old' Delhi Railway Station is Delhi's main bus station, where coaches to other cities in India are available. Long-distance trains also connect Delhi with the rest of the country.|Transportation within Delhi can be problematic, as buses are overcrowded and traffic congestions make it almost impossible to drive anywhere anyway. Especially during rush hours it is better to stay in your hotel, or have a meal somewhere. Taxis are widely available, but negotiate the fare before getting in. Auto-rickshaws are usually cheaper and faster on short routes, but also negotiate the price first. Cycle rickshaws are only available in 'Old' Delhi. You can also rent a bike and explore the city cycling you. Be careful in the chaotic traffic though.|The first stage of a metro system, which should help to solve the city's traffic problems, was opened in December 2002.|Accommodation and Food
|Connaught Place in New Delhi is a good place of reference when wondering around Delhi. There are many airline offices, banks and travel agents. 'Old' Delhi is only several kilometers to the north. Most of the cheaper hotels and hostels are situated around Paharganj, not far from the New Delhi Railway Station and along the Janpath. There are countless bars and restaurants all over the city, but nightlife is very limited because of the capital's restrictive licensing laws.";
n["newdelhi"][2]="-18.58|72.50|n/a|15000000|n/a|5:30|n/a|11|91";
n["newforest"][0]="New Forest|United Kingdom|uk|Europe";
n["newforest"][1]="The 145-square-mile New Forest straddles England's southern coast between Southampton and Bournemouth. It is the largest remaining patch of natural vegetation in England. In 1079, William the conqueror gave the area its name and it has remained untouched ever since.|Animals that roam the forest include some 5000 wild ponies and cattle that graze the grasslands. Numerous deer, badgers and foxes reside in the less accessible areas where oak, beech and hally trees grow. The New Forest is excellent for walking and biking. It is 125 km southwest of London.";
n["newharmony"][0]="New Harmony|United States|us|North America";
n["newharmony"][1]="The religious Harmony Society was founded by German Separatists under the leadership George Rapp. In 1814, the society founded New Harmony on the Wabash River in southwestern Indiana. In 1825 the Harmonists sold their holdings to Robert Owen and moved to Economy, Pennsylvania, where their sect survived into the early 1900's. Owen established a communistic colony in New Harmony. It gained prominence as a cultural and scientific center and attracted many noted scientists, educators and writers. Dissension arose however and in 1828 the community ceased to exist as a distinct enterprise. The town remained an intellectual center.|The U.S.A.'s first kindergarten, its first free public school, the first free library and first school with equal education for boys and girls were all established in New Harmony. Some 25 old Rappite buildings remain in the town.|Accommodation is available. New Harmony is 240 km southwest from Indianapolis and 940 km southwest from Washington D.C.";
n["newhaven"][0]="New Haven|United States|us|North America";
n["newhaven"][1]="Puritans, led by Theophilus Eaton and John Davenport founded New Haven between 1637 and 1638. New Haven was one of the first planned communities in America and it was the chief town of a colony that later included Milford, Guilford, Stamford, Branford and Southold on Long Island. The community's government was theocratic. Religion was a test for citizenship and life was regulated by strict rules, known as the blue laws. These laws were called 'blue laws' after the blue paper on which they were printed. In 1665 the colony was reluctantly united with Connecticut. New Haven was joint state capital with Hartford from 1701 to 1875, after which Hartford became the sole capital.|In the late 18th and early 19th centuries, New Haven was a thriving port city. New Haven became famous for the manufacture of firearms, hardware, coaches and carriages. In the American Revolution, the city was raided by a British and Tory force and during the War of 1812, New Haven's port was blockaded. The world's first commercial telephone exchange was established in New Haven in 1879.|Since the 1950's, New Haven has received national attention for its pioneering urban renewal projects. The first antipoverty program in the United States was started there in 1962. Despite these improvements, the city suffered a serious race riot in 1967. New Haven's manufacturing-based economy has since declined and by 1990, manufacturing employed less than 20% of city's workforce.|The production of firearms, ammunition, clocks, watches, tools, textiles, rubber and paper products are still important to New Haven's economy. The city also serves as a major port for petroleum products. New Haven is seat of Yale University and its allied institutions. Albertus Magnus College and Southern Connecticut State University are also there.|New Haven is centered on a large public green that dates from 1680. In that green zone you will find three churches that were built between 1812 and 1816. Center Church and United Church are both Congregational, while Trinity Church is Episcopal. Many old buildings have been preserved and there is a lovely historic district in the city. New Haven's best-known landmarks are the two trap-rock cliffs of East Rock and West Rock, which includes the Judges' Cave. American lexicographer and philologist Noah Webster and Eli Whitney, inventor of the cotton gin, a machine for separating cotton fibers from the seeds, both lived in New Haven and are buried there.|There are many hotels and restaurants in New Haven. The city is in the south of Connecticut, there where the Quinnipiac and other small rivers enter Long Island Sound. It is 55 km southwest from Hartford and 440 km northeast from Washington D.C.";
n["newireland"][0]="New Ireland|Papua New Guinea|pp|Oceania";
n["newireland"][1]="New Ireland is a long and thin, moon-shaped island in the Bismarck Archipelago. The island's western coast, between the towns of Konogogo and Kontu is the center of a local art known as shark calling. Several local have the ability to 'call up' sharks from the depths of the ocean. They use their voice in combination with coconut-shell rattles. Once the sharks appear they are speared. Art in the region is heavily influenced by shark motifs and figures.";
n["newlondon"][0]="New London|United States|us|North America";
