Long Island (pronounced 'Lawn Guyland' by locals) is, for lack of a better term, a long, fish -shaped island located just east of New York City . Long Island is 118 miles long, by 12-20 miles wide. The head of the 'fish' points at Manhattan Island.

There are four counties on Long Island, two being boroughs of New York: Brooklyn and Queens. These make up the head and up to what would be the fin area of the 'fish'. Although geographically a part of Long Island, nobody really considers these counties 'Long Island', but part of 'The City'. Nassau and Suffolk counties are considered 'The Island'. They are located in the body and tail ends of the 'fish'. The eastern part of Long Island (the 'tail') is divided into the North and South Forks.