East River
The East River is a tidal
strait in
New York City connecting
Upper New York Bay on its south end to
Long Island Sound on its north end. It separates
Long Island 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.
Encyclopedia
The
East River is a tidal
strait in
New York City connecting
Upper New York Bay on its south end to
Long Island Sound on its north end. It separates
Long Island 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.
The Channel
Historically, the lower portion of the river 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
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:
- Upper section
- Lower Section
Crossings
Bridges
The river is spanned by eight
bridges, which from north to south are:
Tunnels
The river is spanned by thirteen
tunnels. From north to south, along with uses as of July 2006:
See also
External links
