Fourth of July: the US celebrates its 238th birthday — in pictures

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jul/05/fourth-july-independence-day-america-pictures

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Reigning champion of Nathan's infamous annual hot dog eating contest Joey Chestnut receives his mustard victor's belt under the rain. Chestnut won the 98th competition held at Coney Island in New York City.

Tens of thousands of people gathered to watch the fireworks show in New York City. A 25-minute show of reds, whites and blues lit up the sky from three barges on the East River, sandwiched between Brooklyn and lower Manhattan and even some from the Brooklyn Bridge itself.

Arthur narrowly missed becoming the first hurricane to make landfall on July Fourth, according to National Hurricane Center research that dates to the 1850s.