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This article is about the East River in New York City. The City of New York For other uses, see East River (disambiguation).
The East River is shown in red on this satellite photo of New York City.
The East River is shown in red on this satellite photo of New York City.

The East River is a tidal strait in New York City. A strait is a narrow navigable Channel of water that connects two larger navigable bodies of water The City of New York It connects Upper New York Bay on its south end to Long Island Sound on its north end. See also Geography and environment of New York City Upper New York Bay, sometimes called Upper New York Harbor or the Upper Bay, is Long Island Sound is an Estuary of the Atlantic Ocean and various Rivers in the United States that lies between the coast of Connecticut It separates Long Island (including the boroughs of Queens and Brooklyn) from the island of Manhattan and the Bronx on the North American mainland. Long Island is an island located in southeastern New York, USA, its western shores directly across from Manhattan, from which the island stretches Brooklyn (named after the Dutch town Breukelen) is one of the five boroughs of New York City. Manhattan Island, in New York Harbor, is much the largest part of the Borough of Manhattan, one of the Five Boroughs which form the City of New York In reference to its connection to Long Island Sound, it was once also known as the Sound River. Long Island Sound is an Estuary of the Atlantic Ocean and various Rivers in the United States that lies between the coast of Connecticut [1]

Contents

History

The river was formed 11,000 years ago at the end of the Wisconsin glaciation [2]. "Last glacial" redirects here For the period of maximum glacier extent during this time see Last Glacial Maximum The last glacial period The distinct change in the shape of the river channel between the lower and upper portions is evidence of this glacial activity. The upper portion (from Long Island Sound to Hell Gate, running largely perpendicular to the glacial motion, is wide, meandering, and has deep narrow bays on both banks, scoured out by the glacier's movement. Long Island Sound is an Estuary of the Atlantic Ocean and various Rivers in the United States that lies between the coast of Connecticut Hell Gate is a narrow tidal Strait in the East River in New York City in the United States. The lower portion (from Hell Gate to New York Bay runs north-south, parallel to the glacial motion. New York Bay is the collective term for the marine areas surrounding the entrance of the Hudson River into the Atlantic Ocean. It is much narrower, with straight banks. The bays that exist (or existed before being filled-in by human activity), are largely wide and shallow.

The Channel

Historical film of the east river, leading up to a final shot of the Brooklyn Bridge. (1903)
Historical film of the east river, leading up to a final shot of the Brooklyn Bridge. (1903)

The East River is dangerous to people who fall in or attempt to swim in it, although the water is cleaner than it has been in decades. Anyone in the channel would find few places to climb out. According to the marine sciences section of the city Department of Environmental Protection, the channel is swift, with water moving as fast as four knots (just as it does in the Hudson River on the other side of Manhattan). The Hudson River, called Muh-he-kun-ne-tuk, the Great Mohegan by the Iroquois, or as the Lenape Native Americans called it in Unami That speed can push casual swimmers out to sea. A few people typically drown in the rivers around New York City each year. [3] The strength of the current foiled a 2007 effort to tap it for hydroelectricity. Hydroelectricity is electricity generated by Hydropower, ie the production of power through use of the gravitational force of falling water [4]

Historically, the lower portion of the river (separating Manhattan from Brooklyn) was one of the busiest and most important channels in the world, particularly during the first three centuries of New York City's history. The Brooklyn Bridge, opened in 1883, was the first bridge to span the river, replacing frequent ferry service. The Brooklyn Bridge, one of the oldest Suspension bridges in the United States, stretches 5989 feet (1825 m over the East River connecting the (Some passenger ferry service remains between Queens and Manhattan. )

The Bronx River drains into the East River in the northern section of the strait. The Bronx River, approximately 24 miles (38 km long flows through southeast New York in the United States.

