Why is steam always visible in the alleys in New York movies

Many movie lovers have noticed that in Hollywood pictures where the action takes place in In New York, there is steam in the deserted night alleys. This is usually attributed to special effects used by cinematographers to create a special atmosphere. But this is not the case, and to make sure of the inconsistency of this version, it is enough to visit the "Big Apple". Steam is actually present and there is a lot of it. But where does it come from?

New York is one of the largest megacities in the world. The city is ideally located from the point of view of economic geography, but it is extremely unfortunate if you look at the geological conditions. There is a huge fault next to it, and the city itself stands on a powerful basalt plate. Theoretically, there may be earthquakes of magnitude up to 7 in the New York area, but so far everything is fine.

But a slab of durable basalt greatly hinders builders. Because of it, the longest subway in the world is too close to the surface and sometimes goes outside. The megapolis metro is not only a traditional metro, but also a monorail. The first subway line in New York was opened back in the 19th century and since then construction has continued continuously.

It is thanks to the ventilation of the subway, which runs right under the streets of Manhattan, that historical shots with Marilyn Monroe's skirt lifted appeared. But under the streets of New York is not only the subway. Not far from the surface, the ancient steam heating system of the city also passes. It was launched in 1882 and now covers an area of more than 170 square kilometers.

Steam is supplied from the central distribution hub via highways to all major buildings in Manhattan. Steam is used not only for heating, but also for various household needs. For example, numerous New York dry cleaners also receive steam from this system.

Every year, the central station processes 13 billion liters of water into steam, which is comparable to the volume of 12 thousand Olympic swimming pools! The station itself is also impressive — it is an enterprise that occupies the area of three football fields. Giant boilers, the size of an apartment building, are located under large buildings. To avoid dangerous steam pressure in underground utilities, it is lowered through valves on the surface.

Steam valves can be seen in different areas of New York — they look like white-orange pipes. Metro ventilation grilles are also used to remove excess steam. In the cold season, the steam coming out of the ground looks especially impressive. A huge city "breathes" and cinematographers love this special effect, which they get for free.