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East River
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East River, New York Manhattan Bridge Central New York City
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East River

strait, New York City, New York, United States
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News •

Child's body pulled from East River amid search for missing Bronx toddler, sources say • June 12, 2025, 6:33 AM ET (CBS)
3 bodies pulled from NYC's East River, including missing 15-year-old girl • June 8, 2025, 8:24 AM ET (CBS)
Macy's Fourth of July Fireworks show returning to East River • June 5, 2025, 4:48 AM ET (CBS)
Macy's 4th of July Fireworks show returning to NYC's East River for 2025 • June 5, 2025, 4:17 AM ET (CBS)
Search for missing girl in East River continues • June 3, 2025, 11:11 AM ET (CBS)
The history and significance of the Brooklyn Bridge
The history and significance of the Brooklyn Bridge An introduction to the Brooklyn Bridge, its history and construction, and its place in the geography of New York City.
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East River, New York
East River, New York

East River, navigable tidal strait linking Upper New York Bay with Long Island Sound, New York City, U.S. It separates Manhattan Island from Brooklyn and Queens. About 16 miles (26 km) long and 600–4,000 feet (200–1200 metres) wide, it connects with the Hudson River via the Harlem River and Spuyten Duyvil Creek at the north end of Manhattan Island. Roosevelt (formerly Welfare), Wards, Randalls, and Rikers islands are in the East River. The Brooklyn, Manhattan, Williamsburg, Queensboro, Robert F. Kennedy (formerly called Triborough), Bronx-Whitestone, and Throgs Neck highway bridges and the Hell Gate railroad bridge span it; vehicular, railroad, and subway tunnels also pass under it. Port facilities are on southern portions of the river.

The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica This article was most recently revised and updated by Lorraine Murray.