news | April 11, 2026

What river runs through Hudson?

Mohawk River
Cohoes Falls, near the eastern end of the Mohawk River in Cohoes, New York
Hudson River watershed map showing the Mohawk River
EtymologyNamed for Mohawk Nation
Native nameTenonanatche

What was the Hudson River called before?

Mahicantuck
Before the 16th century, when only Native American tribes inhabited what is now the USA, the Hudson River was called Mahicantuck, which means “the river that flows two ways.” This name was from a Native American tribe called the Lenape, who populated the area around the lowest part of the Hudson River.

Why was the river named after Hudson?

The Hudson River is a 315-mile (507 km) river in New York. The river is named after Henry Hudson, an Englishman sailing for the Dutch East India Company, who explored it in 1609, and after whom Canada’s Hudson Bay is also named.

What river is to the west of Manhattan?

Hudson River
The five boroughs of New York City are Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx and Staten Island. The island of Manhattan is surrounded by three rivers, the Hudson River, once called North River West (to the west), the East River (to the east) and the Harlem River to the north-east.

Is it safe to swim in the Hudson River?

generally safe, ● unsafe after rain and ● generally unsafe. MID CHANNEL: The deeper, well-mixed part of the river away from its shores would have generally met safe swimming criteria, except near and downstream from combined sewer overflows (CSOs) in the Capital District and New York City.

What’s bad about the Hudson River?

Other ongoing pollution problems affecting the river include: accidental sewage discharges, urban runoff, heavy metals, furans, dioxin, pesticides, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Numerous factories that once lined the Hudson River poured garbage and industrial waste directly into the river.

Why you shouldn’t swim in the Hudson River?

People shouldn’t swim, boat or recreate in these areas because of safety concerns from boat traffic and operating equipment. PCB levels in the river water might also be higher when dredging and debris removal equipment are operating in these areas.

Why is Hudson River so dirty?

It’s honestly just common sense to not take a dip in the Hudson River. It’s polluted with PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls — which are man-made chemicals), cadmium, sewage, urban runoff, heavy metals, pesticides, and lots and lots of bacteria.

What is bad about the Hudson River?