Long Island Sound

This passage discusses the body of water called the Long Island Sound.

Lexile Level: 460L

Categories: People & Places

The Long Island Sound is a long, narrow body of water. It is an estuary. An estuary is a place where saltwater mixes with freshwater. The saltwater comes from the Atlantic Ocean. The freshwater comes from three main rivers. They are the Connecticut River, the Housatonic River, and the Thames River. The sound is 100 miles long and 21 miles wide. It is about 65 feet deep. Many animals live in the sound. There are 120 kinds of fish in the water. There are 125 kinds of birds in the air. People enjoy the sound too. The sound is a popular place to fish and swim. On a nice day, thousands of boats are in the sound. The sound is a busy place. Like other estuaries, the sound is in danger. When it rains, chemicals from land wash into the sound. This kills fish and plants. People harm the sound when they litter.