Geography of New York–New Jersey Harbor Estuary

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1. Upper New York Bay
2. Lower New York Bay
3. Newark Bay
4. Hudson River
5. East River
6. Raritan Bay
7. Jamaica Bay
8. Long Island Sound
9. New York Bight-North Atlantic
10. Ambrose Channel
11. Mud Dump Site[1]
12. Hudson Canyon
A. Manhattan
B. Brooklyn
C. Staten Island
D. Queens
E. The Bronx
F. Bayonne-Jersey City
G. Newark
H. Raritan Bayshore
i. Rockaway Point
j. Sandy Hook
(This is not for navigation.)

The system of waterways of the Port of New York and New Jersey forms one of the most intricate natural harbors in the world.[2] Although the overall form of the harbor remains unchanged from the time of Giovanni da Verrazzano's visit in 1524, no part of it remains unaffected by human activity, and some parts, such as Hell Gate and Ellis Island have been almost completely altered. In the greatest hidden change, the navigational channels have been deepened from the natural 17 feet depth to 45 feet, in some places requiring blasting of bedrock.[3] The harbor lies at the confluence of three major bodies of water. The harbor opens onto the New York Bight (Atlantic Ocean) to the southeast and Long Island Sound to the northeast. Both of these are essentially marine bodies with both tides and saltwater, but the Sound compared to the Atlantic is about 20-30% less saline (as an estuary), and the tide is about 3 hours later with as much as 70% more variation. The Hudson River adds a fresher, non-tidal inflow from the north, although the tide and brackishness extend well up river.

These three combine to generate an extremely complex system of tides and currents [4] throughout the extended hydrologic system from Albany to Montauk Point to the Hudson Canyon region of the New York Bight. The New York Harbor Observing and Prediction System (NYHOPS) utilizes information from sensors, weather forecasts, and environment models to provide real-time forecasts of meteorological and oceanographic conditions in the area.

Features of the harbor

Aerial view of the New York City area. The estuary is shown at bottom left.

The lists below includes features of Port of New York and New Jersey with a waterborne emphasis starting with natural features. Where possible the list proceeds from Lower Bay entrance approximately clockwise around Harbor. The alternative sorting is by jurisdiction.

Official references are the NOAA Coastal pilot,[5] NOAA nautical charts,[6] and USGS topographic maps.[7] Many jurisdictional issues appear in U.S. law.[8]

Rivers and streams

Bi-state

New Jersey

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New York

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Tidal straits

Inter-state

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New York

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Bays, inlets and coves

Lower New York Bay

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Upper New York Bay

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East River

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Long Island Sound

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Islands

Bi-state

  • Ellis Island—All of the landfill portion of Ellis Island beyond its 1834 waterfront is in Hudson County, NJ. All water surrounding Liberty and Ellis Islands is in Hudson County. The original island in an exclave in New York State.[9]
  • Liberty Island, exclave of New York with surrounding waters in New Jersey
  • Shooters Island Island in the middle of Kill Van Kull, part in New Jersey and part in New York

New Jersey

New York

Land features

New Jersey

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New York

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Banks and shoals

Navigational channels

Port facilities

One of the many duties of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey is to develop trade interests in the New York-New Jersey area. The PA operates most of the containerized port facilities listed here, and also collaborates with the Army Corps of Engineers to maintain shipping channels in the harbor.

New Jersey numerous privately operated bulk facilities, especially petroleum, not listed

New York

Lights and lighthouses

For lists see[12] and.[13] Active unless noted.

New Jersey

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New York

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Waterfront jurisdictions

Government and other agencies

State, county, municipal

New Jersey

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New York

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See also

References

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External links

  • Yonkers, Mount Vernon, Mamaroneck;
  • Orange, Weehawken, Central Park Flushing, Seacliff;
  • Elizabeth, Jersey City, Brooklyn, Jamaica, Lynbrook;
  • Perth Amboy, Arthur Kill The Narrows, Coney Island, Far Rockaway;
  • South Amboy, Keyport, Sandy Hook West, Sandy Hook East.
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