New York–New Jersey Harbor Estuary


The New York–New Jersey Harbor Estuary, also known as the Hudson-Raritan Estuary, is in the northeastern states of New Jersey and New York on the East Coast of the United States. The system of waterways of the New York and New Jersey forms one of the most intricate natural harbors in the world and one of the busiest ports of the United States. 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 depth to. 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. Rivers add a fresher, non-tidal inflow although the tide and brackishness extend well up rivers 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 utilizes information from sensors, weather forecasts, and environment models to provide real-time forecasts of meteorological and oceanographic conditions in the area.
Since the Ash Wednesday Storm of 1962 beaches along the shores of the East Coast have been regularly replenished with sand pumped in from off-shore. The United States Army Corps of Engineers coordinates the projects.
In 2016, USACE and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey produced a comprehensive restoration plan for the New York Harbor region, with proposals to mitigate the effects of sea level rise through projects to restore natural areas. In September the USACE released the New York New Jersey Harbor and Tributaries Study.

Features of the harbor estuary

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.

Rivers and streams

Bi-state
New Jersey
New York

Tidal straits

Inter-state
New York

Bays, inlets and coves

New York Bay
East River
Long Island Sound

Islands

Bi-state

New Jersey

New York

Bronx County
Kings County
Jamaica Bay islands
New York County
Upper Bay islands
East River islands
Queens County
Jamaica Bay islands
  • Rulers Bar Hassock
Richmond County
Westchester County

Land features

New Jersey
New York

Banks and shoals

Lower Bay
  • East Bank
  • False Hook
  • Flynns Knoll
  • Old Orchard Shoal
  • Romer Shoal
  • West Bank
Upper Bay
  • Bay Ridge Flats
  • Dimond Reef
  • Gowanus Flats
  • Jersey Flats
East River
  • College Point Reef
  • Hog Back
  • Holmes Rock
  • Lawrence Point Ledge
  • Mill Rock
  • Rhinelander Reef
  • South Brother Ledge
  • Ways Reef

Navigational channels

Lower Bay
  • Ambrose Channel
  • Atlantic Highland Anchorage
  • Chapel Hill South Channel
  • Coney Island Channel
  • Gravesend Bay Anchorage
  • Raritan Bay East Reach
  • Rockaway Inlet
  • Sandy Hook Channel
  • Swash Channel
  • Terminal Channel
Raritan Bay
  • Red Bank Reach
  • Great Beds Reach
  • Raritan Bay West Reach
  • Raritan River Cutoff
  • *Perth Amboy Anchorage
  • *South Amboy Reach
  • Seguine Point Bend
  • Ward Point Bend
  • Ward Point Secondary Channel
Jamaica Bay
  • Beach Channel
  • Island Channel
  • Runway Channel
Arthur Kill
  • Fresh Kills Reach
  • Elizabeth Port Reach
  • Gulfport Reach
  • Outerbridge Reach
  • Port Reading Reach
  • Port Socony Reach
  • Pralls Island Reach
  • South of Shooters Island Reach
  • Tremley Point Reach
Newark Bay
  • Elizabeth Channel
  • Newark Bay Middle Reach
  • Newark Bay North Reach
  • Newark Bay South Reach
  • North of Shooters Island Reach
  • Port Newark Branch Channel
  • Port Newark Pierhead Channel
  • South Elizabeth Channel
Kill van Kull
Upper Bay
Hudson River
East River

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 Port Authority 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
New York

Lights and lighthouses

For lists see and. Active unless noted.
New Jersey
New York

Waterfront jurisdictions

Government and other agencies

State, county, municipal

New Jersey
New York