n["newlondon"][1]="New London was laid out by John Winthrop in 1646, on the Thames River near its mouth on Long Island Sound. The city survived a partial burning by the British under American Revolutionary general and traitor Benedict Arnold in 1781, as well as a British blockade during the War of 1812. In the 19th century, New London reached the peak of its maritime prosperity. During that time, the city flourished as a shipping, shipbuilding and whaling port, mainly because of its excellent natural harbor.|That harbor is used by the U.S. navy as a principal submarine base and by yachters and students of the United States Coast Guard Academy, which is located in the city. Annual Yale-Harvard boat races are held on the Thames. New London is a deepwater port of entry to the United States. It has shipbuilding, high-technology research and engineering, pharmaceutical research, building materials, fishing, tourism and other industries. The city is home to Connecticut College and Mitchell College.|The city has a whaling museum, an art museum and many old buildings. Two of the most interesting sights are the Hempsted House, which was built in 1678 and the old town mill, which dates from 1650. Old Fort Trumbull was built in 1849. It is a state historical park.|There are numerous hotels and restaurants in New London. The city is in the southeast of Connecticut, 70 km southeast of Hartford and 490 km northeast of Washington D.C.";
n["neworleans"][0]="New Orleans|United States|us|North America";
n["neworleans"][1]="New Orleans and the surrounding areas were devastated by hurricane Katrina, which hit the region on 29 August 2005. Large parts of the city were flooded and the area will not be able to receive visitors for a long time to come.";
n["newport+kentucky"][0]="Newport (Kentucky)|United States|us|North America";
n["newport+kentucky"][1]="Newport was laid out on the Ohio River in 1791. It was a station on the Underground Railroad, the loosely organized system for helping fugitive slaves escape to Canada or to areas of safety in free states during America's Civil War. It was also the place where Kentucky's only antislavery newspaper was edited in the 1850's. The city has steel and clothing industries and a brewery.|There are several hotels and restaurants in Newport. The city is in the north of Kentucky, on the Ohio River opposite Cincinnati and on the east bank of the Licking River opposite Covington. It is 100 km northeast of Frankfort and 650 km west of Washington D.C.";
n["newport"][0]="Newport (Rhode Island)|United States|us|North America";
n["newport"][1]="Newport was settled in 1639. It was united with Portsmouth in 1640 and entered a permanent federation with Providence and Warwick in 1654. Pre-Revolutionary prosperity was brought to Newport by foreign commerce and ship-building, an industry that dates from 1646.|During the American Revolution, the British occupied the town from 1776 to 1779. They destroyed many buildings and most of Newport's citizens moved away. The town never regained its former economic prestige. Providence, with which it was joint state capital until 1900, became the most important city.|In the 19th century, Newport re-developed itself as a fashionable resort of the wealthy and many palatial 'cottages' were built. Outstanding tourist attractions from that era include The Breakers, which is the former summer house of American railroad magnate Cornelius Vanderbilt and Belcourt Castle. Other interesting sights are The Elms, Marble House and Château-sur-Mer. Cliff Walk and Ocean Drive are known for their spectacular views of the ocean and the coastline.|There are also numerous sights of historic interest in Newport. The Wanton-Lyman-Hazard House was built around 1675 and was the scene of a Stamp Act riot in 1765. The Stamp Act was a revenue law passed by the British Parliament during the ministry of George Grenville. It was the first direct tax to be levied on the American colonies and it required that all newspapers, pamphlets, legal documents, commercial bills, advertisements and other papers issued in the colonies bear a stamp. The revenue obtained from the sale of stamps was designated for colonial defense. The Newport Tower is thought to date from the 17th century. Other places of interest are Trinity Church, which was built in 1726 and the Touro Synagogue, which dates from 1763, making it the oldest synagogue in the United States. Since 1946 it has been a national historic site. The Redwood Library and Athenaeum dates from 1747 and the brick market house, or city hall was built in 1762. American naval officer Matthew Perry was born in Newport.|Newport is a port of entry to the United States. The city's economy once chiefly revolved around the many naval installations there, but the closure of U.S. navy facilities has created significant unemployment. The tourist industry, educational facilities, fishing and the manufacture of electrical appliances and electronic devices are of major importance to the city's economy. Yacht races are hosted in Newport. The city was the site of the America's Cup races until the early 1980's. Tennis was popularized there too. The National Tennis Hall of Fame is in the Newport casino. The Newport Jazz Festival was held there until 1971, but other music and dance fests are still organized today.|The city is the seat of Salve Regina College, the U.S. Naval War College and several other naval training schools. Newport Bridge spans the east passage of Narragansett Bay. It was opened in 1969 and links the city with Jamestown.|There are several many hotels, bars and restaurants in Newport. The city is in the southeast of Rhode Island state. It is on Rhode Island, which is also known as Aquidneck Island, 40 km south of Providence and 530 km northeast of Washington D.C.";
n["newportnews"][0]="Newport News|United States|us|North America";
n["newportnews"][1]="Newport News was settled by Irish colonists around 1620 but did not see any growth until 1880, when it became the eastern terminus of the Chesapeake and Ohio railroad. In 1862, the famous battle between the ironclad ships Monitor and Merrimack was fought off Newport News. It was the first engagement of two such ships in history.|Nowadays, Newport News is a port for transatlantic and intracoastal shipping. Commodities handled in the city include coal, oil, tobacco, grain and ores. Newport News is also one of the largest shipbuilding and repair centers in the United States, Shipbuilding industry began there in 1886. The U.S.S. Enterprise II, the first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, was constructed there. Goods that are manufactured in Newport News include metal, paper, textile products, building materials, processed fish and seafood and electronic equipment. There are also oil refineries in the city.|Points of interest include the Mariners Museum, the War Memorial Museum of Virginia, the Peninsula Junior Nature Museum and Planetarium and the Victory Arch, which was originally erected in 1919 and rebuilt in 1962. Another interesting sight is Fort Eustis, which includes the 1660 Matthew Jones House. The city is also home to Christopher Newport College.|Accommodation and restaurants are available in town. Newport News is an independent city on the Virginia peninsula, at the mouth of the James River, off Hampton Roads and not far from Norfolk. Newport News is in the southeast of Virginia, 110 km southeast from Richmond and 220 km south from Washington D.C.";
