Fire Island Inlet is an inlet on the south shore of Long Island, New York, USA.
It connects the Great South Bay with the Atlantic Ocean, passing between Robert Moses State Park (the western end of Fire Island) on the south and Oak Beach and Captree State Park (the eastern end of Jones Beach Island) on the north.
The inlet is directly south of West Islip, the nearest town on the main part of Long Island.
The inlet has evolved over the years due to natural processes, especially longshore drift. Jones Island and Fire Island at one time were connected.
The Fire Island Light was at the mouth of the inlet when built in 1858, but is now 6 miles (9.7 km) east of the inlet.
The northwest side of the mouth of the inlet is known as the Sore Thumb, it is a manmade barrier that was created to try to combat the extensive erosion of the beaches inside the inlet. The southeast side of the mouth of the inlet is known as Point Democrat and is known as a popular surfing spot for beach goers, it is also the site of extensive preserves for the areas birds.
Famous quotes containing the words fire, island and/or inlet:
“It haunts me, the passage of time. I think time is a merciless thing. I think life is a process of burning oneself out and time is the fire that burns you. But I think the spirit of man is a good adversary.”
—Tennessee Williams (1914–1983)
“The shifting islands! who would not be willing that his house should be undermined by such a foe! The inhabitant of an island can tell what currents formed the land which he cultivates; and his earth is still being created or destroyed. There before his door, perchance, still empties the stream which brought down the material of his farm ages before, and is still bringing it down or washing it away,—the graceful, gentle robber!”
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)
“Of lower states, of acts of routine and sense, we can tell somewhat; but the masterpieces of God, the total growths and universal movements of the soul, he hideth; they are incalculable. I can know that truth is divine and helpful; but how it shall help me I can have no guess, for so to be is the sole inlet of so to know.”
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882)