Oil patterns form what looks like a relief map on the Gowanus Canal in Brooklyn, NY. Caused by the coal tar and oil seeping to the surface, sewage flowed into the canal as early as 1858, and by the 1880’s the waterway had gained the moniker “Lavendar Lake” for its odorous qualities. The current cost of the overall EPA Superfund cleanup plan is estimated to be over $1.5 billion, and the entire project won’t be completed until mid-2023. The Gowanus Canal is located in one of the densest population centers in America.

South Brooklyn Internet presents the extensive Stock Photography catalog of Mark D Phillips.


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