Rockaway, narrow peninsula, c.10 mi (16 km) long, SW Long Island, SE N.Y., in Queens borough of New York City. Separating Jamaica Bay from the Atlantic Ocean and isolated from the rest of New York City, the densely populated peninsula owes its growth to road and rail connections across the bay. There are fine sand beaches on Rockaway's southern side. A section of Gateway National Recreation Area, including Rockaway Beach, Fort Tilden, and Jacob Riis Park, is there.
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