The tiny island in New York City that nobody is allowed to visit
Yep, that’s me. You’re probably wondering how I ended up in
this situation. To see how I got here, we first have to talk
about islands. You may not realize it, but New York City
is full of them. Manhattan itself is technically just one 13.4-mile-long
island. You’ve also got Governors Island, Liberty Island, as well as Staten Island. But there’s one island in New York that
you may not know about, and no, it’s not the tiki bar Jade Island, which is fabulous by the way — do yourself
a favor and try the pu pu platter. It’s called U Thant Island. And it’s one island in New York that nobody
is allowed to visit. It sits in the East River, right below Roosevelt
Island near the UN headquarters, and for something so tiny has a pretty fascinating
history. In 1892, construction of an underground rail
passage began that was meant to connect Manhattan to Queens
via a tunnel under the river. Builders had to drill through the granite
under water, and that excavation produced excess landfill,
which accumulated and eventually produced a tiny mound of rocks, or as we in the biz call it, an island. The island was originally named Belmont Island,
after August Belmont Jr., the man who financed the construction project. The original tunnel is now used by the 7 Train. And as for the island, minus the occasional
tanker collision, up until recently has had a pretty uneventful existence. Then an organization called the Peace Meditation
at the United Nations, a Buddhist group that followed spiritual leader, prolific artist, and super-ripped dude Sri Chinmoy, leased
the island from the city in 1977. They rechristened it U Thant Island to honor
the third secretary general of the UN, a former Burmese diplomat named U Thant, who was a friend of Sri Chinmoy. They also did some light landscaping and erected
a 30-foot metal “oneness arch.” But they were only allowed to visit a few
times a year because of the heightened security around
its neighbor the United Nations. All remained peaceful on U Thant until 2004,
when New York City hosted the Republican National Convention. A filmmaker and artist named Duke Riley decided
to protest by rowing a boat out to U Thant in the middle of the night, unfurling a giant glow-in-the-dark flag from
the navigation tower that’s on there, and declaring it a sovereign nation, before being apprehended by the Coast Guard. So I called the New York Office of Land Management
and tried to schedule a visit. Hey, I wanted to call and see if it’s at
all possible to set up a time to go visit U Thant Island on the East River? Oh, it’s not. At all, like, for anybody? I did some checking, and he’s actually right
— nobody is allowed to visit U Thant Island. Turns out it’s now a protected sanctuary
for migrating birds, including a colony of double-crested cormorants
that nest in the “oneness arch.” So you can’t actually go on it, but I still
wanted to get as close as I could. Despite a total lack of experience and a quickly
approaching thunderstorm I jumped in a canoe and headed out onto the
lovely East River. We paddled through the water, passing Williamsburg
and Roosevelt Island, until we finally saw it in all its glorious, tiny
splendor. To most people, it may look like just a pile
of rocks in a filthy river. And … I guess it sort of is. But there’s also something kind of wonderful
about it too. Being up close to it made me realize that
there’s something special about U Thant. Amidst the hustle and bustle and millions
of people, there’s this 125-year-old speck of land tucked away from— So I learned a thing or two about what not
to do when your canoe starts tipping over. And as it turns out, I sort of did make it
onto U Thant Island after all. Granted, it was in an effort to not drown
in the East River, but I think it technically still counts. I didn’t die, which was good, and I’m
glad I was actually able to see U Thant close up. But for now, I think I might just stick to
this island, which is a little bit more my speed.
The best YouTube video I have ever seen
Mad stupid this was actually dumb why would you ever take a that boat out knowing you dont know how to use it
I bet they capsized on purpose, so they could set foot on the island
EWWWWWWW he fell into the east river!!!!!! 🤢🤮🤮🤮🤮 that river and the Long Island sound stink!!!!
Rikers Island
He stepped on an island🏝that was smart moves fake boats tipping over…
I've actually been there myself. Nothing to see. But god if I fell into the East river I would bleach my entire body
The paddle in the back at 2:46 is getting the h out of there
Nice effort to protect the birds living there
Pronounced "OO TANT Island". The H is silent. He was Secretary-General of the U.N.
I counted the islands in NYC. There are 31 islands.
Dumbass
You fell in the east rivers strong death current, are you nuts?
Fifty years it will all be under water so no loss there.
