Cruising New York - Hudson River
We are tempted to call this section Cruising the North River, since it more precisely describes the river between Manhattan and New Jersey, but the term has fallen into disuse and will probably not be found on charts. The North River was the name used for the lowest section of the Hudson River, alongside Manhattan. It probably traces to the Dutch settlers of New Amsterdam, New York City's original name, for the river that went north. Various other features continue to be named for the North River, such as the North River piers.
The Hudson River, as charted, terminates at The Battery, the sourthern-most point of Manhattan, and runs from the North along the west side of Manhattan. It passes the northern tip of Manhattan about 12 NM above The Battery. The Hudson River continues for another 100 NM North as a navigable river, most of it available to large ships. The Hudson is at least a half nautical mile wide, clear and deep in the entire section alongside Manhattan. NOAA Chart 12327, "New York Harbor", presents the Hudson River for the southern half of Manhattan. Most of the northern part is presented in NOAA Chart 12341, "Hudson River to George Washington Bridge".
The southern tip of Manhattan is home to the financial district and is notable for numerous tall buildings. The World Trade Center site is less than 1 NM north of The Battery, but not visible from the River. Eventually a new tower will rise on that site.
Along the west side of the Hudson stretches the northern mainland of New Jersey. Opposite lower Manhattan is Jersey City, an historic area that has been transformed from an industrial area to an extension of the financial district. North of Jersey City lie Hoboken, Weehawkin and West New York. Most of the Jersey shoreline is dotted with commuter ferry terminals and small marinas.
The New York shoreline is covered with large piers and docks for about 5 NM above The Battery, many old and deteriorating. Some have been converted to new uses as sports facilities and other non-maritime purposes. About 4 NM above The Battery is the Intrepid Air and Space Museum, easily identified by the Aircraft Carrier Intrepid, which was renovated in 2008. There is a specific security zone around the museam area. The active Circle Line Cruise boats, which regularly circumnavigate Manhattan, are on the dock south of the Intrepid. These provide a couple of hours of narrated cruising around Manhattan. Several piers north of the Intrepid are used for large passenger cruise ships primarily during the summer months. These will back out into the river when they depart.
About 9.5 NM North of The Battery, the George Washington Bridge spans the Hudson from northern Manhattan to Fort Lee, New Jersey. The bridge carries Interstate 95 North and South. The bridge is connected to the top of the New Jersey Palisades with the tall sheer drop of these rock mountains along the river's edge.
Manhattan Island extends another woodsy 2 NM north of the George Washington Bridge, where it is joined by the Harlem River. The Hudson continues far North. New Jersey continues a little further on the western shore, with New York State on the east.