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Hell Gate is a narrow tidal channel in the East River in New York City in the United States. It separates Ward's Island and Astoria , Queens. It was spanned in 1917 by the New York Connecting Railroad Bridge (now called the Hell Gate Bridge), which connects the Bronx and Queens. The bridge provides a direct rail link between New England and New York City. In 1936 it was spanned by the Triborough Bridge, allowing vehicular traffic to pass between Manhattan, the Bronx, and Queens.
The name "Hell Gate" is a corruption of the Dutch phrase Hellegat (hell hole). For much of its history, navigation in the strait was extremely hazardous because of underwater rocks and swift tides.
The strait was described in the journals of Dutch explorer Adriaen Block, who is the first European known to have navigated the straits, during his 1614Events April 5 In Virginia, Native American Pocahontas marries English colonist John Rolfe. October 11 Adriaen Block and a group of Amsterdam merchants petition the States General for exclusive trading rights in the area he explored and named " New Nether voyage.
By the late 19th centuryAlternative meaning: Nineteenth Century (periodical ( 18th century — 19th century — 20th century — more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 19th century was that century which lasted from 1801- 1900. Events The Little Ice Age ended, hundreds of ships had sunk in the strait. In 1876Events January events January 31 The United States orders all Native Americans to move into reservations. February events February 2 The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs of Major League Baseball is formed. February 14 Alexander Graham Bell a, the U.S. Army Corps of EngineersThe United States Army Corps of Engineers or USACE is made up of some 34,600 civilian and 650 military men and women. The Corps' mission is to provide engineering services to the United States, including: Planning, designing, building and operating dams a blasted the dangerous rocks. Later the channel was widened and deepened, but it is still considered difficult to navigate due to strong tidal flows and heavy commercial river traffic.
See also: Little Hell Gate
New York City
