Fire Island Inlet
Encyclopedia
Fire Island Inlet is an inlet
on the south shore of Long Island, New York, USA.
It connects the Great South Bay
with the Atlantic Ocean
, passing between Robert Moses State Park
(the western end of Fire Island
) on the south and Oak Beach and Captree State Park
(the eastern end of Jones Beach Island
) on the north.
The inlet is directly south of West Islip
, the nearest town on the main part of Long Island.
The inlet has evolved over the years due to natural processes, especially longshore drift
. Jones Island and Fire Island at one time were connected.
The Fire Island Light was at the mouth of the inlet when built in 1858, but is now 6 miles (9.7 km) east of the inlet.
The northwest side of the mouth of the inlet is known as the Sore Thumb, it is a manmade barrier that was created to try to combat the extensive erosion of the beaches inside the inlet. The southeast side of the mouth of the inlet is known as Point Democrat and is known as a popular surfing spot for beach goers, it is also the site of extensive preserves for the areas birds.
Inlet
An inlet is a narrow body of water between islands or leading inland from a larger body of water, often leading to an enclosed body of water, such as a sound, bay, lagoon or marsh. In sea coasts an inlet usually refers to the actual connection between a bay and the ocean and is often called an...
on the south shore of Long Island, New York, USA.
It connects the Great South Bay
Great South Bay
Great South Bay is a lagoon situated between Long Island and Fire Island, in the State of New York. It is approximately long. It's protected from the Atlantic Ocean by Fire Island, a barrier island, as well as the eastern end of Jones Beach Island and Captree Island.Robert Moses Causeway adjoins...
with the Atlantic Ocean
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
, passing between Robert Moses State Park
Robert Moses State Park (Long Island)
Robert Moses State Park - Long Island is a state park that is located in the state of New York.The park lies in southern Suffolk County on the western end of Fire Island, one of the central barrier Islands off the southern coast of Long Island...
(the western end of Fire Island
Fire Island, New York
Fire Island is one of the outer barrier islands adjacent to the south shore of Long Island, New York. It is approximately long and varies between broad. Fire Island is part of Suffolk County. It comprises a number of hamlets, census-designated places , and villages, all of which lie within the...
) on the south and Oak Beach and Captree State Park
Captree State Park
Captree State Park is a state park in Suffolk County, New York in the USA.The park is located on the easternmost end of Jones Island , and overlooks the Fire Island Inlet and the westernmost section of Fire Island, partly in the Town of Babylon.The park offers a marina and boat launch, fishing,...
(the eastern end of Jones Beach Island
Jones Beach Island
Jones Beach Island is one of the outer barrier islands off the southern coast of Long Island in the U.S. state of New York. It is named for the father of Thomas Jones. It is sometimes referred to as Oak Beach Island, and the former home of the infamous Oak Beach Inn. It is separated from Long...
) on the north.
The inlet is directly south of West Islip
West Islip, New York
West Islip is a hamlet and CDP, located in Suffolk County, New York, USA. Situated on the south shore of Long Island, the population of the CDP was 29,907 at the time of the 2000 census.-Geography:West Islip is located at ....
, the nearest town on the main part of Long Island.
The inlet has evolved over the years due to natural processes, especially longshore drift
Longshore drift
Longshore drift consists of the transportation of sediments along a coast at an angle to the shoreline, which is dependent on prevailing wind direction, swash and backwash. This process occurs in the littoral zone, and in or within close proximity to the surf zone...
. Jones Island and Fire Island at one time were connected.
The Fire Island Light was at the mouth of the inlet when built in 1858, but is now 6 miles (9.7 km) east of the inlet.
The northwest side of the mouth of the inlet is known as the Sore Thumb, it is a manmade barrier that was created to try to combat the extensive erosion of the beaches inside the inlet. The southeast side of the mouth of the inlet is known as Point Democrat and is known as a popular surfing spot for beach goers, it is also the site of extensive preserves for the areas birds.