Long Beach Island

Long Beach Island (colloquially known as LBI or simply The Island) is a barrier island and summer colony along theAtlantic Ocean coast of Ocean County,New Jersey in the United States. Aligned north-south, the northern portion is generally slightly higher end, low-density residential; whereas the southern portion possesses more economical, higher-density housing and considerable commercial development. The primary industries include tourism, fishing, and real estate. The only access point to the island by land is the single bridge, The Causeway, from Manahawkin on the mainland to Ship Bottom on the island. Source material for "Jaws," a 1974 novel by Peter Benchley — and later a movie by Steven Spielberg — came from incidents at this New Jersey beach in 1916. In an unprecedented 11 days, five major shark attacks took place along the Jersey Shore, four of which were fatal. Reports cited blood turning the water red and sharks following victims toward the beach. Today, sharks are rare, but the legend lives on in the surf and swells of these tepid Atlantic waters.