Vox : İt used to be called Belmont island
Castlevania fans : ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)
Liberal media= can’t handle a canoe
Stephen from braveheart declares “It’s MY Island”…
I live in South Tulsa and we have bigger dry spots in the nearby Arkansas River. They might not be as rocky & just might be half quicksand. But they are definitely bigger.
I also have aboat
stupid video
When I was little I read a book about a duck who lived on that island… anybody else???
Long Island ? Excuse me
0:42 The story of my p…
Nevermind.
This is why you go Kayaking instead
I'm laughing about how he fell in.
U Thicc Island
music?
It’s the island where Ryder stole the boat
Would be cool if they planted more trees there
3:20 when it’s a nice friday at school but then your teacher gives you homework over the weekend.
man america looks good
"Yup that's me. You're probably wondering how I…"
🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄
U Thant is pronounced "oo tahnt," not "oo thant." The H is silent.
Thought u meant rikers island😢
you falling over was worth the watch just funny natural comedy.
You forgot North Brother Island and South Brother Island
No man is an island, except U Thant
Poo poo platter
I'm from Burma and since our country gets basically no recognition, this just made my day.
Making tiny scraps of spare land in big cities into protected wildlife zones sound genuinely good actually.
I’m surprised the coast guard wasn’t on you. Great video though! Had no idea that island even existed.
3:30 FBI OPEN UP
Oh yuk!!!!dude the east river!!!!!disgusting
Would they like to say more about, "It’s origin dates back to the late 19th century when construction of an underground tunnel produced a tiny mound of rock …"
the tunnels?
Everywhere.
The beginning sounded like a really bad Netflix romantic comedy trying to relate to you, but doesn’t
Poo poo plater
Face Palm
U Thant? More Like U Can’t Come To this island.
noone is allowed to visit this island
Me: im gonna do whats called an [outstanding[but][iLlegal]Pro gamer move [Beyond science]
FBI open up
Don't forget your DPT booster shot after falling in the East River.
Almost 16 years old being in nyc my whole life and I’ve never been to the World Trade Center, Rockefeller center, Empire State Building, or the Statue of Liberty.
Uthanos island
Hey Vsauce guy in this video
Since you fell in the east river, i hope you got a tetanus shot.🤣😉
Great canoeing ! 😂
I see that on the fdr drive
Next thing you know, FBI knocks on your door
Lol.
Damb
That's where they're hiding the aliens before area 51 raid !!
Poo poo platter..
Hope he didn't affect the Cormorants
Its simple, its the island that is on-top of bikini bottom, so humans won’t disturb them.
I just passed that today
Get this guy arrested lol jk
Thats what happens where you get into a canoe thats smaller than you.
Why?
People who Live in Big cities are weird. Hey look at this 200 year old piece of history we are tearing down for technology.. Hey, Omg look at this wonderful trash pile island in the middle of a toxic river.. We must do everything we can to preserve this. This is the coolest thing we have ever seen. I wished we had cool old history to preserve.
Hipsters in a canoe. What a great idea.
You can’t visit U Thant Island because you have too many tattoos.
Comical
how is this guy not arrested or fined?
Looks like the island from spongebob
I see what you did there 🙄
You are sweet. Good information, thanks. The birds on the island are a beautiful sight.
You guys should know who U Thant is
Tell your boyfriend to take his shirt off next time
"Uthant Island"
Youthan't Island
They probably just don't want people and kids going out there causing unneeded canoe traffic and leaving trash which some people leave trash. You tipping in your canoe proves my point. If drunk kids were out there tipping their canoe it would cause potential drownings.
He said poo poo
???????????? nothing NEW ??? redo AAA maps
I’m from Myanmar and I’ve met U Thant’s Son before. The Son is now a historian.
The name is pronounced "U Tant"
Am I the only one who thinks it should be called u shan’t
Its the raft
2:45 paddle falls
Don’t people throw fluids and needles in that water?
Very useless information
I heart NY
LOL😂😂😂 funny😆
Poopoo platter
The island was to honor U Thant(a man) who helped other countries rather just caring on his country. I know this coz I’m Burmese n I’m learning bout it 😁
It looks like god pooped it out
Climate change
I'm doubting that rocks from the excavation ended up in the middle of the water which would be inaccessible from the tunnel. The rocks would have to be removed from one of the two entrances which would be on land, so why would they put the granite rocks in the middle of the water! They wouldn't have
*F.B.I OPEN UP *
H
Watches a ny vid then a ny ad comes…
Oh WOW