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The obelisk in New York City is commonly known as Cleopatra's Needle. It's one of three ancient #Egyptian obelisks of the same name—the other two reside in London and Paris. The New York #obelisk is located in Central Park, just behind the #Metropolitan #Museum of Art.This obelisk is around 3,500 years old and originally stood in Heliopolis, Egypt, created to honor Pharaoh Thutmose III. It features inscriptions celebrating his achievements and later additions by Ramses II. The obelisk was gifted to the United States by Egypt in 1881 as a symbol of international friendship.Transporting it from #Alexandria to New York was a monumental task that took several months, and its installation in #CentralPark was a major event. The obelisk stands about 69 feet tall and weighs approximately 220 tons, and it’s made from red granite, inscribed with hieroglyphs that have been somewhat weathered by time and the elements. It serves as a fascinating piece of ancient history set against the urban backdrop of #NewYorkCity . #viral #NYC #world