Sandy Hook is a narrow barrier spit at the northern end of the Jersey Shore that curves around the entrance to Lower New York Bay, protecting the approach from the Atlantic and shaping a valuable harbor gateway. Named from the Dutch Sant Hoek, it long served as an anchorage for ships and gave rise to the Sandy Hook pilots who guided vessels through difficult waters. Much of the peninsula is now part of Gateway National Recreation Area, known for beaches, trails, and ferries. It also preserves major military landmarks, including Fort Hancock, the Sandy Hook Lighthouse, coastal defense works, and surviving missile and artillery sites.

Photo: Wikipedia · Public domain

Photo: Wikipedia · Public domain

Atlantic Highlands, New Jersey · USA