The New York–New Jersey Harbor Estuary, also known as the Hudson-Raritan Estuary, is in the northeastern states of New Jersey and New York on the East Coast of the United States. The system of waterways of the Port of New York and New Jersey forms one of the most intricate natural harbors in the world and one of the busiest ports of the United States. The harbor opens onto the New York Bight in the Atlantic Ocean to the southeast and Long Island Sound to the northeast. Although the overall form of the estuary remains unchanged from the time of Giovanni da Verrazzano's visit in 1524, all parts have changed at least a little, and some parts, such as Hell Gate and Ellis Island, have been almost completely altered. In the greatest hidden change, the navigational channels have been deepened from the natural 17 ft depth to 45 ft. In some places this required blasting of bedrock. There is an extremely complex system of tides and currents. Both the Bight and the Sound are essentially marine bodies with tides and saltwater, but the Sound compared to the Atlantic is about 20–30% less saline (as an estuary), and the tide is about 3 hours later with as much as 70% more variation. Rivers add a fresher, non-tidal inflow although the tide and brackishness extend well up rivers throughout the extended hydrologic system from Albany to Montauk Point to the Hudson Canyon region of the New York Bight. The New York Harbor Observing and Prediction System (NYHOPS) utilizes information from sensors, weather forecasts, and environment models to provide real-time forecasts of meteorological and oceanographic conditions in the area. Since the Ash Wednesday Storm of 1962 beaches along the shores of the East Coast have been regularly replenished with sand pumped in from off-shore. The United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) coordinates the projects. In 2016, USACE and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey produced a comprehensive restoration plan for the New York Harbor region, with proposals to mitigate the effects of sea level rise through projects to restore natural areas. In September the USACE released the New York New Jersey Harbor and Tributaries Study (HATS).

Features of the harbor estuary

[[Image:NYH gna41074 5.jpg|thumb|upright=1.2| 1. [[Upper New York Bay]] 2. Lower New York Bay 3. Newark Bay 4. Hudson River 5. East River 6. Raritan Bay 7. Jamaica Bay 8. Long Island Sound 9. New York Bight-North Atlantic 10. Ambrose Channel 11. Mud Dump Site 12. Hudson Canyon A. Manhattan B. Brooklyn C. Staten Island D. Queens E. The Bronx F. Bayonne-Jersey City G. Newark H. Raritan Bayshore i. Rockaway Point j. Sandy Hook (This is**** .)]]**** The lists below includes features of the Port of New York and New Jersey with a waterborne emphasis, starting with natural features. Where possible the list proceeds from the Lower Bay entrance approximately clockwise around the Harbor. The alternative sorting is by jurisdiction. Official references are the NOAA Coastal pilot, NOAA nautical charts,<ref name="nyh_chart">NOAA nautical charts 12327 New York Harbor (1:40,000 scale), 12324 Sandy Hook to Little Egg, 12350 Jamaica Bay and Rockaway Inlet, 12402, 12401 New York Lower Bay, 12331 Raritan Bay and southern part of Arthur Kill, 12332 Raritan River, 12333 Kill van Kull and northern part of Arthur Kill, 12334 New York Harbor (Upper Bay and Narrows, 12337, 12335, 12338, 12341 , 12339 , 12366 Long Island Sound and East River, found on page Nautical charts Atlantic Coast charts online, Office of Coast Survey, NOAA. and USGS topographic maps. Many jurisdictional issues appear in U.S. law.

Rivers and streams

Bi-state New Jersey New York

Tidal straits

Inter-state New York

Bays, inlets and coves

New York Bay East River Long Island Sound

Islands

Bi-state

New Jersey

New York

Bronx County Kings County Jamaica Bay islands New York County Upper Bay islands East River islands Queens County Jamaica Bay islands Richmond County Westchester County

Land features

New Jersey New York

Banks and shoals

Lower Bay Upper Bay East River

Navigational channels

Lower Bay Raritan Bay Jamaica Bay Arthur Kill Newark Bay Kill van Kull Upper Bay Hudson River East River

Port facilities

One of the many duties of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey is to develop trade interests in the New York-New Jersey area. The Port Authority operates most of the containerized port facilities listed here, and also collaborates with the Army Corps of Engineers to maintain shipping channels in the harbor. New Jersey (numerous privately operated bulk facilities, especially petroleum, are not listed) New York

Lights and lighthouses

For lists see and. Active unless noted. New Jersey New York

Waterfront jurisdictions

Government and other agencies

State, county, municipal

New Jersey New York