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This article is about the East River in New York City. For other uses, see East River (disambiguation).

Main article: Geography and environment of New York City

The East River is shown in red on this satellite photo of New York City.

The East River is a tidal strait in New York City in the United States. 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]

The East River is dangerous to people who fall in or attempt to swim in it, although the water is cleaner than it has 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 typically drown in the rivers around New York City each year.^[2]

Southern view of the Brooklyn, Manhattan, and Williamsburg bridges (front to back), seen from the East River.

Historically, the lower portion of the river (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 river, 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 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
  • Riker's Island
  • North Brother Island
  • South Brother Island
  • Mill Rock
• Lower Section
  • Ward's Island and Randall's Island (joined by landfill)
  • Roosevelt Island
  • U Thant Island (Belmont Island)

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

East River reflecting the lights of the Brooklyn Bridge and Downtown Manhattan

See also: List of fixed crossings of the East River and List of ferries across the East River

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
• Triborough Bridge (East River Suspension Span)
• Roosevelt Island Bridge (east channel only)
• Queensboro Bridge
• Williamsburg Bridge
• Manhattan Bridge
• Brooklyn Bridge.

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)
• 60th Street Tunnel (Trains of the N R W subway services)
• 53rd Street Tunnel (Trains of the E V subway services)
• Steinway Tunnel (Trains of the 7 <7> subway service)
• 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 W subway services)
• Joralemon Street Tunnel (Trains of the 4 5 subway services)
• Brooklyn-Battery Tunnel (Vehicular traffic of Interstate 478)

• List of New York rivers
• Geography and environment of New York City

• East River page from the Greater Astoria Historical Society
• LIC Community Boathouse site for free paddling on the East River
• Western Queens waterfront information page

Coordinates: 40°47′48″N, 73°52′02″W