page_title: Geography of New York–New Jersey Harbor Estuary
section_title: Features of the harbor estuary
hierarchical_section_title: Geography of New York–New Jersey Harbor Estuary / Features of the harbor estuary
caption_attribution_description: English: NGDC Coastal Relief Model Vol. 01 Shaded Relief Images US North East Atlantic Coast Grids, National Geophysical Data Center, NOAA. The image is provided with the acknowledgement that it is Not for navigation, and responsible distribution may require this warning.
context_page_description: The New York–New Jersey Harbor Estuary, also known as the Hudson-Raritan Estuary, is in the Mid-Atlantic states of New Jersey and New York on the East Coast of the United States. The system of waterways of the Port of New York and New Jersey forms one of the most intricate natural harbors in the world. The harbor opens onto the New York Bight in the Atlantic Ocean to the southeast and Long Island Sound to the northeast.
  Although the overall form of the estuary remains unchanged from the time of Giovanni da Verrazzano's visit in 1524, all parts have changed at least a little, 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 this required blasting of bedrock.
  There is an extremely complex system of tides and currents. Both the Bight and the Sound are essentially marine bodies with tides and saltwater, but the Sound compared to the Atlantic is about 20-30% less saline, and the tide is about 3 hours later with as much as 70% more variation.
context_section_description: The lists below includes features of the Port of New York and New Jersey with a waterborne emphasis, starting with natural features. Where possible the list proceeds from the Lower Bay entrance approximately clockwise around the Harbor. The alternative sorting is by jurisdiction.
  Official references are the NOAA Coastal pilot, NOAA nautical charts, and USGS topographic maps.
  Many jurisdictional issues appear in U.S. law.
caption: 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[10]
   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.)
exif: {}