Harlem River

Coordinates: 40°50′05.00″N 73°56′02.85″W / 40.8347222°N 73.9341250°W / 40.8347222; -73.9341250 (Harlem River)
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Harlem River
The Washington, Alexander Hamilton, and High Bridges over the Harlem River
The Harlem River, shown in yellow, between the Bronx and Manhattan in New York City.
Location
CountryUnited States
StateNew York
MunicipalityNew York City
Physical characteristics
SourceHudson River
 • coordinates40°52′42″N 73°55′33″W / 40.87843°N 73.92594°W / 40.87843; -73.92594
MouthEast River
 • coordinates
40°46′48″N 73°56′14″W / 40.78003°N 73.93710°W / 40.78003; -73.93710
Length8 mi (13 km)
Basin features
Tributaries 
 • leftBronx Kill

The Harlem River is an 8-mile (13 km) tidal strait in New York, United States, flowing between the Hudson River and the East River and separating the island of Manhattan from the Bronx on the New York mainland.

The northern stretch, also called the

Harlem Ship Canal
was dug between Manhattan and Marble Hill, and in 1914 the original course was filled in.

Use

Major Deegan Expressway
on the east.

The "C" Rock, with the Henry Hudson Bridge behind it and the Spuyten Duyvil Bridge in the distance in the open position.

The Harlem River was the traditional

Boston and the Schuylkill River in Philadelphia. On the Harlem's banks is the boathouse for the Columbia University crew, and the river is the home course for the university's crew. Since 1952, a large flat rock face, called the "(Big) C Rock" has been painted with Columbia's varsity "C".[1] Also on the river are the Peter Jay Sharp Boathouse and Harlem River Community Rowing, two community rowing facilities. The river is used by crews from New York University, Fordham University, and Manhattan College, though the only university with permanent facilities on the river is Columbia.[citation needed
]

Historically, the west bank of the Harlem River was also an amusement destination. The area between 190th and 192nd Streets was occupied by the

Harlem River Speedway, along the riverbank of the park;[3] the project started construction in 1894[4] and opened in July 1898.[5] The Speedway later became the Harlem River Drive, and regular motorists were first allowed on the drive in 1919.[6]

Crossings

The Harlem River is spanned by seven swing bridges, four lift bridges, and four arch bridges,[7] and is navigable to any boat with less than 55 feet (17 m) of air draft. However, any boat requiring more than 5 feet (1.5 m) of clearance will require the Spuyten Duyvil Bridge to swing open. All other movable bridges on the Harlem River provide at least 24 feet (7.3 m) of clearance while closed, so boats and ships requiring between 5 and 24 feet (1.5 and 7.3 m) of clearance need only have one bridge swing open. These bridges replaced fixed bridges or lower bridges in the late 19th century to improve navigation. High Bridge was erected between 1837 and 1848 to carry the Croton Aqueduct across the river. It is the oldest bridge in New York City.

The New York City Department of Transportation advises that while they make every effort to ensure that all bridges are operating, many of them are under repair at any time, and outside contractors are responsible for opening of bridges under repair.

