Central Park's lake has a secret hidden in plain sight

WNYC News

ake a look beyond all the trees and bushes and flowers in Central Park, past the iconic Boathouse, and you might just spot something you’ve never seen before. An island... in the middle of another island.

That is, an island inside Central Park Lake, on the island of Manhattan, surrounded by rivers, a creek, the Long Island Sound and the Atlantic Ocean.

This geographic quirk is called a recursive island, and our colleagues over at WNYC’s science podcast for kids “Terrestrials” are diving deep into the world of these natural features in a new episode.

Alan Goffinski is the host of that Terrestrials episode. He spoke with WNYC's Michael Hill from a rowboat in the middle of the lake in Central Park.

We want to hear from you! If you could name the nameless island inside the lake in Central Park, what would you call it? Send us a voice memo at [e-mail] by the end of the day on October 25. Your ideas may air on WNYC's Morning Edition.