Kill Van Kull facts for kids
The Kill Van Kull is a busy water channel, also called a strait. It flows between Staten Island, New York, and Bayonne, New Jersey. This channel is about 3 miles (5 kilometers) long and 1,000 feet (300 meters) wide.
It connects Newark Bay with Upper New York Bay. The Robbins Reef Light is at its eastern end, and Bergen Point is at its western end. The Bayonne Bridge crosses over it. The Kill Van Kull is one of the most used waterways in the Port of New York and New Jersey.
For a long time, this channel has been very important for trade. It helps ships travel between Upper New York Bay and the industrial towns of northeastern New Jersey. In the past, during the time of the first American colonies, it was a key route. People traveled between New York City and the southern colonies. They would switch from boats to coaches in Elizabeth, New Jersey.
Since the late 1900s, it has been the main way for huge container ships to reach Port Newark–Elizabeth Marine Terminal. This is the busiest port on the East Coast of the United States. Ships also use it to get to Howland Hook Marine Terminal.
The channel needs to be made deeper all the time. This is because ships keep getting bigger. Workers often have to dig out the sandy bottom. Sometimes, they even need to blast away rock to make the channel deep enough. In 2017, the Bayonne Bridge was raised. This allows even bigger ships, called New Panamax ships, to pass through the Kill Van Kull.
What's in a Name?
The name "Kill Van Kull" means "channel of the pass" or "ridge." Another nearby waterway is the Arthur Kill. Its name comes from a Dutch phrase meaning "back channel." This refers to its location "behind" Staten Island.
The name "Kill Van Kull" was first used in the early 1600s. This was when the Dutch people had colonies in this area, called New Netherland. Early explorers and settlers named places based on their shape or features. The area around Newark Bay was called Achter Kol.
The word Kill comes from an old Dutch word, kille. This word means "creek" or "channel." The bay was known as Cull Bay when the British took over the colonies.
Gallery
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The western part of the Kill, seen from the Bayonne Bridge
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A USACE dredge pulls up blasted rock to make the channel wider.
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Ships in Upper New York Bay wait to enter the Kill.
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The eastern part of the Kill Van Kull