n["newsouthwales"][0]="New South Wales|Australia|as|Oceania";
n["newsouthwales"][1]="The original inhabitants of New South Wales (NSW) were Aborigines, or Kooris, as they call themselves. They have the world's oldest cultural history, which dates back to the Ice Age. The oldest archaeological evidence of their long history is available in the form of bora rings, circular areas of banked earth that were used for ceremonies. The rings can be found throughout New South Wales.|The first Europeans who settled in Australia landed in New South Wales and the Kooris were the first of Australia's indigenous people to have their land occupied and taken. A few efforts to land on Australia's western coast were undertaken, but Captain James Cook, ultimately arrived at Botany Bay in 1770 and claimed the entire continent for Britain. He wrongly claimed Australia to be terra nullius, or uninhabited land. He named the new British possession New South Wales.|Joseph Banks, Cook's naturalist, suggested that a colony should be founded in New South Wales to empty Britain's overcrowded prisons. On 26 January 1788, the First Fleet of 11 ships with more than 750 convicts and 400 military personnel arrived at Botany Bay under the command of Captain Arthur Phillip.|The new colony struggled to grow enough crops to sustain itself and exploration of the hinterland became essential to the survival of early settlers.|It was not until 1813 that a path was found through the bush of the rugged Great Dividing Range. This allowed inland towns such as Bathurst to be founded. Crops could be grown there to sustain the capital, as well as further exploration into inland areas. By the 1830's, explorers had mapped out most of inland NSW. The last convicts arrived in NSW in the 1840's and after gold was discovered in the central west in the 1850's, a huge influx of free settlers began.|The settlers needed ever more land, which created tensions with the Koori people. The indigenous population was pushed off their lands and violence and European diseases, such as smallpox did the rest. Before the 19th century was over, the Aboriginal population was decimated.|In 1901, the continent's states united to form Australia. In 1908, an agreement on the site of the new capital, Canberra, was reached. It was positioned, exactly halfway between the rival cities of Melbourne and Sydney.|NSW's economy hit rock bottom when the Great Depression arrived and Premier Jack Lang defaulted on the state's loans from Britain. When wool prices rose and manufacturing picked up in the 1930's, NSW recovered rapidly. In 1932 the landmark Sydney Harbor Bridge was built.|Many inhabitants from NSW served in WWII, but the state itself was mostly untouched by the conflict. During the years after the war, construction boomed again and Sydney scored more unique architecture, including the world famous Sydney Opera House. In the south of the state, work began on the massive Snowy Mountain Hydro-electric Scheme. The project took nearly 30 years to complete, using a huge immigrant workforce that broadened Australia's mono-culture.|The postwar policy of assimilating Kooris into European Australia resulted in many children being taken from their parents. Thus the so-called Stolen Generation was created. The assimilation policy was finally abandoned in the 1970's.|During the 1970's , NSW was politically dominated by the ALP (Australian Labor Party) with its charismatic premier, Neville Wran. The 1980's brought another financial boom, but in the 1990's the economy slowed dramatically and threatened to eliminate the state's agricultural industry. Since 1996 economic and social improvement has been taking place and in 2000, Sydney hosted the Olympic Games. Nowadays NSW is heavily focused on tourism.|NSW is vast and has a varied landscape, ranging from alpine areas in the south, to desolate outback extremes in the west. Many towns in the state boast interesting colonial architecture, as well as a rich Aboriginal history. There are fantastic beaches and vast tracts of secluded bush replete with Australia's unique wildlife.|New South Wales measures about 800,640 km² and some 94% of its inhabitants is from European descent, while 4% is Asian and 1.8% Aboriginal. By the end of the 20th century the state's population was 6.2 million.|When to go
|The north of NSW can be visited all year round, although the summers in the region around Sydney might be too hot for many, with temperatures rising to 40°C (104°F) some days. The outback can only be visited in the winter months of June, July and August. The rest of the year it's just too hot. During the winter you can also ski on the state's southern ski slopes.|Some of the most interesting events include New Year's Eve celebrations that feature spectacular pyrotechnics displays in Sydney. The first big celebration of the year is Australia Day, which commemorates the arrival of the First Fleet in Sydney Cove. Aboriginal people celebrate Survival Day, or Invasion Day, on the same day. Their festival includes music, dance and arts.|In February, Tamworth's Country Music Festival takes place. Other interesting festivals include Sydney's Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gra and Surfest, which is held each March in Newcastle. It is Australia's longest-running professional surf carnival. At Byron Bay the East Coast Blues and Roots Festival is celebrated in April.|The Bathurst 1000 touring car race is in October and after the Christmas celebrations, the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race sets sail from the state capital and finds its way down the southern coast.|Places of interest
|Some of the most interesting destinations in New South Wales include the capital of Sydney and the towns of Bourke, Broken Hill, Byron Bay, Gulgong, Tamworth, Tibooburra and White Cliffs. Other interesting areas are the Blue Mountains, the Hunter Valley, Lord Howe Island, Mungo National Park, NSW North Coast, NSW South Coast and the Snowy Mountains.|Activities