North of Ward's Island, it is joined by the Bronx Kill. Ward's Island is situated in the East River in New York City. Bronx Kill is a narrow Strait in New York City delineating the southernmost extent of The Bronx and separating it from Randall's Island. Along the east of Ward's Island, at approximately the strait's midpoint, it narrows into a channel called Hell Gate, which is spanned by both the Triborough Bridge and the Hell Gate Bridge. Hell Gate is a narrow tidal Strait in the East River in New York City in the United States. The Triborough Bridge, often simply referred to as the Triboro; officially named the Robert F The Hell Gate Bridge (originally the New York Connecting Railroad Bridge or The East River Arch Bridge) is a 1017-foot (310 m steel arch railroad On the south side of Ward's Island, it is joined by the Harlem River. See also Geography and environment of New York City The Harlem River is a navigable tidal Strait in New York City, USA that

Southern view of the Brooklyn, Manhattan, and Williamsburg bridges (front to back), seen from the East River.
Southern view of the Brooklyn, Manhattan, and Williamsburg bridges (front to back), seen from the East River.

Newtown Creek on Long Island drains into the East River, forming part of the boundary between Queens and Brooklyn. Newtown Creek, is a Estuary that forms part of the border between the Boroughs of Brooklyn and Queens, in New York City,

The East River contains a number of islands, including:

Crossings

New York City waterways: 1. Hudson River, 2. East River, 3. Long Island Sound, 4. Newark Bay, 5. Upper New York Bay, 6. Lower New York Bay, 7. Jamaica Bay, 8. Atlantic Ocean
New York City waterways: 1. An island (ˈaɪlənd or isle (/ˈaɪl/ is any piece of land that is completely surrounded by water in two dimensions above high tide and isolated from other significant Rikers Island is one of New York City 's large jail facilities as well as the name of the 413 North Brother Island is an island in the East River situated between The Bronx and Riker's Island. South Brother Island is one of a pair of small islands in the East River situated between The Bronx and Riker's Island, New York City and Mill Rock Island is a small unpopulated Island between Manhattan and Queens in New York City, in the U Ward's Island is situated in the East River in New York City. Randall's Island is situated in the East River in New York City, part of the borough of Manhattan. Land reclamation is either of two distinct practices One involves creating new land from sea- or riverbeds the other refers to restoring an area to a more natural state (such as after Roosevelt Island, formerly known as Welfare Island, and before that Blackwell's Island, is a narrow island in the East River of New York U Thant Island (officially Belmont Island) is a tiny 100 x 200 foot (30 x 60 Metre) Artificial island in New York City 's Hudson River, 2. The Hudson River, called Muh-he-kun-ne-tuk, the Great Mohegan by the Iroquois, or as the Lenape Native Americans called it in Unami East River, 3. Long Island Sound, 4. Long Island Sound is an Estuary of the Atlantic Ocean and various Rivers in the United States that lies between the coast of Connecticut Newark Bay, 5. See also Newark Bay South Georgia Newark Bay is a body of water a tidal back bay of New York Harbor formed at the confluence Upper New York Bay, 6. See also Geography and environment of New York City Upper New York Bay, sometimes called Upper New York Harbor or the Upper Bay, is Lower New York Bay, 7. See also Geography and environment of New York City Lower New Jamaica Bay, 8. See also Geography and environment of New York City Jamaica Bay is a Lagoon that lies in the shadow of New York City 's skyscrapers and is adjacent Atlantic Ocean
East River reflecting the lights of the Brooklyn Bridge and Downtown Manhattan
East River reflecting the lights of the Brooklyn Bridge and Downtown Manhattan
See also: List of fixed crossings of the East River and List of ferries across the East River

Bridges

The river is spanned by eight bridges, which from north to south are:

Tunnels

The river is spanned by thirteen tunnels. A tunnel is an underground passageway The definition of what constitutes a tunnel is not universally agreed upon From north to south, along with uses as of July 2006:

