<P> The geography of New York City is characterized by its coastal position at the meeting of the Hudson River and the Atlantic Ocean in a naturally sheltered harbor . The city's geography, with its scarce availability of land, is a contributing factor in making it one of the most densely populated cities in the United States . Environmental issues are chiefly concerned with managing this density, which also explains why New York is among the most energy efficient and least automobile - dependent cities in the United States . The city's climate is temperate . </P> <P> New York City is located on the coast of the Northeastern United States at the mouth of the Hudson River in southeastern New York state . It is located in the New York--New Jersey Harbor Estuary, the centerpiece of which is the New York Harbor, whose deep waters and sheltered bays helped the city grow in significance as a trading city . Much of New York is built on the three islands of Manhattan, Staten Island, and western Long Island, making land scarce and encouraging a high population density . </P>

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