U Thant Island, officially named Belmont Island, is a small artificial island in Manhattan's East River, formed from rock excavated during construction of the Steinway Tunnel. Measuring about 100 by 200 feet, it is described as the smallest island in Manhattan. It was named for financier August Belmont Jr., who funded the tunnel, and was rededicated in 1977 in memory of former United Nations Secretary General U Thant. Today it carries a navigation beacon and supports a cormorant colony.
Sources
U Thant Island (Wikipedia)
Lead sectionQuote, Lead section
U Thant Island (officially Belmont Island) is a small artificial island or islet in New York City's East River, within the borough of Manhattan.
Reader Challenges (0 open reader challenges)
No disputes yet. Spotted an error or a better source? Open the first one.
Sign in to dispute this or suggest a correction.
View At A Past Year
The atlas records no dated fact of its own for this entry, so there is no other year to choose.