Barnegat Inlet is a narrow, often turbulent passage linking Barnegat Bay with the Atlantic Ocean on the New Jersey coast, beside Barnegat Lighthouse at the north end of Long Beach Island. Known since early European exploration, it was described by Henry Hudson in 1609 and named by Dutch explorers in 1614 from a word meaning “Inlet of the Breakers.” For much of its history it served trade on Barnegat Bay by giving ships access to commercial centers such as Toms River. Its dangerous waters also became famous for nearby shipwrecks, while the surrounding area later became known for birdwatching, shoreline stabilization efforts, and ongoing dredging to keep the channel open.

Barnegat Light, New Jersey · USA