|New South Wales has a wide array of bush walking possibilities. Most of the national parks in the state offer marked tracks and wilderness walking. If you stay in Sydney, you can visit the nearby Blue Mountains and the Royal National Park, as well as Kosciusko National Park, which boasts various breathtaking alpine trails. The Blue Mountains National Park has numerous cliffs and crags, where rock climbing and abseiling can be practiced.|Surfing is possible along the entire east coast of NSW. The most popular places are Coffs Harbor, Byron Bay and Noosa. At Coffs Harbor you can also enjoy white-water rafting and canoeing on the Nymboida River. This is also possible on the upper Murray near Khancoban. Diving can be arranged at Port Stephens, Forster, Port Macquarie, Coffs Harbor, Byron Bay, Jervis Bay and Merimbula. There is good fishing along the coast too. The Myall Lakes area, the lakes of the Snowy Mountains and New England's trout streams are also good for fishing. Hang-gliding is popular off the Illawarra escarpment near Wollongong and at Byron Bay, while para-sailing is available at a number of beach resorts, including Coffs Harbor and Port Stephens. During the winter, you can snowboard and ski in the Snowy Mountains. Less tiring activities include whale-watching in Eden and wine-tasting in the Hunter Valley.|Events
|The Tamworth Country Music Festival takes place in the New England town of Tamworth. It is celebrated over Australia Day weekend in January. The Hunter Valley Vintage Festival is during the grape harvest in March and involves grape-picking and wine-treading contests. The ski season opens in the Snowy Mountains in June and lasts to September, depending on the snow situation. Surf carnivals are held up and down the coast throughout the summer.|Culture
|NSW has always been important to Australia's culture. The NIDA (National Institute of Dramatic Arts) in Sydney has seen alumni like Mel Gibson and Nicole Kidman and several Hollywood blockbusters have been filmed in NSW.|Sydney and Newcastle are important centers of grungy pop rock, while country music is popular west of the Great Dividing Range, especially in Tamworth. Some of Australia's most important painters and other artists live in New South Wales.|Until WWII, the inhabitants of NSW were mainly of Anglo-Celtic descent, but the influx of immigrants from countries like Greece, Italy, Yugoslavia, Lebanon, Turkey and numerous places in southeast Asia, has dramatically changed that. NSW is also home to Australia's largest number of indigenous inhabitants.|Environment
|New South Wales is on the eastern coast of Australia. It is bordered by Queensland to the north, Victoria to the south and South Australia to the west. Australia's Capital Territory is an enclave within NSW. The Great Dividing Range is in the east of the state. It includes Australia's highest peak, 2228 m high Mount Kosciusko. West of the mountains are the endless plains, while the northwest of the state takes on the deep red soil of the outback. The major rivers are the Murray and the Darling, which meander westward across the plains.|Many of Australia's 700-odd species of flora and fauna can be found in NSW, including Australia's unique eucalypt, or gum tree and plants such as wattle, grevilleas, hakeas, banksias, tea trees, bottlebrushes and the state flower, the waratah. The state includes lush rainforests, as well as arid deserts.|Animals that live in NSW include kangaroos, possums, wombats, koalas, platypuses, emus, echidnas and dingoes, as well as a wide variety of bird species, such as parrots, cockatoos and kookaburras and indigenous reptiles and insects. Some of the animals, such as the redback and Sydney's funnel-web spiders and taipan and tiger snakes, can be dangerous.|There are more than 140 national parks in New South Wales. The largest one is Kosciusko, while the smallest consists of the scattered pockets of bush land in the Sydney Harbor National Park. The outback expanses of the Mungo and Sturt national parks are also very interesting.|Weather in NSW has many variations. In general, the further north you go, the warmer and more humid it gets and the farther west you go, the drier it gets. In the winter, the Snowy Mountains are covered with snow. Summer starts in December, autumn in March, winter in June and spring in September.|Transportation
|Most foreigners who come to New South Wales arrive at Sydney's international airport of Kingsford-Smith. The airport offers many connections with Asia, Europe and the USA. Because of Australia's remoteness, flights are often quite expensive. International flights have a departure tax that is often included in the price of the ticket. Flying is a good way to get around NSW, because its size make train and bus travel lengthy expeditions. Many flights are heavily booked, so make plans well in advance. Most flights go through Sydney, so you will be seeing a lot of Kingsford-Smith airport.|Major bus lines run services into and out of most of NSW. Some of them offer bus passes with good discounts. Interstate and regional trains run from Sydney's Central station to most cities and towns throughout NSW, as well as to all Australian capitals. The NSW government's Countrylink rail network is the most comprehensive in Australia. Trains, and connecting Countrylink buses, run quite quickly and frequently to most sizeable towns, including Albury, Armidale, Broken Hill, Dubbo, Moree and Murwillumbah. Major roads in NSW run from Sydney. You can go north along the coast to Newcastle and further on, west into the Blue Mountains and south to Melbourne, Canberra and Wollongong.|Despite the good public transportation, it is better to have a car if you want to do a lot of touring. Most visitors who stay for a decent length of time, purchase a vehicle and sell it at the end of their stay. You can rent cars in most sizeable towns. There is no need to get a 4WD unless you're tackling the state's far west, but even then, many unsealed roads are suitable for 2WD vehicles.|Accommodation and food
|Tourists from Europe or the USA will find NSW pretty cheap. Food and accommodation can be found at friendly prices. Especially if you are staying in hostels, or on-site caravans, or it you are camping and you are cooking your own meals, you don't need much money while staying in NSW. Travel will be the biggest expense, as distances are vast.|Tipping is getting a foothold in NSW, particularly in upper-crust cafes and restaurants in Sydney, but you won't be looked down upon if you don't tip.|Other facts
