New York City Waterfalls
Four electrically-powered waterfalls, one almost as tall as the Statue of Liberty, now rise from New York Harbor. Each plume in this privately-funded $15 million public art installation ranging from 90 - 120 feet tall are spilling forth June 26th - October 13th from 7:00 AM to 10:00 PM, fully lit after sunset. Designed by internationally acclaimed artist Olafur Eliasson, all four waterfalls pump a total of 35,000 gallons per minute out of the East River bridging the gap between the city's natural environment and its industrial and commercial landscape. While building elements like scaffolding form their backbone mirroring NYC's physicality, pumps powered by renewably generated electricity through Con Ed Solutions filter water through intake pools suspended in the East River protecting fish and aquatic life.
One waterfall is located under the Brooklyn Bridge, near the Brooklyn anchorage; another between Piers 4 and 5 in Brooklyn Heights near Atlantic Avenue; the third in Lower East Side near Pier 35 north of Rutgers Street; and the forth on the north shore of Governors Island. Strategically located so they are all visible from South Street Seaport's Pier 17 yet not close enough from this vantage point to showcase their full scale, taking a boat tour is by far the best way to experience their magnitude:
Circle Line Downtown Water Tours
Pier 16, South Street Seaport (866-925-4631)
Free half-hour tours of The New York City Waterfalls offered daily 9am-8:30pm including taped audio commentary from Eliasson. Space limited, advance registration required. Hour-long tours aboard the Zephyr cover more territory but cost $25
Circle Line Sightseeing Cruises
Pier 83, W 42nd St at Twelfth Ave (212-563-3200) Not to be confused with Circle Line Downtown, they offer two-hour tours daily 11:30am, 3:30, 7pm; $16-$27. Three-hour tours daily 9:30am-4:30pm, $18-$31.
Classic Harbor Line Yacht Cruise
Pier 59, W 18th St at the Hudson River (646-336-5270) Mon-Wed 6:30pm; Thu, Sat, Sun 2:30, 4:30, 6:30pm; Fri 2:30, 4:30, 6:30, 8:45pm. $40-$50.
See the waterfalls in style aboard the 80-foot Manhattan with complimentary champagne
New York Water Taxi Tour
Pier 17, South Street Seaport (212-742-1969) Mon-Fri 11am-5pm; Sat, Sun 11am-6pm. $25, seniors $20, children $15. Not the most glamorous option, this 60-minute tour gets you close enough to feel the spray on your face.