Staten Island [Dutch 'Staaten Eylandt'] is the least populated but the fastest growing borough of the New York City with current population of around 500 000 people. Staten Island is the most southern part of both - New York City and New York State.
At the same time the island is twice bigger than Manhattan and as a result, the population density is relatively small, Staten Island is the most suburban of all New York boroughs with majority of houses being private 1-3 floor buildings.
Low population density and some of the government projects resulted in Staten Island being very green, with lots of grass, trees, parks, wetlands and even forests inhabited with birds and animals. The air is much cleaner there than anywhere else in the City.
The borough is connected to Manhattan via free
Staten Island Ferry, to Brooklyn with the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge and to New Jersey with several bridges. There is no direct road connection to Manhattan and the only way to go there by car or a bus is through Brooklyn or New Jersey.
Being a part of the New York City, Staten Island transit system that includes local busses, express busses and Staten Island Railway is controlled and operated by MTA. Some of the local buses are connecting Staten Island to Brooklyn and Bayonne, express busses let people travel to Manhattan. The railway, that uses same cars as New York subway, goes from the north shore, right from the St George ferry terminal down to the most southern part - Tottenville. The railway is free, except 2 stations - St George / Ferry terminal and Tompkinsville, where MetroCard turnstiles are installed.
The most remarkable point of interest on Staten Island is a 2.5 miles
FDR Boardwalk, fourth longest in the world with life-guarded beaches, dedicated bike/roller blade path, baseball and soccer fields, children playgrounds, radio controlled machine track, a boccie area, restaurant and ice cream cafe. 3-4 times a year, during the summer,
firework shows are held near the boardwalk. Colorful fire flowers growing right from the open ocean in the night sky are breathtaking!
Another interesting place on the island is the
Greenbelt - huge forest-like park in the middle of the island with several lakes and pathways. The park is much bigger than Central Park in Manhattan, has much more trees and animals living in there.
Other points of interest are
Fort Wadsworth with a very beautiful view of the New York Bay, Manhattan, Brooklyn and Verrazano Bridge, Wolfe's Pond Park, Great Kills Park, Staten Island Museum in St George, Historic Richmond Town, Staten Island Zoo.
Read more at wikipedia.org.