East River
| Region | Type | Maps & Charts (if available, no international) |
|---|---|---|
| North America, New England, Atlantic | River | East River |
Tidal strait and channel, 16 miles long and 600-4000 ft wide, connecting Upper New York Bay and western Long Island Sound; separates boroughs of Manhattan and the Bronx from Brooklyn and Queens. The East River is linked with the Hudson River at north end of Manhattan island by the Harlem River. Contains Roosevelt (formerly Welfare), Wards, Randalls, Rikers, N. Brother, and S. Brother Rivers. Roosevelt Island was developed as a residential area in the early 1970s. Hell Gate, at the junction of the Harlem and East Rivers, was named for its treacherous currents and rocky reefs (now removed). A total of 8 bridges, including the historic Brooklyn Bridge, span the river; subway, RR, and vehicular tunnels pass beneath it. Semidiurnal tides produced tides of 4-5 feet swings and tidal currents as high as 5 knots.
Sources
Robert A. McCaugheyCompiler
Peter Richards