Iona Island (New York)
View of Iona Island from atop Bear Mountain
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 Iona Island
Location of Iona Island in New York State
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| Geography | |
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| Location | Hudson River |
| Coordinates | 41°18′14″N 73°58′38″W / 41.30389°N 73.97722°WCoordinates: 41°18′14″N 73°58′38″W / 41.30389°N 73.97722°W |
| Area | 556 acres (225 ha) |
| Highest elevation | 72 ft (21.9 m) |
| Administration | |
| State | New York |
| County | Rockland County |
| Town | Stony Point |
| Owner | |
| Additional information | |
| Designated | 1974 |
Iona Island is a 556-acre (2.25 km2) bedrock island of the Hudson River in the town of Stony Point, New York. The island is located approximately one mile (1.6 km) south of the Bear Mountain Bridge and is separated from the Hudson's western shore by mudflats and freshwater tidal marshes. It is part of Bear Mountain State Park, although it is occasionally listed separately as Iona Island State Park.
The island and its adjacent marsh were designated a National Natural Landmark in May 1974, and it is part of the Hudson River National Estuarine Research Reserve. It serves mainly as a bird sanctuary, particularly known as a winter nesting place for bald eagles.
Iona Island is transected by active River Subdivision (CSX Transportation) railroad tracks, but is accessible to the public only by a causeway connecting it to U.S. Route 9W in Bear Mountain State Park, near Doodletown. It is maintained by the Palisades Interstate Park Commission.
The southeastern part of the island, once cut off by marshes, is known as Round Island. It was attached to the south end of Iona Island with fill in the early 20th century. The hill on the western side, south of the causeway, was also once treated as separate, and referred to as Courtland Island. Snake Hole Creek originates in the low marshes towards the center of the island and flows southwesterly, then turning to the southeast and finally east in a long crescent to reach the Hudson. It separates the marshes of Salisbury Meadow, on the west side, from Ring Meadow, on the east side.
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