East River

East River
East River (foreground) and the headquarters of the United Nations in Manhattan (background) as seen from Roosevelt Island in December 2006
Aerial map of New York City with the East River shown in red
Location
CountryUnited States
StateNew York
MunicipalityNew York City
Physical characteristics
SourceLong Island Sound
 • coordinates40°48′01″N 73°47′31″W / 40.800172°N 73.791995°W / 40.800172; -73.791995
MouthUpper New York Bay
 • coordinates
40°42′01″N 74°00′14″W / 40.700357°N 74.003842°W / 40.700357; -74.003842
Length16 mi (26 km)
Basin features
Tributaries 
 • leftNewtown Creek, Flushing River
 • rightWestchester Creek, Bronx River,
Bronx Kill, Harlem River

The East River is a saltwater tidal estuary or strait in New York City. The waterway, which is actually not a river despite its name, connects Upper New York Bay on its south end to Long Island Sound on its north end. It separates Long Island, with the boroughs of Brooklyn and Queens, from Manhattan Island and from the Bronx (on the North American mainland).[1]

Because of its connection to Long Island Sound, it was once also known as the Sound River.[2] The tidal strait changes its direction of flow regularly, and is subject to strong fluctuations in its current, which are accentuated by its narrowness and variety of depths. The waterway is navigable for its entire length of 16 miles (26 km), and was historically the center of maritime activities in the city.[1][3]

  1. ^ a b Hodges, Godfrey. "East RIver" in Jackson, pp.393–93
  2. ^ Montrésor, John (1766). A plan of the city of New-York & its environs. London.
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference fed420 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).