Virginia Coast Reserve
| Virginia Coast Reserve | |
|---|---|
  Map of Virginia | |
| Location | Atlantic coast Virginia |
| Coordinates | 37°24′59″N 75°41′20″W / 37.4163°N 75.689°WCoordinates: 37°24′59″N 75°41′20″W / 37.4163°N 75.689°W[1] |
| Area | 40,000 acres (16,000 ha) |
| Governing body | The Nature Conservancy |
| Official website | |
| Designated | 1979 |
The Virginia Coast Reserve is a biosphere reserve created by The Nature Conservancy in the early 1970s. It consists of 14 of the Virginia Barrier Islands along the Atlantic coast of the Virginia portion of the Delmarva Peninsula, including Parramore Island, Hog Island, Virginia, Smith Island, Virginia, Assawoman Island, and Metompkin Island. These barrier islands play an important role in sheltering the mainland portions of the Eastern Shore of Virginia from the impact of coastal storms and are important for breeding and migrating beach nesting and colonial waterbirds, including Piping Plovers. It also serves as the research location for the Virginia Coast Reserve Long-Term Ecological Research (VCR/LTER) project.
The reserve was designated a National Natural Landmark in 1979.[2]
References
- ↑ "Watch Your Step". nature.org. The Nature Conservancy.
- ↑ "Virginia Coast Reserve". nps.gov. National Park Service.