Could there be a better way for New Yorkers to celebrate the Fourth than to explore Manhattan's watery perimeter? Remember, this is an island, and from now until mid-October, Olafur Eliasson's New York City Waterfalls add vertical dimension to the archipelago.

The Danish-Icelandic Berliner, whose 2003 Weather Project at the Tate's Turbine Hall made him the go-to for this assignment, was selected by The Public Art Fund to create atmospheric art on a gargantuan scale. Four racks of scaffolding that tower up to 120 feet above the East River, from the Brooklyn Bridge to Governor's Island, pump river water in a continuous stream around the clock, with built-in energy-conscious lighting at night.

Photos courtesy NYFalls.com

If as a child you reveled in the splashy spectacle of an open hydrant on a hot summer day, this one's for you. The best way to visit the falls is by bike, following a map available on the New York City Waterfalls website. If you don't have a bike, you can get a package deal from New York Water Taxi that includes bike rental and a one-hour boat tour. Or you can park your bike and take a half-hour Circle Line boat tour.

The New York City Waterfalls are up through October 13th. For more information about The Public Art Fund and the falls, please check the website. To read about the artist, the engineering, and the complexities of this mammoth installation, see the recent New York Magazine article.