When is a river not a river, or an island not an island?
Since the late 80s I heard in the urban legend grist mill that Whidbey Island, in our Washington State, became the longest island in the US when it was decided (by whom I didn't know then) that Long Island was not a Island at all, but a peninsula.
How could that be, I pondered, it's got water on all sides. (Yes, even when working full time and traveling internationally I got distracted by these imponderables.) I looked at maps and rationalized the geophysical condition. "Well, if the Harlem river on the north end of Manhattan is just a branch of the Hudson flowing south and becomes the East River, than some Geographic institution might decide that a river separating one land mass from another on a continent makes Long Island a peninsula thrusting into the Atlantic." Is Australia an island or a continent? Is the land east of the Mississippi and Great Lakes a peninsula or an island separate by connected rivers, lakes and St Lawrence? A stretch I admit, but I couldn't figure an alternative explanation to the decision.
In anticipation of taking the Circle Line tour to circumnavigate Manhattan Island on four major waterways I dug into this question a little deeper.
To start, I discovered that the Harlem River and the East River are not actually rivers, they are salt water estuaries. A river needs to flow from a source to its mouth. Both the Harlem and the East Rivers' flow reverses direction with the tide and the Harlem actually flows north into the Hudson. Both are "straights"; defined as narrow waterways connecting two larger bodies of water. In this case Long Island Sound and Upper New York bay of the Atlantic.
Then, if they aren't rivers and Long Island is surrounded by sea water how could it be declared a peninsula, thrusting Whidbey into first place. Surprise, because of money!
In 1985 the US Supreme court rationalized that Long Island is an extension of the mainland because it is an integral part of New York Harbor, it is located on the continental shelf, and Long Island sound does not include major sea lanes for interaction traffic. Clearly they are not geographers. This decision is largely based on social norms and distribution of resources rather than geophysical conditions. The result is that 93 square miles off the east end of L.I. and their resources were added to New York state rather than being considered part of US waters. Administratively, Long Island is not an island. But physically, it will remain so until the seas subside again. And Whidbey Is. in Washington state, sorry, you're back to number two.
The rest of this post will be visuals from our Circle Line tour. We departed on the Hudson River and headed south, downriver, to circumnavigate Manhattan counter-clockwise into the Upper New York Bay; up the East River (or estuary); through Hell Gate where the confused flow of the Harlem river, East River, and Long Island Sound converge, up the Harlem, and then back down the Hudson. In all we pass under 20 bridges connecting Manhattan to Brooklyn and Queens on Long Island; the Bronx (the only borough on the mainland) and New Jersey. All photos are looking into the center of the circle toward Manhattan unless otherwise noted. Typically Manhattan will also be on the left of the photo when looking up or down river. Enjoy the trip.
Since the late 80s I heard in the urban legend grist mill that Whidbey Island, in our Washington State, became the longest island in the US when it was decided (by whom I didn't know then) that Long Island was not a Island at all, but a peninsula.
How could that be, I pondered, it's got water on all sides. (Yes, even when working full time and traveling internationally I got distracted by these imponderables.) I looked at maps and rationalized the geophysical condition. "Well, if the Harlem river on the north end of Manhattan is just a branch of the Hudson flowing south and becomes the East River, than some Geographic institution might decide that a river separating one land mass from another on a continent makes Long Island a peninsula thrusting into the Atlantic." Is Australia an island or a continent? Is the land east of the Mississippi and Great Lakes a peninsula or an island separate by connected rivers, lakes and St Lawrence? A stretch I admit, but I couldn't figure an alternative explanation to the decision.
In anticipation of taking the Circle Line tour to circumnavigate Manhattan Island on four major waterways I dug into this question a little deeper.
Satellite of New York and Environs
Then, if they aren't rivers and Long Island is surrounded by sea water how could it be declared a peninsula, thrusting Whidbey into first place. Surprise, because of money!
In 1985 the US Supreme court rationalized that Long Island is an extension of the mainland because it is an integral part of New York Harbor, it is located on the continental shelf, and Long Island sound does not include major sea lanes for interaction traffic. Clearly they are not geographers. This decision is largely based on social norms and distribution of resources rather than geophysical conditions. The result is that 93 square miles off the east end of L.I. and their resources were added to New York state rather than being considered part of US waters. Administratively, Long Island is not an island. But physically, it will remain so until the seas subside again. And Whidbey Is. in Washington state, sorry, you're back to number two.
The rest of this post will be visuals from our Circle Line tour. We departed on the Hudson River and headed south, downriver, to circumnavigate Manhattan counter-clockwise into the Upper New York Bay; up the East River (or estuary); through Hell Gate where the confused flow of the Harlem river, East River, and Long Island Sound converge, up the Harlem, and then back down the Hudson. In all we pass under 20 bridges connecting Manhattan to Brooklyn and Queens on Long Island; the Bronx (the only borough on the mainland) and New Jersey. All photos are looking into the center of the circle toward Manhattan unless otherwise noted. Typically Manhattan will also be on the left of the photo when looking up or down river. Enjoy the trip.
Departing on the Hudson at 42nd st.
World Trade Center and Tribeca
New Jersey side, worlds largest clock
Elis Island, Upper NY Bay
Statue of Liberty, Upper NY Bay
Governor's Island, Upper NY Bay
Battery Park and Fi Di, Lower Manhattan
South Ferry, Lower Manhattan
Brooklyn Bridge on East R.
Manhattan Bridge on East R
Williamsburg Bridge on East R
East Village, and Midtown in Distance on East R
United Nations and Trump Tower on East R
Queensboro Bridge and Roosevelt Island on East R
New York Hospital and UES on East R
Triboro (RFK) Br. and Hell Gate Br behind on East R and Long Island Sound
2nd Triboro (RFK) Br. on Harlem R
Willis Br on Harlem R
Third Ave Bridge on Harlem R
Madison Br on Harlem R
W 145 st Br on Harlem R
Macombs Dam Br on Harlem R
High Br (Hamilton and Washington Br behind) on Harlem R
Hamilton Br (Washington Br Behind) on Harlem R
Washington Br on Harlem R
University Heights Br on Harlem R
W 225 Br on Harlem R (at North end of Island to Bronx)
Henry Hudson Br on Harlem
Movable Railroad Br on Harlem with Hudson in Distance
G Washington Br on Hudson to New Jersey on Right (Chris Christy Fame)
G Washington Br on Hudson with New Jersey
Grants Tomb and Riverside Church on Hudson
Series of Towers along riverside drive by Trump
New Residential at about 52nd on Hudson
Upper West Side and Hudson
Cruise ships at about 42nd st and Hudson
Tour over.
Hi there. I'll use this space to comment on the last three posts. Nothing like writing about an experience to place it more firmly in your memory and really decide what is important about what you've seen or done. You've done a magnificent job here of giving historical, visual, and some personal perspective of your temporary home.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed the Circle line tour via your fine photos, and will plan to do that on our next visit. (Who knows? We may come out again for a few days before you leave - maybe in December to enjoy NYC at Xmas too.
Such machinations involved in the Long Island / Peninsula definition and delineation. The Satellite view you posted clarifies where all the various boroughs are in relation to Manhattan. Interesting how clearly Central Park shows up on Manhattan, but I can hardly see where the water to the north surround the ManH. to make it an island. Or is it? :-)
Great job. Great memories.
It's been a very long time since I did the Corcle Line tour and it sure was nice to experience it again through your photos and narration. I am glad Ii can still recommend this tour to others with confidence that it is still a great way to see all of New York!
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