10 August 2008

AN OLD FAVORITE VACATION SPOT, ASSATEAGUE ISLAND MARYLAND















THE FOLLOWING FROM PRINCE GEORGE'S AUDUBON SOCIETY.....

"Assateague stretches for 37 miles along the coasts of Maryland and Virginia, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and the Sinepuxent and Chincoteague Bays to the west. Despite its relatively small size, less than 18,000 acres, a surprising array of habitats and natural features can be found on Assateague Island. Differences in elevation and in the proximity to surrounding water bodies give various areas of the island distinctly different plant populations. Along the seaward side, sandy beaches extend the length of the island. Beyond the beach, natural and human-made dunes protect inland habitats from salt spray and ocean waves, allowing shrub thickets and pine forests to thrive. During periods of rain, many freshwater pools form in depressions in these areas."

"Assateague Island is part of a vast chain of barrier islands extending from Maine to Texas. Changing sea level and migration of offshore sediments play vital roles in forming and maintaining these important coastal features. Barrier islands are highly dynamic places, as currents and storms work to continuously reshape the land form. Long shore currents continuously transport sand south along the coast. Harsh winter weather pulls sand from dunes and upper beaches, depositing it into offshore sand bars and reducing beach width, while gentler wave action in the milder summer weather acts to restore the shoreline".
"Assateague is also moving westward as a result of sea-level rise and the force of the surf through a process called “island rollover.” During severe storm events, sand is eroded from the ocean beaches and carried across the island by flood waters and re-deposited in marshes along the western shore, steadily narrowing the bay that separates the island from the mainland. These events can break through dunes, spilling sand in fanlike deposits or even carving inlets, such as the one that has separated Assateague and Ocean City since 1933. Long shore currents will eventually deposit sediments and close these gaps unless, like the Ocean City inlet, it is maintained with jetties and dredging."

"Assateague Island consists of three major public areas: Assateague Island National Seashore in MD and VA, managed by the National Park Service; Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge in VA, managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; and Assateague State Park in MD, managed by the MD Department of Natural Resources. Assateague Island National Seashore is administered to provide for recreational use and enjoyment consistent with the perpetuation and maintenance of the seashore's natural environment. Together, these agencies hold in trust a priceless seashore ecosystem of wildlands, wildlife, and outdoor recreation."
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ASSATEAGUE ISLAND NATIONAL SEASHORE.....

"Assateague State Park is Maryland's only ocean park. It is located on Assateague Island, a barrier island bordered on the east by the Atlantic Ocean and on the west by Sinepuxent Bay. Two miles of ocean beaches offer swimming, beachcombing, sunbathing, surfing and fishing. The island's bayside offers visitors the chance to explore secluded coves by canoe or kayak. The marsh areas have a variety of wildlife, including deer, waterfowl and feral horses. Assateague was selected by National Geographic Travel magazine in 1994 as one of the 10 best state parks in the United States."




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