|The time in New South Wales is 10 hours ahead of UTC (during the summer 11 hours, as daylight savings time is used). Electricity is 220-240V. The local currency is Australian Dollar and foreign currencies can be exchanged at almost any bank or exchange bureau without any problem. Banks are available in most towns, except in the most remote outback stations. Credit cards are widely accepted and there are ATM's across the state.";
n["newwestminster"][0]="New Westminster|Canada|ca|North America";
n["newwestminster"][1]="New Westminster was founded in 1859 as Queensborough. It was the capital of British Columbia, until Victoria was made capital after the union of British Columbia and Vancouver Island in 1866.|New Westminster is a year-round port, with an excellent harbor that is the base of the Fraser River fishing fleet and a shipping point for grain, lumber, minerals and canned goods. The city's industries include salmon, fruit and vegetable canneries, as well as distilleries, breweries, oil refineries, shipbuilding plants and paper, lumber and flour mills. New Westminster is home to Columbia and Saint Louis colleges and Anglican and Roman Catholic cathedrals.|Accommodation and restaurants are available in town. New Westminster is on the Fraser River in the southwest of British Columbia, 90 km northeast from Victoria and 3520 km west from Ottawa. The city is part of metropolitan Vancouver.";
n["newyorkcity"][0]="New York City|United States|us|North America";
n["newyorkcity"][1]="The area that is now known as New York City (NYC) has been inhabited by Native Americans since around 10,000 BC. In 1524 Giovanni da Verrazano from Florence arrived there. He was hired by the French to explore America's northeastern coast, but the region remained unexplored until 1609. In that year, Henry Hudson claimed the area for the Dutch East India Company, when he accidentally arrived there while searching for a shipping route known as the Northwest Passage.|By 1625 the Dutch had established a settlement there for fur trade with the natives. Later they established a larger settlement known as New Amsterdam. Europeans were recruited with promises of good land and a friendly climate and New Amsterdam grew to become New Netherland. The Dutch, led by Peter Minuit, the director of the Dutch West India Company, purchased the area now known as Long Island for the sum of some US$600 from the locals.|In the 1670's, New Amsterdam was ceded to the British and renamed New York. The colonists started cultivating the land in New Jersey and on Long Island, but New York itself remained a small town, covering roughly the area between what is now known as Wall Street and the southern tip of Manhattan. Resentment against the British grew and around 1760 numerous anti British protests were staged around New York's Commons, where City Hall is located nowadays. Fighting stopped in 1781, but the troops of British King George III stayed in control of the city for another two years after that.|In 1789 George Washington was sworn in as president of the new United States, on the balcony of Federal Hall on Wall Street. By that time New York had become a city of some 33,000 inhabitants, but it was abandoned by the new Congress in favor of the District of Columbia a year later. During that period, Philadelphia was the country's major cultural center.|During the first half of the 19th century New York's population grew from 65,000 in 1800 to some 250,000 only 20 years later.|During the Civil War many New Yorkers joined the Union's cause, but many of the poor turned against the effort after mandatory conscription was introduced. In 1863, the 'draft riots' were launched by Irish immigrants, in protest of the provision that allowed wealthy men to pay US$300 in order to avoid being sent to the front. The riots focused on the city's black inhabitants and 11 men were lynched in the streets, while a black orphans' home was burned to the ground.|The second half of the 19th century was more peaceful and New York's population grew rapidly, thanks to the influx of countless Europeans. During this so-called 'Gilded Age', many businessmen took advantage of lax oversight of industry and stock trading. With the fortunes they made, they built grand mansions on lower Fifth Avenue, which was more commonly known as 'millionaires row'. Corporate headquarters were house in the city's first 'skyscrapers', which were nothing more than multi-storey buildings, along Broadway from City Hall to Union Square.|During the same time New York's population grew from 500,000 in 1850 to 1.1 million in 1880. The city struggled to service the growing numbers of people. When New York grew beyond its official borders, the inhabitants of the independent districts of Queens, Staten Island, the Bronx and Brooklyn finally voted to become 'boroughs' of New York City in 1898.|The new enlarged metropolis absorbed more European immigrants, who arrived a New York's Ellis Island during a second wave of immigration at the beginning of the 20th century. In 1900 New York's population stood at 3 million, but by 1930 it had grown to some 7 million. At the same time, horse-drawn trolleys disappeared and were replaced by a large network of underground subways and elevated trains known as ELS.|The immigrant population gained political strength and during the Depression, Fiorello La Guardia, an Ellis Island interpreter became the city's mayor. He was re-elected two more times and during his period in office he fought municipal corruption and expanded the social service network. City planner Robert Moses launched a series of huge public events like the World's Fairs of 1939 and 1964, during the same period. His projects also include the Triborough Bridge, Lincoln Center and several highways, as well as huge housing projects.|After WWII New York became the country's leading financial and economic center. During the 1950's and 1960's when numerous new highways were constructed, white residents moved out of New York, into posh suburbs, while the central area was occupied by blacks and Puerto Ricans.|Slowly the city started to decline and several important institutions, such as TV companies, manufacturing jobs and even a baseball team moved out of New York. During the 1970's huge infusions of federal cash saved the city from bankruptcy.|In the 1980's many made their fortunes on Wall Street and New York started regaining some of its former glory, though slowly. During most of the 1980's Ed Koch was New York's mayor. In 1989 he was defeated by David Dinkins, who became the city's first African American mayor.