Why is there always steam rising in the alleys at night in New York City series? (3 photos)

The legendary scene from the film “The Seven Year Itch”, where Marilyn Monroe, standing over a ventilation grill, catches a flying skirt, is known even to those who have never watched the film itself.





One of the largest metropolises in the world is located near the intersection of two geological faults.

The base for the city is an ancient basalt slab. Theoretically, the city could be at the epicenter of powerful earthquakes with a magnitude of up to 7. In the second half of the 19th century, city planners opened the first metro line. By the way, the New York subway, including elevated stations and the monorail, currently has the longest length in the world. The geography of the city did not allow the subway to be deepened into solid rock.

The tracks lie close to the surface, where the city's ancient heating system is also located. Local residents consider it their landmark. Steam heating was launched back in 1882. From a central distribution center, steam is supplied to all major buildings in Manhattan. This network covers an area of ​​170 kilometers, which is several times larger than the largest similar systems in the world.



The central station also supplies steam for domestic needs; it is used by numerous dry cleaners. Just imagine, 13 billion liters are evaporated here every year, which is comparable in size to the capacity of 12 thousand sports swimming pools! The station where steam is produced occupies an area equal to three football fields.

And the giant boilers look like apartment buildings. To avoid concentration of steam underground, it is released through special above-ground valves. They can be seen in different parts of the city, they look like bright white and orange cones. Steam also comes out of vents located along the train routes in the subway. It was on this feature that the shot with Marilyn Monroe was built. Her heroine stood on the bars as the train passed below. The warm air escaping from below blew up the actress’s white dress.

It is interesting that New Yorkers then gathered in a dense crowd, watching the takes of their favorite. Numerous police outfits ensured order on the set and cooled the ardor of the most ardent fans of the Hollywood sex symbol.

By the way, this scene is not the only one in the history of cinema; directors often use the ability of New York to “breathe”. You can always recognize the cityscapes in the frame by the billowing haze.