Have you ever wondered why New York City’s skyline looks the way it does? This video answers this question, and it’s a lot more interesting than you might think.

It turns out that there was very little regulation in terms of building in New York at the start of the 20th century.

This led to huge skyscrapers such as The Equitable Building towering over the street below. Which in turn led to the creation of zoning laws.

These zoning laws are why most tall buildings in New York have that distinct tapered effect. Which keeps people on the ground much happier.