Narragansett Bay, shown in pink.

Narragansett Bay is a bay on the north side of Rhode Island Sound, forming an expansive natural harbor as well as a small archipelago. The three largest islands in the bay are Aquidneck Island, Conanicut Island, and Prudence Island. Narragansett Bay is depicted on the mid-Atlantic coast of the United States. ... Narragansett Bay is depicted on the mid-Atlantic coast of the United States. ... In geography, a bay or gulf is a collection of water that is surrounded by land on three sides. ... Categories: US geography stubs | Rhode Island geography | Straits ... An archipelago is a landform which consists of a chain or cluster of islands. ... Aquidneck Island Aquidneck Island, also called Rhode Island, is the largest island in Narragansett Bay. ... Conanicut Island Conanicut Island is the second largest island in Narragansett Bay, in the state of Rhode Island. ... Categories: Stub | Rhode Island geography ...

The largest cities in the State of Rhode Island have their waterfronts on the bay. Providence, the state capital and its largest city, sits on the west side of the head of the northern most arm of the bay. Newport is on Aquidneck Island. Official language(s) None Capital Providence Largest city Providence Area  Ranked 50th  - Total 1,214* sq mi (3,144* km²)  - Width 37 miles (60 km)  - Length 48 miles (77 km)  - % water 32. ... Nickname: Beehive of Industry, The Renaissance City Official website: http://www. ... Newport as seen from the International Space Station. ...

Early history

The first recorded visit by Europeans to the bay was probably in the early 16th century. At the time, the area around the bay was inhabited by two different and distinct groups of natives. The Narragansetts occupied the west side of the bay. The Wampanoag lived on the east side, occupying the land out to Cape Cod. This article is about the continent. ... (15th century - 16th century - 17th century - more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 16th century was that century which lasted from 1501 to 1600. ... The Narragansett tribe, or more accurately Nahahiganseck Sovereign Nation, are a Native American tribe who controlled the area surrounding Narragansett Bay in present-day Rhode Island, and also portions of Connecticut, and eastern Massachusetts. ... The Wampanoag (Wôpanâak in current orthography) are a Native American people. ... Astronaut photo of Cape Cod and Cape Cod Bay Cape Cod (1033 km²) is an arm-shaped peninsula forming the Easternmost portion of the commonwealth of Massachusetts, in the Northeastern United States. ...

It is accepted by most historians that first contact by Europeans was made by Giovanni da Verrazzano, who entered the bay in his ship La Dauphine in 1524 after visiting New York Bay. Verrazzano called the bay "Refugio". The bay has several entrances, however, and the exact route of his voyage and the location where laid anchor is still a subject of dispute among historians, leading to a corresponding uncertainty over which tribe made contact with him (see [1], [2]). He reported that he found clearings and open forests suitable for travel "even by a large army." Giovanni da Verrazano (his last name is also spelled Verrazzano) was born, on his familys castle, Castello Verrazzano, near Val di Greve, 30 miles south of Florence. ... Events March 1, 1524/5 - Giovanni da Verrazano lands near Cape Fear (approx. ... New York Bay is the collective term for the marine areas surrounding the entrance of the Hudson River into the Atlantic Ocean. ...

In 1614, the bay was later explored and mapped by the Dutch navigator Adriaen Block, after whom nearby Block Island is named. Events April 5 - In Virginia, Native American Pocahontas marries English colonist John Rolfe. ... Blocks map of his 1614 voyage, with the first appearance of the term New Netherland Adriaen Block (1567–1627) was a Dutch private fur trader and navigator who explored the coastal and river valley areas between present-day New Jersey and Massachusetts during four voyages from 1611 to 1614... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ...

The first recorded European settlement was in the 1630s. Roger Williams, a dissatisfied member of the Plymouth Colony, moved into the area around the year 1635. He made contact with the Narragansett and set up a trading post on the west side of the bay. At the same time, the Dutch had established a trading post approximately 12 miles to the southwest which was under the authority of New Amsterdam in New York Bay. Roger Williams (December 21, 1603–April 1, 1684) was an Anglo-American theologian, a notable proponent of the separation of Church and State, an advocate for fair dealings with Native Americans, founder of the City of Providence, Rhode Island a co-founder of Rhode Island. ... The Plymouth Colony was an English colonial venture in North America from 1620 until 1691. ... Events February 10 - The Académie française in Paris is expanded to become a national academy for the artistic elite. ... The Narragansett tribe, or more accurately Nahahiganseck Sovereign Nation, are a Native American tribe who controlled the area surrounding Narragansett Bay in present-day Rhode Island, and also portions of Connecticut, and eastern Massachusetts. ... New Amsterdam (Dutch: Nieuw Amsterdam) was the name of the 17th century fortified settlement on Manhattan Island in the New Netherland territory (1614-1674) situated originally between 38 and 42 degrees latitude. ... New York Bay is the collective term for the marine areas surrounding the entrance of the Hudson River into the Atlantic Ocean. ...

In 1643, Williams traveled to England and was granted a charter for the new colony of Rhode Island. He also wrote a dictionary of the Narragansett language, Keys to the Indian Language, which was published in England that same year. // Events January 21 - Abel Tasman discovers Tonga February 6 - Abel Tasman discovers the Fiji islands. ... Royal motto (French): Dieu et mon droit (Translated: God and my right) Englands location (dark green) within the United Kingdom (light green), with the Republic of Ireland (blue) to its west Languages English Capital London Largest city London Area – Total Ranked 1st UK 130,395 km² Population –mid-2004... Official language(s) None Capital Providence Largest city Providence Area  Ranked 50th  - Total 1,214* sq mi (3,144* km²)  - Width 37 miles (60 km)  - Length 48 miles (77 km)  - % water 32. ...

External links

• Narragansett Bay: A Friend's Perspective
• Narragansett Bay.Org
• Save The Bay