Tappan Zee facts for kids
The Tappan Zee is a wide part of the Hudson River in southeastern New York. It's like a big, natural lake within the river, stretching about 10 miles (16 km) long. At its widest, it's about 3 miles (5 km) across. This area forms the border between Rockland and Westchester counties.
Quick facts for kids Tappan Zee |
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Northern Tappan Zee
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| Country | United States |
| State | New York |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Hudson River, by way of Haverstraw Bay Croton-on-Hudson, New York 0 ft (0 m) 41°10′03.64″N 73°53′54.65″W / 41.1676778°N 73.8985139°W |
| River mouth | North River (Lower Hudson) Dobbs Ferry, New York 0 ft (0 m) 41°00′47.20″N 73°53′28.81″W / 41.0131111°N 73.8913361°W |
| Length | 10.5 mi (16.9 km), North-South |
| Basin features | |
| Tributaries |
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| NOAA Nav Chart | 12343 |
Contents
What's in a Name?
The name "Tappan Zee" comes from two parts. "Tappan" refers to the Tappan Native American group. They were a sub-tribe of the Lenape people who lived in this area. "Zee" is a Dutch word that means "sea." So, the name basically means "Tappan Sea."
Where is the Tappan Zee?
This wide part of the Hudson River is located about 10 miles (16 km) north of Manhattan. On its western side, you can see the tall, steep cliffs called the Palisades.
Several towns are located along the Tappan Zee:
- On the western side, you'll find Nyack.
- On the eastern side, there are towns like Ossining and Tarrytown.
Crossing the Tappan Zee
For many years, the Tappan Zee was crossed by the original Tappan Zee Bridge. This bridge opened in 1955 and was about 3.1 miles (5 km) long. It connected Nyack and Tarrytown.
Today, a newer bridge crosses the Tappan Zee. It's called the Governor Mario M. Cuomo Bridge. The first part of this new bridge opened in 2017, and the second part opened in 2018. It is about the same length as the old bridge.
Early Explorers
On September 14, 1609, a famous explorer named Henry Hudson sailed into the Tappan Zee. He was traveling upstream from New York Harbor. At first, Hudson thought that this wide part of the river meant he had found the Northwest Passage. This was a hoped-for water route through North America to Asia. However, he continued sailing north to what is now Troy and realized there was no such passage there.
Tappan Zee in Stories
The Tappan Zee is mentioned in famous stories and books.
- It appears several times in Washington Irving's well-known short story, "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow." This tale takes place near Tarrytown, which is close to Irving's own home.
- In Frederik Pohl's 1977 science fiction novel Gateway, the main character has an apartment that looks out over the Tappan Sea and the Palisades. Frederik Pohl lived in the area when he wrote the book.
