Long Island, Continental island in New York, United States.
Long Island is an island in New York that extends 118 miles (190 km) from New York Harbor into the Atlantic Ocean, covering Kings, Queens, Nassau, and Suffolk counties. The coastline alternates between sandy beaches facing south, sheltered bays along the north, and varied terrain that shifts from city blocks to farmland.
Lenape and Montaukett settlements lived here until Dutch and English colonists arrived in the 17th century and built trading posts and farms. The western areas grew into New York City boroughs after the 1800s, while eastern regions remained rural.
Western boroughs like Brooklyn and Queens show dense city blocks with markets, restaurants, and multilingual communities, while eastern areas preserve farm stands, vineyards, and coastal villages. Visitors experience a clear shift between urban streets filled with shops and quiet landscapes with roadside produce stands.
The rail network connects over 120 stations and provides access to beaches, town centers, and residential areas, with eastern destinations requiring longer travel times. Coastal roads along the north and south pass through smaller towns, while central highways offer faster crossings.
The formation during the last ice age created two parallel ridges of glacial moraine that shape the central terrain and run from west to east. Fire Island, a narrow barrier island off the southern shore, remains car-free and accessible only by ferry or boat.
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