Five islands. One barrier.
The outer barrier is a string of barrier islands stretching seventy-five miles along Long Island's south shore. Each island has its own communities, its own weather, its own register. We document them one at a time.
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A city, two villages, and two hamlets between the inlets. The most documented island on the barrier.
Atlantic Beach·East Atlantic Beach·Long Beach·Lido Beach·Point Lookout -
Jones Beach Island Light
A long ribbon of state park between the inlets. Parkland, ocean, no municipalities.
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Fire Island Light
Carless hamlets, the Sunken Forest, the lighthouse. Seventeen communities along a thirty-mile island.
Kismet·Saltaire·Ocean Beach·Cherry Grove·Fire Island Pines -
Bay & Inlets Light
The bay side of the barrier: Island Park, Barnum Island and Harbor Isle, where the bridges land.
Barnum Island·Island Park·Harbor Isle·Oceanside -
Westhampton Island Light
Dune Road, the eastern tip of the barrier, where the ocean turns toward Shinnecock.
Westhampton Beach·Quogue·Tiana