This article is about the East River in New York City. For other uses see East River (disambiguation). Coordinates: 404147N 740100W / 40.696355N 74.016609W / 40.696355; -74.016609 East River Tidal strait East River and the UN on Manhattan seen from Roosevelt Island Country United States State New York Municipality New York City Tributaries  - left Newtown Creek Flushing River  - right Westchester Creek Bronx River Bronx Kill Harlem River Source Long Island Sound  - coordinates 404814N 734930W / 40.8039900N 73.8251343W / 40.8039900; -73.8251343 Mouth Upper New York Bay  - coordinates 404147N 740100W / 40.696355N 74.016609W / 40.696355; -74.016609 Length 16 mi (26 km) The East River is shown in red on this satellite photo of New York City. Wikimedia Commons: East River

The East River is a tidal strait in New York City. 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 1 History 2 Channel 3 Crossings 3.1 Bridges 3.2 Tunnels 3.3 Trams 4 In popular culture 5 See also 6 Gallery 7 References 8 External links History

The strait was formed approximately 11000 years ago at the end of the Wisconsin glaciation.2 The distinct change in the shape of the strait between the lower and upper portions is evidence of this glacial activity. The upper portion (from Long Island Sound to Hell Gate) running largely perpendicular to the glacial motion is wide meandering and has deep narrow bays on both banks scoured out by the glacier's movement. The lower portion (from Hell Gate to New York Bay) runs north-south parallel to the glacial motion. It is much narrower with straight banks. The bays that exist (or existed before being filled in by human activity) are largely wide and shallow. Channel Historical film of the East River leading up to a final shot of the Brooklyn Bridge. (1903)

The East River is dangerous to people who fall in or attempt to swim in it although as of mid-2007 the water was cleaner than it had 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 drown in the waters around New York City each year.3 The strength of the current foiled an effort in 2007 to tap it for hydroelectricity.4 A panorama of the Hell Gate Bridge and Triborough Bridge from Astoria Park

Historically the lower portion of the strait (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 strait 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 Wards Island it is joined by the Bronx Kill. Along the east of Wards 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 Wards 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 Rikers Island North Brother Island South Brother Island Mill Rock Lower Section Wards Island and Randall's Island (joined by landfill) Roosevelt Island U Thant Island (Belmont Island) Crossings 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 See also: List of fixed crossings of the East River and List of ferries across the East River Bridges

The river is spanned by eight bridges which from north to south are: Throgs Neck Bridge Bronx-Whitestone Bridge Rikers Island Bridge (From Queens to Rikers Island only) Hell Gate Bridge Robert F. Kennedy Bridge (East River Suspension Span) Roosevelt Island Bridge (east channel only) Queensboro Bridge Williamsburg Bridge (Vehicular traffic & Trains of the J M Z subway services) Manhattan Bridge (Vehicular traffic & Trains of the B D N Q subway services) Brooklyn Bridge Tunnels

The river is spanned by thirteen tunnels. From north to south along with uses as of July 2006: 63rd Street Tunnel (Trains of the F subway service - upper level; lower level - under construction and unused) 60th Street Tunnel (Trains of the N Q R subway services) 53rd Street Tunnel (Trains of the E M subway services) Steinway Tunnel (Trains of the 7 <7> subway services) Queens-Midtown Tunnel (Vehicular traffic of Interstate 495) East River Tunnels (Long Island Rail Road and Amtrak trains from Penn Station to points north and east) 14th Street Tunnel (Trains of the L subway service) Rutgers Street Tunnel (Trains of the F subway service) Cranberry Street Tunnel (Trains of the A C subway services) Clark Street Tunnel (Trains of the 2 3 subway services) Montague Street Tunnel (Trains of the N R subway services) Joralemon Street Tunnel (Trains of the 4 5 subway services) Brooklyn-Battery Tunnel (Vehicular traffic of Interstate 478) Trams Roosevelt Island Tramway (west channel only) In popular culture The Brecker Brothers performed a song named after the river and is featured on their 1978 album Heavy Metal Be-Bop. Kramer decided to swim in the East River for exercise in the Seinfeld episode "The Nap". Nycswim.org holds a yearly event where swimmers cross the river for charity. "This one's for the students of graphic design" 2011 Participant See also List of New York rivers Lists of crossings of the East River Geography and environment of New York City Geography of New York Harbor Gallery East River flows past Upper East Side East River passes children playing football in East River Park Powell's Cove Whitestone Blackwells Island East River From Eighty Sixth Street Currier & Ives 1862 Loading at Pier 10 East River Clipper ship Sunrise References Montrsor John (1766). A plan of the city of New-York & its environs. London. "The East River Flows From Prehistoric Times To Today". The Queens Gazette. July 20 2005. http://www.qgazette.com/news/2005-07-20/features/049.html. Retrieved 2010-07-31.  "Welcome Students. Now Watch It.". The New York Times. August 30 2007. http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/30/nyregion/30students.html. Retrieved 2007-08-30.  Hogarty Dave (August 13 2007). "East River Turbines Face Upstream Battle". Gothamist. http://gothamist.com/2007/08/13/eastriverturb.php. Retrieved 2010-07-31.  External links East River NYC from the Greater Astoria Historical Society LIC Community Boathouse site for free paddling on the East River Hydropower turbines destroyed by East River current Western Queens waterfront information page