|In the 1990's huge projects to augment New York's infrastructure were launched and crime rates declined sharply. Nowadays New York is a bustling city of some 8 million. It is very difficult to point out separate highlights, as many places throughout the city look very much alike. Some of the most interesting places to visit include the Statue of Liberty, the Empire State Building, Central Park and Times Square. There are several very good museums in New York, including the Guggenheim Museum and American Museum of Modern History. Furthermore, there is a whole host of interesting bookshops, foods, theaters, shopping malls and above all: people; New York probably boasts the worlds largest variety of ethnicities. |On 11 September 2001, New York was the scene of the world's worse terrorist attack, when hijackers flew two airliners into the twin towers of the 110 storey World Trade Center, causing it to collapse completely. In the attack, some 3,000 people lost their lives.|Most of Manhatten is easy to navigate, thanks to a grid system of named or numbered avenues running in north-south direction along the island and numbered streets running from east to west. Fifth Avenue and Central Park serve as a dividing line between the East Side and the West Side. Broadway is the only avenue that cuts diagonally across the island. It was originally a woodland path and it runs from the southern tip of Manhattan, all the way to the state capital of Albany, 280 km (170 miles) to the northwest.|New York, also known as the 'Big Apple', is built on several islands that compromise most of New York City's 800 km² (309 sq miles) of land mass. Manhattan and Staten Island are two separate islands, while Queens and Brooklyn are on the western end of Long Island. The only part of New York that is naturally connected to the main land is the Bronx. The water between Brooklyn and Staten Island serves as the maritime entrance to New York Harbor. Already during the 16th century this was the way the first European colonizers entered the area. It can be reached both from the Atlantic, as from the north, via Long Island Sound. The Hudson River runs west of Manhattan, while on the east, the island is bordered by the East River.|When to Go
|New York can be visited all year round and there is no 'low season', when prices would be lower, although from January to half-March there are substantially less tourists in the city. During the month of May and the beginning of June as well as the period between mid-September and Mid-October, the weather is usually the most pleasant.|Special events take place in New York almost continuously, including some 50 officially recognized parades and over 400 street fairs each year. Most of the 'fairs' are not much more than a market, so don't focus too much on them.|The festivities on Times Square, during New Year's Eve are one of the largest events that takes place in New York. On 5 January, Three Kings Parade is held on 5th Avenue. During the parade, thousands of children cavalcade down the avenue with sheep, camels and donkeys. On 17 March the Saint Patrick's Day Parade is held on the same avenue. Half May the International Food Fair takes place on 9th Avenue and in June Central Park is the scene of Change Your Mind Day, when Tibetan Monks discuss transcendental matters. Some other interesting festivals include the JVC Jazz Festival and NY Shakespeare Festival in Central Park. Both are held in June.|On the 4th of July, magnificent fireworks are set off in the East River to celebrate Independence Day. Harlem Week is held in August, while the Caribbean Day parade in Brooklyn is New York's biggest event. Caribbean Day is held on Labor Day in September. During that month the New York Film Festival takes place and Thanksgiving Parade is held in November. Christmas is a very nice time in the city and the Tuesday after it, people bring their used Christmas trees to be burned in the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Lighting.|Places of Interest
|Statue of Liberty
|The Statue of Liberty is New York's best known landmark. In 1865 political activist Edouard René Lefebvre de Laboulaye and sculptor Frédéric-Auguste Bartholdi had a dinner in Paris and came up with the idea of building a monument to honor America's political freedom. On 28 October 1886 the 45 m (151 feet) high Liberty Enlightening the World was unveiled in New York, before President Grover Cleveland. The Statue of Liberty is modeled on the Colossus of Rhodes and you can climb all the way to its top. The 354 steps are the equivalent of a 22-storey building. It is best to visit the statue during the early morning, before the crowds start arriving.|Empire State Building
|The Empire State Building is a limestone skyscraper that was built in 410 days, during the Depression, on the site of the original Waldorf-Astoria, on the corner of 5th Ave and 34th St. The building has 102 floors, making it New York's tallest building. The antenna at its top was originally to be a mooring mast for zeppelins, but after the Hindenberg disaster that idea was abandoned. In July 1945 a B25 crashed into the building's 79th floor during thick fog in July 1945. On the 86th and 102nd floors are observation decks that provide great views over the city. The Empire State Building is 463 m (1454 feet) tall.|Central Park
|Central Park is easily spotted from the observation deck of the Empire state Building. The park measures 337 ha (843 acres) and provides a welcome green area in New York's concrete jungle. The park was opened in 1873. It was originally intended to be a botanic oasis of silence, away from the city's bustle, but nowadays Central Park bustles just as much as the rest of New York. There is a small zoo in Central Park, but if you're looking for some peace and quiet, you better go to the city areas north of 72nd Street, where it is quieter than inside the park.|Times Square
|Times Square is an ocean of light and it is one of New York's major crossroads. During the 1960's the area around the square went into decline and pauperized, but it has been cleaned up and nowadays it boasts a colorful combination of color, neon message boards and huge TV screens, making it quite a sight.|On New Year's Eve, some 1 million people gather there to celebrate New Year. During the 90 seconds-lasting event a brightly lit ball descends from the roof of One Times Square.|Metropolitan Museum of Art
