Long Island

Long Island is located in the Atlantic Ocean and belongs to New York State. The island is 118 miles long and between 12 and 20 miles wide. To the north, it borders Long Island Sound which separates the island form Connecticut. To the west, there is the harbor of New York City and its south fronts the Atlantic. The counties Kings, Queens, Nassau, and Suffolk are located on the island. Kings county is also the New York City borough Brooklyn, whereas Queens county is the city’s borough with the name Queens. While the west of Long Island consists of urban and suburban areas, the east also encompasses farmland and beaches.[1]

Almost 7.7 million people live on the densely populated island. Long Island is well connected to the mainland. By using one of the seven bridges and two tunnels, the inhabitants of the island can go to New York City quickly while they can travel to Connecticut via ferry. On the island itself, the infrastructure encompasses three expressways as well as the Long Island Rail Road.[2]

Before European settlers came to Long Island, it was inhabited by the Native Americans of the Delaware and Montauk tribes. In 1664 the island, which had been claimed by the English and by the Dutch West India Company, became English as it belonged to the area given to the Duke of York. During the second half of the 19th century, wealthy people from New York City discovered Long Island as a place for recreation and built their mansions at the northern shore.[3]

One of the most famous landmarks on Long Island is the Montauk Point Lighthouse. The iconic building is located at the very east of the island on Turtle Hill and has a long history. In 1792, the Second Congress under President George Washington authorized its construction. Four years later, the lighthouse was built within a time period of five months in the summer of 1796. Since then, it has been navigating all kinds of ships, steamers, submarines, and vessels. Montauk Point Lighthouse is also very famous among tourists because it provides them with 360° views on the surrounding area, especially the Atlantic Ocean.[4]

Sources:

[1] Augustyn, Adam. “Long Island. Island, New York, United States.” Encyclopaedia Britannica, 21 Nov. 2018, www.britannica.com/place/Long-Island-New-York. Accessed 6 Aug. 2019.

[2] “Long Island: Weisse Sandstrände und viel Natur. Das Sylt New Yorks punktet mit Geschichte und Natur.“ Visit USA, 2016, www.visit-usa.at/new-york-long-island/. Accessed 6 Aug. 2019.

[3] Augustyn, Adam. “Long Island. Island, New York, United States.” Encyclopaedia Britannica, 21 Nov. 2018, www.britannica.com/place/Long-Island-New-York. Accessed 6 Aug. 2019.

[4] “Lighthouse History.” Montauk Lighthouse, 2019, www.montauklighthouse.com/info/lighthouse-history. Accessed 10 Oct. 2019.

Image:

Pierre-Auguste Renoir: La Loge. 1874. https://1tq45j21k9qr27g1703pgsja-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/renoir-1280x640.jpg