See also

References

  1. ^ Montrésor, John (1766). The 63rd Street Tunnel currently carries the IND 63rd Street Line of the New York City Subway under the East River between the boroughs of The F Sixth Avenue Local is a Rapid transit service of the New York City Subway. The New York City Subway is a Rapid transit system owned by the City of New York and leased to the New York City Transit Authority, a subsidiary agency The 60th Street Tunnel carries the,, and trains of the New York City Subway under the East River and Roosevelt Island between Manhattan The N Broadway Express is a service of the New York City Subway. The R Broadway Local is a service of the New York City Subway. The W Broadway Local is a Rapid transit service of B Division of the New York City Subway. The 53rd Street Tunnel carries the IND Queens Boulevard Line (currently the and trains of the New York City Subway under the East River and The E Eighth Avenue Local is a Rapid transit service of the New York City Subway. The V Sixth Avenue Local is a Rapid transit service of the New York City Subway. The Steinway Tunnel carries the train of the New York City Subway under the East River between 42nd Street in Manhattan and 51st Avenue The 7 Flushing Local and 7 Flushing Express are Rapid transit services of the New York City Subway, providing local and express services along the full The 7 Flushing Local and 7 Flushing Express are Rapid transit services of the New York City Subway, providing local and express services along the full The Queens-Midtown Tunnel (sometimes simply Midtown Tunnel) is a Toll road in New York City. Interstate 495 (abbreviated I-495, better known as the Long Island Expressway or L The East River Tunnels are 4 single-track railroad Tunnels that extend from the eastern ends of 32/33 Streets in Manhattan to Queens. The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, Doing business as Amtrak, is a Government-owned corporation that was organized on May 1, 1971 Pennsylvania Station (commonly known as “Penn Station”) is the major intercity rail station and a major Commuter rail hub in New York City The L 14th Street–Canarsie Local is a Rapid transit service of the New York City Subway, providing local service along the full length of the BMT Canarsie Line The Rutgers Street Tunnel carries the trains of the New York City Subway under the East River between the East Broadway Station in Manhattan The F Sixth Avenue Local is a Rapid transit service of the New York City Subway. The Cranberry Street Tunnel carries the and trains of the New York City Subway under the East River between the Broadway–Nassau Street Station The A Eighth Avenue Express is a Rapid transit service of the New York City Subway. The C Eighth Avenue Local is a Rapid transit service of the New York City Subway. The Clark Street Tunnel carries the and trains of the New York City Subway under the East River between the boroughs of Manhattan and Brooklyn The 2 Seventh Avenue Express is a Rapid transit service of the New York City Subway. The 3 Seventh Avenue Express is a Rapid transit service of the New York City Subway. The Montague Street Tunnel carries the and trains of the New York City Subway under the East River between the boroughs of Manhattan and Brooklyn The N Broadway Express is a service of the New York City Subway. The R Broadway Local is a service of the New York City Subway. The W Broadway Local is a Rapid transit service of B Division of the New York City Subway. The Joralemon Street Tunnel carries the and trains of the IRT Lexington Avenue Line of the New York City Subway under the East River between The 4 Lexington Avenue Express is a Rapid transit service of the New York City Subway. The 5 Lexington Avenue Express is a Rapid transit service of the New York City Subway. The Brooklyn-Battery Tunnel is a Toll road in New York City which crosses under the East River at its mouth connecting the Boroughs of The Brooklyn-Battery Tunnel is a Toll road in New York City which crosses under the East River at its mouth connecting the Boroughs of This is a list of Rivers in the US state of New York. By Drainage Basin This list is arranged by drainage basin with The geography of New York City is characterized by its coastal position at the meeting of the Hudson River and the Atlantic Ocean in a naturally See also Geography of New York City This article provides a brief introduction to both natural and manmade geographic features of New York Harbor from a maritime A plan of the city of New-York & its environs. London.
  2. ^ The Queens Gazette: The East River Flows From Prehistoric Times To Today
  3. ^ [1]"Welcome, Students. Now Watch It. ", no byline, article in The New York Times, "Metro Section", August 30, 2007, accessed same day
  4. ^ [2]"East River Turbines Face Upstream Battle" Gothamist

External links

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