|The part of 5th Avenue, north of 57th Street is known as the Museum Mile. This part of Upper East Side is home to various museums, including one of New York's most popular tourist sites, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, more commonly known as 'the Met'. The museum holds over 3 million art objects, so decide what you want to see before you go in, as it is impossible to see it all. The collection includes interesting Egyptian mummies, but also collections of baseball cards, which are far more uninteresting to most.|Museum of Modern Art
|The Museum of Modern Art, on 11 W 53rd St, is one of New York's most exciting museums, as well as one of the city's architecturally most significant buildings. The museum is often referred to as 'MOMA' and its collection includes masterpieces such as Picasso's Les Demoiselles d'Avignon, Van Gogh's Starry Night, Piet Mondriaan's Broadway Boogie-Woogie and Claude Monet's Water Lilies. The museum also has an interesting photo gallery.|Other Museums
|Apart from the tow above museums, there are countless other, less known museums. On Museum Mile you will find the Solomon R Guggenheim Museum, which houses numerous 20th century works and the Whitney Museum of American Art, which is specialized in contemporary art.|The American Museum of Natural History on the corner of Central Park West and 79th St has an amazing collection of more than 30 million artifacts and includes three large dinosaur halls, filled with skeletons and other related finds. The museum is very popular with kids, so don't go there if you want to wonder around in quiet. The Museum of Television & Radio has interesting displays on America's TV and Radio history. There are 90 consoles where you can sit down and watch thousands of old TV programs, which you can select from the museum's computer catalog.|SoHo
|SoHo stands for 'south of Houston'. It is the area in New York, where most art galleries, clothing stores and boutiques are clustered. After the Civil War, SoHo was the city's major commercial district and most cast-iron buildings there give a good idea of the architectural style that was used in the U.S. Most of the art galleries that now dominate the area are quite good.|Tribeca
|Tribeca is an abbreviation for 'TRIangle BElow CAnal' St. The area boasts numerous old warehouses, as well as many fancy restaurants and bars. Tribeca is not as developed and touristy as SoHo.|Greenwich Village
|The Village is one of new York's most popular neighborhoods. During the early 1900's, numerous artists, writers and musicians moved there. By the 1940's it had a reputation as the gathering place for gays and nowadays it is a vibrant place, filled with historic sites, cafes, shops and gay bars, as well as Washington Square Park.|Long Island
|Long Island is a place of large economic and geographic contrasts. On the island's northern half, around North Fork you'll find wineries, while the south is covered by the urban clutter of Brooklyn. Most New Yorkers only cross the East River from Manhattan to go to Jones Beach, the beaches on Fire Island in Nassau, Shelter Island or the bustling Hamptons.|You can get to Long Island on the Long Island Expressway from Manhattan. Buses ply the route from East Side and a train runs between Long Island and Penn Station. From there, a whole host of public transportation possibilities is available.|Jones Beach and Fire Island
|Jones Beach on Long Island is visited by tens of thousands during warm summer days. It consists of 10 km (6 miles) of sandy beach and there are parking facilities for some 25,000 vehicles.|East of Jones Beach is Robert Moses State Park, which also gets very crowded on nice days. The villages on Fire Island are only accessible by ferry and are very popular with gays.|The Hamptons
|The Hamptons are on the eastern side of Long Island. The beaches there are more exclusive and have some sort of glitzy atmosphere. There is an interesting Whaling Museum in Sag Harbor and the Parrish Art Museum is in Southampton. East Hampton is the center of The Hamptons, where most activity takes place. That area boasts numerous good restaurants and nightclubs.|Wine District
|Thirteen wineries are situated on Long Island's North Fork, most of them around the town of Cutchogue. The largest winery is Pindar Vineyards and tours are available. It you want to explore this part of Long Island by yourself, you really need to rent a car, as distances are large and public transportation is thin. Numerous wine festivals are held in North Fork every year.|The 17th-century town of Orient, at the eastern tip of North Fork is also worth a visit. The town boasts numerous white clapboard houses and former inns. There is a nice beach, as well as some oyster ponds.|Hudson Valley
|In the Hudson Valley, north of New York are numerous small towns. In autumn many local from New York visit the region to see the leaves change color.|On the western side of the Hudson River lies Harriman State Park. The park is good for hiking and there are three lakes where you can swim during the summer. Bear Mountain State Park is immediately next to it. In that park, a whole range of activities is available. You can do hiking, swimming and fishing, while in winter the park is excellent for cross-country skiing, sledding and ice skating. The Trailside Museum & Zoo in the park is a refuge for rescued animals and has interesting displays on the region. In the north of Bear Mountain State park is West Point, where a military academy is situated. The buildings on the campus are Gothic and Federal and are surrounded by beautiful gardens.|Route 9 along the eastern side of the Hudson River is especially scenic. Boat tours on the river are also available. Trains to the valley leave from Grand Central Station in New York. The Hudson Valley is excellent for cycling.|Tarrytown
|On the eastern bank of the Hudson River is Tarrytown. It is the place where Washington Irving, the creator of Sleepy Hollow, is buried. There are countless historic homes in Tarrytown.|Also in town is Hyde Park, where Franklin D Roosevelt (FDR) had his summer residence. The FRD Home and Library includes old photos, tapes and FDR's custom made Ford Phaeton. The former president's grave, as well as that of his wife, Eleanor, is also there. The Eleanor Roosevelt National Historic Site is just 3 km (2 miles) to the east at Val-Kill. Three kilometers north of Hyde Park is the Vanderbilt Mansion National Historic Site.|New Jersey Shore
|Many New Yorkers head for the Jersey Shore during the summer, when temperatures in New York City become unbearable. The New Jersey Coast stretches from Cape May in the south, some 205 km (127 miles) to Sandy Hook in the north and it is visited some 180 million times each year. You can get to the beaches of Long Branch to Bay Head by train. The New Jersey Transit North Jersey Coast train services the area. Between May and September frequent trains connect NYC's Penn Station, Hoboken and Newark with the Shore. You can also get there by car, via the Lincoln Tunnel or George Washington Bridge and the Garden State parkway.|Belmar
