Albany, NY, USA

Albany is the administrative capital of the state of New York, located in the eastern United States, and it is also the seat of Albany County. The city is situated on the western bank of the Hudson River and has a total area of about 26 square miles. The wider Capital District, which includes the cities of Troy, Schenectady, and several surrounding suburbs, forms the metropolitan area centered around Albany. The city is located roughly the same distance from the Atlantic Ocean and Lake Ontario. New York City, the largest city in the state and the Atlantic region, is located about 220 miles south of Albany, while the city of Syracuse lies approximately 145 miles west of Albany’s city center.

Albany is a planned city, with its downtown area located in the eastern part of the city, directly facing the Hudson River. The downtown area is bordered by historic neighborhoods such as Pastures and Arbor Hill. Because of its geographic setting, the city has mainly expanded toward the northwest, with key surrounding communities including Colonie, Loudonville, Newtonville, and Westmere. Albany is an important cultural, historic, social, and political center of the state. It also serves as a transportation hub, where Interstate 90 and Interstate 87 intersect. Albany International Airport is located about 7 miles northwest of the city center. To the east of the city, there are several large natural preserves and forested areas, including Cherry Plain State Park, Taconic Ridge State Forest, Berlin State Forest, and others.