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| Harlem River | |
|---|---|
 | |
 The Harlem River, shown in yellow, between the Bronx and Manhattan in New York City. | |
 | |
| Location | |
| Country | United States |
| State | New York |
| Municipality | New York City |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Source | Hudson River |
| • coordinates | 40°52′42″N73°55′33″W / 40.87843°N 73.92594°W /40.87843; -73.92594 |
| Mouth | East River |
• coordinates | 40°46′48″N73°56′14″W / 40.78003°N 73.93710°W /40.78003; -73.93710 |
| Length | 8 mi (13 km) |
| Basin features | |
| Tributaries | |
| • left | Bronx Kill |
TheHarlem River is an 8-mile (13 km)tidal strait inNew York City, flowing between theHudson River and theEast River and separating the island ofManhattan fromthe Bronx on the United States mainland.
The northern stretch, also called theSpuyten Duyvil ("spewing devil") Creek, has been significantly altered for navigation purposes. Originally it curved around the north ofMarble Hill, but in 1895 theHarlem Ship Canal was dug between Manhattan and Marble Hill, and in 1914 the original course was filled in.
Harlem River Drive andHarlem River Greenway run along the west bank of the river, and theMetro-North Railroad'sHudson Line andMajor Deegan Expressway on the east.
The Harlem River was the traditionalrowing course for New York, analogous to theCharles River inBoston and theSchuylkill River inPhiladelphia. On the Harlem's banks is the boathouse for theColumbia 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 fromNew York University,Fordham University, andManhattan University, 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 theFort George Amusement Park, atrolley park/amusement park, from 1895 to 1914. Its site is now a seating area inHighbridge Park.[2] In the 1890s, the City of New York built a racetrack for horses, theHarlem 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]
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) ofair draft. However, any boat requiring more than 5 feet (1.5 m) of clearance will require theSpuyten 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 theCroton Aqueduct across the river. It is the oldest bridge in New York City.
TheNew 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 | Pedestrian/bicycle | Manhattan andWards Island | 40°47′10″N73°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 andRandall's Island | 40°48′01″N73°55′40″W / 40.8003°N 73.9278°W /40.8003; -73.9278 (RFK Triboro Lift Bridge) |
| Willis Avenue Bridge |   bottom: 2010 bridge | Northbound auto traffic; Pedestrian/bicycle | Manhattan andthe Bronx | 40°48′13″N73°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 andthe Bronx | 40°48′27″N73°55′57″W / 40.8076°N 73.9325°W /40.8076; -73.9325 (Third Avenue Bridge) |
| Lexington Avenue Tunnel | IRT Lexington Avenue Line (    trains) | Manhattan andthe Bronx | 40°48′34″N73°56′00″W / 40.8095°N 73.9332°W /40.8095; -73.9332 (Lexington Avenue Tunnel) | |
| Park Avenue Bridge |  | Metro-North Railroad | Manhattan andthe Bronx | 40°48′40″N73°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 andthe Bronx | 40°48′41″N73°55′58″W / 40.8115°N 73.9327°W /40.8115; -73.9327 (Madison Avenue Bridge) |
| 149th Street Tunnel | IRT White Plains Road Line ( train) | Manhattan andthe Bronx | 40°49′08″N73°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 andthe Bronx | 40°49′10″N73°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 andthe Bronx | 40°49′41″N73°56′02″W / 40.8281°N 73.9339°W /40.8281; -73.9339 (Macombs Dam Bridge) |
| Concourse Tunnel | IND Concourse Line (  trains) | Manhattan andthe Bronx | 40°49′50″N73°56′03″W / 40.8306°N 73.9341°W /40.8306; -73.9341 (Concourse Tunnel) | |
| Putnam Bridge (1881–1960) |  | Ninth Avenue El | Manhattan andthe Bronx | 40°49′56″N73°56′03″W / 40.8322°N 73.9343°W /40.8322; -73.9343 (Putnam Bridge) |
| High Bridge |  | Pedestrian | Manhattan andthe Bronx | 40°50′32″N73°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 andthe Bronx | 40°50′44″N73°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 andthe Bronx | 40°50′49″N73°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 andthe Bronx | 40°51′46″N73°54′54″W / 40.8628°N 73.9150°W /40.8628; -73.9150 (University Heights Bridge) |
| Broadway Bridge |  |  US 9IRT Broadway – Seventh Avenue Line (  train) | Manhattan Island andMarble Hill, Manhattan | 40°52′25″N73°54′40″W / 40.8736°N 73.9111°W /40.8736; -73.9111 (Broadway Bridge) |
| Henry Hudson Bridge |  |  NY 9A Henry Hudson Parkway | Manhattan andthe Bronx | 40°52′40″N73°55′18″W / 40.8779°N 73.9218°W /40.8779; -73.9218 (Henry Hudson Bridge) |
| Spuyten Duyvil Bridge |  | AmtrakEmpire Connection | Manhattan andthe Bronx | 40°52′42″N73°55′32″W / 40.8783°N 73.9256°W /40.8783; -73.9256 (Spuyten Duyvil Bridge) |
Notes
Further reading
Media related toHarlem River at Wikimedia Commons| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Other | |
40°50′05.00″N73°56′02.85″W / 40.8347222°N 73.9341250°W /40.8347222; -73.9341250 (Harlem River)
