Padre Island National Seashore

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Padre Island National Seashore
IUCN Category V (Protected Landscape/Seascape)

Location:	Padre Island, Texas, USA
Nearest city:	Corpus Christi, Texas
Coordinates:	26°59′04″N, 97°22′07″W
Area:	130,434 acres (527.85 km²)
Established:	September 28, 1962
Total Visitation:	666,580 (in 2005)
Governing body:	National Park Service

Padre Island National Seashore (PAIS) is a National Seashore located on Padre Island off the coast of South Texas. In contrast to South Padre Island (well known for its beaches and vacationing college students), PINS is located on North Padre Island and consists of a long beach where nature is preserved. Primitive camping is available there and most of the beach is only accessible to four wheel drive vehicles.

North Padre Island is the longest undeveloped barrier island in the world. The National Seashore is 70 miles long with 65.5 miles of Gulf beach. The Park hosts a variety of pristine beach, dune, and tidal flat environments.^[1]

[edit] Kemp's Ridley Sea Turtles

Kemp's Ridley sea turtle at PINS

A program to re-establish a nesting beach for Kemp's Ridley sea turtles on Padre Island was begun in 1978. In 1992, the first two turtles from the program returned to Padre Island beach to lay their eggs. The number of Kemp's Ridley sea turtle nests on Padre Island has increased ever since with 28 being found in 2005. Park rangers at PINS are involved in an effort to help this endangered species. In the summer, visitors can witness the release of newborn turtles.