Coskata-Coatue Wildlife Refuge
Coskata-Coatue Wildlife Refuge
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The Great Point Light in the reserve |
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location | Massachusetts , United States | |
surface | 4.52 km² | |
Geographical location | 41 ° 18 ' N , 70 ° 4' W | |
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Setup date | 1974 | |
administration | The Trustees of Reservations |
Coskata-Coatue Wildlife Refuge is a 1,117 acre (4.5 km² ) nature reserve on the island of Nantucket in the state of Massachusetts in the United States . It is managed by The Trustees of Reservations organization.
history
In the 17th century the first European settlers arrived, the Nantucket reached, the living there for thousands of years Wampanoag - Indians , and took over the Indian name of the island, which translates as the land far out at sea means. The name of their chief Wauwinet is today at the entrance gate to the sanctuary . The words Coskata and Coatue also come from place names of the Wampanoag and translate to mean at the extensive forest or at the pine forest . Since the settlers preferred the proximity to the inner harbor, this stretch of land remained largely untouched.
In 1974, the first parts of the protected area were given to the trustees, further transfers followed in the 1980s. Additional areas were acquired in the 1990s.
Protected area
The sanctuary, consisting of sandy beaches, dunes and wooded areas, separates Nantucket Sound from the Atlantic Ocean and is most easily accessed by water or the beaches and regularly attracts tourists and nature lovers who want to bird watch, fish or visit the Great Point Light . Maritime oak forests and Virginian juniper thrive in the reserve and are the largest occurrences of its kind in New England . Horseshoe crabs and seals can be seen on the coast . A total of 16 mi (25.7 km ) of hiking trails and several kilometers of coastline are available to visitors. The protected area is accessible to pedestrians free of charge.
See also
Individual evidence
- ^ Property History. The Trustees of Reservations , accessed December 8, 2013 .
- ↑ About Coskata-Coatue Wildlife Refuge. The Trustees of Reservations , accessed December 8, 2013 .