East River

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This article is about the East River in New York City. For other uses, see East River (disambiguation).
Main article: Geography and environment of New York City
Image:Wpdms terra east river.jpg
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 in the United States. It connects Upper New York Bay on its south end to Long Island Sound on its north end. It separates Long Island (including the boroughs of Queens and Brooklyn) from the island of Manhattan and the Bronx on the North American mainland.

In reference to its connection to Long Island Sound, it was once also known as the Sound River.[1]

Contents

[edit] The Channel

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 there are 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). That speed can push casual swimmers out to sea. A few people typically drown in the rivers around New York City each year.[2]

Image:Brooklyn Manhattan Williamsburg Bridges.jpg
Southern view of the Brooklyn, Manhattan, and Williamsburg bridges (front to back), seen from the East River.
Image:Eastriverandbrooklynbridge1903-snd.ogg
Historical film of the east river, leading up to a final shot of the Brooklyn Bridge. (1903)
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. (Some passenger ferry service remains between Queens and Manhattan.)

The Bronx River drains into the East River in the northern section of the strait.

North of Ward's Island, it is joined by the Bronx Kill. 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. On the south side of Ward's Island, it is joined by the Harlem River.

Newtown Creek on Long Island drains into the East River, forming part of the boundary between Queens and Brooklyn.

The East River contains a number of islands, including:

[edit] Crossings

Image:Waterways New York City Map Julius Schorzman.png
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
Image:Brooklyn Bridge Night 2007.jpg
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

[edit] Bridges

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

[edit] Tunnels

The river is spanned by thirteen tunnels. From north to south, along with uses as of July 2006:

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ Montrésor, John (1766). A plan of the city of New-York & its environs. London.
  2. ^ [1]"Welcome, Students. Now Watch It.", no byline, article in The New York Times, "Metro Section", August 30, 2007, accessed same day

[edit] External links

Coordinates: 40°47′48″N, 73°52′02″Wbg:Ийст Ривър da:East River de:East River (New York) fr:East River (New York) he:איסט nl:East River no:East River pl:Cieśnina East River pt:Rio East ru:Ист-Ривер sk:East River sv:East River uk:Іст-Ривер

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