|Belmar is a resort on the Jersey Shore. There are countless bars and nightclubs, as well as numerous hotels and restaurants. Nearby Spring Lake, more commonly known as the Irish Riviera, has also numerous facilities, but it is quite an expensive place. The terminus of the North Jersey Coast train line is the quiet town of Bay Head. Bay Head has a public beach. Belmar is excellent for fishing, while Long Branch, 15 km (10 miles) to the north is good for surfing.|Atlantic City
|Atlantic City is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the United States. Since 1977, Atlantic City has a casino that attracts millions of punters every year. Apart from gambling, there is little of interest in Atlantic City. It is a good place to stay if you're looking for cheap accommodation out of the season.|Activities
|As every large city, New York offers countless activities. The Chelsea Piers Complex on the Hudson River is a good place to go if you want to practice any of a wide range of sports. It includes a driving range, an indoor skating rink, a running track, a swimming pool and workout centers, as well as beach volleyball and rock climbing facilities.|Central Park is perfect for running and jogging. The roadway around the park is closed to traffic between 10 am and 3 pm on weekdays and the entire weekend. It is 10 km (6 miles) long and a good place to run. The Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Reservoir with its soft 2.5 km (1.5 mile) running track is another good running place. There is also a runner's track along the Hudson River between 23rd Street and Battery Park City.|Cycling in New York is possible. Bikes can be rented at various locations, but the only traffic-free place to ride a bike is Central Park. In the park you'll also find countless people on in-line skates. Fishing is possible in the Hudson River, but because of pollution it is advised not to eat your catch.|Transportation
|Now York City has three large airports. John F Kennedy (JFK) is 24 km (15 miles) southeast from Manhattan, in the southeast of Queens and the place where most international flights arrive. Buses run between the airport and the city every 30 minutes. La Guardia, 13 km (8 miles) to the east serves mainly the domestic market. Especially during the day, La Guardia is much more convenient than JFK. Buses run every 30 minutes between La Guardia and the city, while a water shuttle is also available. Newark is in New Jersey, 16 km (10 miles) west of Manhattan. It is probably the most advanced airport in the New York area and includes a monorail system that links the various terminals. Buses connect it with the city.|The three airports, as well as two large train terminals and a huge bus depot make NYC the most important transportation hub in the northeast of the United States. On 33rd St, between 7th and 8th Ave is Pennsylvania Station, from which all Amtrak trains depart. The so-called Metroliner services Princeton (NJ), Philadelphia (PA), and Washington (DC). The Long Island Rail Road connects Brooklyn, Queens and Long Island's suburbs, including the coastal resorts. The suburbs and the Jersey Shore are connected by the New Jersey Transit's services. These trains can be found at Penn Station in NYC. The Metro North Railroad leaves from Grand Central Station, at the junction of Park Ave and 42nd St and serves the northern suburbs, as well as Connecticut.|The Port Authority Bus Terminal at 41st St and Eighth Ave in Manhattan is the place where all suburban and long-distance buses depart from. Buses to most other large U.S. cities are ran by Greyhound, while other companies serve regional cities.|You can get to Manhattan by car via the Connecticut Turnpike (I-95), the Long Island Expressway, or the Grand Central Parkway, but once you get there be prepared for huge traffic congestions.|The fastest way to get around in NYC is by subway. It is a fairly straightforward system, although it is quite noisy. Subway tokens can also be used on New York's blue-and-white city buses and are surprisingly cheap. New Jersey's Port Authority Trans-Hudson trains use a separate-fare system. They run between Manhattan and Newark, as well as to northern New Jersey.|Buses run around New York 24 hours a day. Maps are available at the subway and train stations and most buses show a route-map including the locations of sights and landmarks. Taxis from the city center to any of the airports are quite expensive, but when you use them to get around the city itself, fares are reasonable. If you think of being ripped off, ask for a receipt, note the taxi's license number and report it to New York's Taxi and Limousine Commission.|It is possible to rent a car in New York, but that is expensive. Driving in the traffic-jammed streets is not much fun either. Ferries connect several places along the Hudson River Valley.|There are countless hotels, hostels, B&Bs, restaurants, bars and other places to stay and eat in New York City. They are scattered all over town. New York City is 325 km north of Washington DC.";
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n["newyorkstatebargecanal"][0]="New York State Barge Canal|United States|us|North America";
n["newyorkstatebargecanal"][1]="The New York State Barge Canal is an 845 km (525 miles) long waterway system that traverses the state of New York and connects the Great Lakes with the Hudson River and Lake Champlain. The canal is a modification and improvement of the old Erie Canal and its branches. The New York State Barge Canal was authorized in 1903 by public vote and work was begun in 1904. The canal was completed in 1918.|Its main sections are the Erie Canal, extending from Troy to Tonawanda, the Champlain Canal, joining the Erie Canal at Waterford and extending north via the Hudson as far as Fort Edward to Whitehall on Lake Champlain, the Oswego Canal, which connects the Erie Canal with Oswego on Lake Ontario and the Cayuga and Seneca Canal, joining the Erie Canal with Cayuga and Seneca lakes. The Barge Canal has a minimum depth of 3.7 m (12 feet) and contains 57 electrically operated locks. it can accommodate 2,000-ton vessels. Commercial shipping had all but disappeared from the canal by the 1990's and leisure craft now predominate in the waterway's traffic. In an effort to improve recreational facilities and increase tourism along the canal, a major renovation was begun in 1995.";