Harlem Meer, Central Park

Harlem Meer, Central Park, New York City. Central Park designers Frederick Law Olmsted named this man-made water body “the Meer” — Dutch for “lake,” reflecting the fact that the first settlers in Harlem were Dutch. Today, The Harlem Meer, located in the Harlem end of Central Park is a thriving wildlife habitat and home to fish, turtles, and waterfowl. Several varieties of trees, including oak, bald cypress, beech and gingko, surround it. It is one of the most peaceful settings in Central Park, and, indeed, all of Manhattan.