Manasquan River facts for kids

Mouth of the river

The Manasquan River is a waterway in central New Jersey. It's about 26.5 miles (42.6 km) long. This river starts in western Monmouth County and flows all the way to the Atlantic Ocean. It empties into the ocean between the towns of Manasquan and Point Pleasant through the Manasquan Inlet.

As the river gets closer to the ocean, it becomes much wider. This makes it a great place for boating and other fun water activities. It's a very popular spot along the Jersey Shore. The Manasquan River and its inlet are considered the unofficial start of the Intracoastal Waterway in the north.

What is the Manasquan River Watershed?

The Manasquan River is at the center of a large area called a watershed. A watershed is like a big bowl where all the rain and water from streams flow into one main river. This watershed includes many smaller streams. It also has a large man-made reservoir called the Manasquan Reservoir in Howell Township. Water is pumped into this reservoir, it doesn't flow directly from the river.

The river also acts as a traditional dividing line between North Jersey and South Jersey. It separates Monmouth and Ocean counties. To the north, the soil is rich and good for farming. To the south, the soil is sandier, like the "Pine Barrens" area.

Discovering Nienstedt Island (Treasure Island)

In the middle of the Manasquan River, there's a special island called Nienstedt Island. You can only get to it by boat. It's a popular place for picnics and just relaxing. The island has a sandy beach where boaters can pull their boats ashore. It's mostly covered with trees.

This island used to be known as "Osborn Island" in the 1800s. In May 1888, a famous writer named Robert Louis Stevenson visited the area. He was so impressed by Osborn Island that he playfully renamed it "Treasure Island," just like his famous novel Treasure Island (1883). He even carved his initials into a wooden wall there! Even today, many people still call it "Treasure Island."

Bridges Crossing the Manasquan River

Several bridges cross the Manasquan River and its smaller waterways. Some of these are drawbridges, which can open up to let boats pass through. These include the Brielle Road Glimmer Glass Bridge, the Route 35 Manasquan River bridge, and the NJ Transit railroad bridge. There's also one fixed bridge, which doesn't open, called the Route 70 September 11 Memorial Bridge.

Images for kids

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  Manasquan River as it flows through Freehold Township