8. Hundreds of ships sank in the strait alongside Astoria Park
Hell Gate, which is now spanned by the Hell Gate Bridge, got its name for a reason. The strait that flows north from the East River into the Long Island Sound has historically been a dangerous passageway for ships due to the violent whirlpools, strong currents, and surface rocks. The speed at which the water flowed, combined with all the natural obstacles on the Astoria shore and the coastline of Randall’s Island, made the waters treacherous to navigate. By the start of the 1800s, hundreds of ships had sunk in the strait.
In 1851, the U.S. Army organized a demolition project that would help reduce the risk of sailing up the strait. Rocks and ledges along both sides of the strait were destroyed for several decades until the current strength and whirlpool frequency were reduced. Hell Gate is now considered safe to navigate for small vessels, tug boats, and barges thanks to the project. However, the flow of the river’s current is still clearly irregular because of all the debris that has been underwater.
