New York Harbor
New York Harbor is the tidal estuary at the mouth of the Hudson River, encompassing Upper and Lower New York Bays between New York and New Jersey.
Upper New York Bay: The northern basin of New York Harbor, enclosed by Manhattan, Brooklyn, Staten Island, and New Jersey. This central basin links the Hudson River to the harbor’s southern waters.
Port of New York and New Jersey: The port complex of marine terminals, airports, railways, and roads serving the New York metropolitan region. Its shipping network is built around the harbor’s navigable waters.
Wisconsin Glaciation: The last major glacial episode in North America, which ended about 11,700 years ago. Glacial erosion helped shape the Hudson’s drowned valley and harbor basin.
Battle of Brooklyn: A major 1776 battle of the American Revolutionary War, fought in Brooklyn and nearby areas of Long Island. Control of the harbor and its approaches mattered to British and American forces.
Lower New York Bay: The southern basin of New York Harbor, opening into the Atlantic Ocean between Brooklyn, Staten Island, and New Jersey. This seaward basin connects the harbor to the Atlantic.
Ellis Island: An island in Upper New York Bay that served as the United States’ busiest federal immigration station from 1892 to 1954. Immigrant arrivals entered the country through the harbor at this processing station.
Raritan River: A river in New Jersey that empties into Raritan Bay, southwest of New York Harbor. Its estuary meets the harbor’s southern waters at the broader bay system.
Great New York City Fire of 1776: A large fire that destroyed much of New York City shortly after British forces occupied it in 1776. The harbor was central to the British occupation and the city’s wartime supply routes.
The Narrows: The tidal strait between Brooklyn and Staten Island connecting Upper and Lower New York Bays. This constricted passage carries traffic between the harbor’s two principal bays.
Statue of Liberty: A copper monument on Liberty Island in Upper New York Bay, dedicated in 1886. The statue became a landmark for ships approaching through the harbor.