Crossing Image Carries Location Coordinates
Wards Island Bridge

Top: closed position
bottom: open position

Pedestrian/bicycle
Wards Island
40°47′10″N 73°56′14″W / 40.7861°N 73.9371°W / 40.7861; -73.9371 (Ward's Island Bridge)
Robert F. Kennedy Triboro Lift Bridge
(Harlem Lift Bridge)
NY State Route 900G (6 road lanes) Manhattan and Randall's Island 40°48′01″N 73°55′40″W / 40.8003°N 73.9278°W / 40.8003; -73.9278 (RFK Triboro Lift Bridge)
Willis Avenue Bridge
1901 Bridge
1901 Bridge
2010 Bridge
2010 Bridge
Top: 1901 bridge;
bottom: 2010 bridge
Northbound auto traffic; Pedestrian/bicycle Manhattan and the Bronx 40°48′13″N 73°55′44″W / 40.8035°N 73.9289°W / 40.8035; -73.9289 (Willis Avenue Bridge)
Third Avenue Bridge Southbound auto traffic; Pedestrian/bicycle Manhattan and the Bronx 40°48′27″N 73°55′57″W / 40.8076°N 73.9325°W / 40.8076; -73.9325 (Third Avenue Bridge)
Lexington Avenue Tunnel
IRT Lexington Avenue Line ("4" train"5" train"6" train"6" express train trains) Manhattan and the Bronx 40°48′34″N 73°56′00″W / 40.8095°N 73.9332°W / 40.8095; -73.9332 (Lexington Avenue Tunnel)
Park Avenue Bridge
Metro-North Railroad Manhattan and the Bronx 40°48′40″N 73°56′00″W / 40.8111°N 73.9333°W / 40.8111; -73.9333 (Park Avenue Bridge)
Madison Avenue Bridge Southbound/eastbound auto traffic; pedestrian/bicycle Manhattan and the Bronx 40°48′41″N 73°55′58″W / 40.8115°N 73.9327°W / 40.8115; -73.9327 (Madison Avenue Bridge)
149th Street Tunnel
IRT White Plains Road Line ("2" train train) Manhattan and the Bronx 40°49′08″N 73°55′59″W / 40.8189°N 73.9331°W / 40.8189; -73.9331 (149th Street Tunnel)
145th Street Bridge Westbound/eastbound auto traffic; pedestrian/bicycle Manhattan and the Bronx 40°49′10″N 73°55′59″W / 40.8195°N 73.9331°W / 40.8195; -73.9331 (145th Street Bridge)
Macombs Dam Bridge Westbound/eastbound auto traffic; pedestrian/bicycle Manhattan and the Bronx 40°49′41″N 73°56′02″W / 40.8281°N 73.9339°W / 40.8281; -73.9339 (Macombs Dam Bridge)
Putnam Bridge (1881–1960)
Ninth Avenue El Manhattan and the Bronx 40°49′56″N 73°56′03″W / 40.8322°N 73.9343°W / 40.8322; -73.9343 (Putnam Bridge)
Concourse Tunnel
IND Concourse Line ("B" train"D" train trains) Manhattan and the Bronx 40°49′50″N 73°56′03″W / 40.8306°N 73.9341°W / 40.8306; -73.9341 (Concourse Tunnel)
High Bridge Pedestrian Manhattan and the Bronx 40°50′32″N 73°55′49″W / 40.8423°N 73.9303°W / 40.8423; -73.9303 (High Bridge)
Alexander Hamilton Bridge Interstate 95
U.S. Route 1
Manhattan and the Bronx 40°50′44″N 73°55′43″W / 40.8456°N 73.9287°W / 40.8456; -73.9287 (Alexander Hamilton Bridge)
Washington Bridge Westbound/eastbound auto traffic; pedestrian/bicycle Manhattan and the Bronx 40°50′49″N 73°55′41″W / 40.8469°N 73.9281°W / 40.8469; -73.9281 (Washington Bridge)
University Heights Bridge Westbound/eastbound auto traffic; pedestrian/bicycle Manhattan and the Bronx 40°51′46″N 73°54′54″W / 40.8628°N 73.9150°W / 40.8628; -73.9150 (University Heights Bridge)
Broadway Bridge
IRT Broadway – Seventh Avenue Line ("1" train
train)
Manhattan Island and Marble Hill, Manhattan 40°52′25″N 73°54′40″W / 40.8736°N 73.9111°W / 40.8736; -73.9111 (Broadway Bridge)
Henry Hudson Bridge NY 9A
Henry Hudson Parkway
Manhattan and the Bronx 40°52′40″N 73°55′18″W / 40.8779°N 73.9218°W / 40.8779; -73.9218 (Henry Hudson Bridge)
Spuyten Duyvil Bridge
Empire Connection
Manhattan and the Bronx 40°52′42″N 73°55′32″W / 40.8783°N 73.9256°W / 40.8783; -73.9256 (Spuyten Duyvil Bridge)

See also

References

Notes

  1. Columbia University Record, 32:14:1 (June 11, 2007)
  2. ^ Martens, Victoria (August 1, 2019). "Fort George Amusement Park". Museum of the City of New York. Retrieved September 2, 2019.
  3. ISSN 0362-4331
    . Retrieved September 15, 2017.
  4. . Retrieved September 15, 2017.
  5. . Retrieved September 15, 2017.
  6. ^ Robinson, Lauren (February 28, 2012). "How Harlem River Speedway Became Harlem River Drive". Museum of the City of New York.
  7. ^ Reier, Sharon (1977). The Bridges of New York. Dover Press.

Further reading

External links

40°50′05.00″N 73°56′02.85″W / 40.8347222°N 73.9341250°W / 40.8347222; -73.9341250 (Harlem River)