Spectacle Island (Massachusetts)
Spectacle Iceland is an island in the Dorchester Bay in Boston Harbor. It is located 4.2 mi (6.8 km) from Boston city center on the territory of the State of Massachusetts in the United States. Spectacle Iceland has a permanent area of approximately 85.5 acres (0.35 km ²), the (0.11 km ²) is increased by one watt, depending on the tidal range temporarily by up to 28.4 acres. It is administered by the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR ) and is part of the Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area. From June 23 to Labor Day are lifeguards on the beach.
Geography
Geology
The island was originally only of two interconnected drumlins. In the 1920s, the island was begun to be used as landfill, thus the area of the island by 36 acres (0.15 km ²) was increased. Today it consists of two artificial turf hills where terraced retaining walls were built. With 176 ft ( 53.6 m), the island offers the highest vantage point in the whole harbor area.
Flora and Fauna
There were planted new deciduous and coniferous trees in the recent past and created lawns. The fauna of the island is still the subject of scientific studies.
History
In the past, the island was used for a variety of purposes; on their agriculture was operated, a quarantine hospital, luxury hotels and a glue factory were built and it was used as landfill. Finally, the excavation of the Big Dig project was heaped on the island, which then turned into a park and the public has been made available again.
Already in the 1850s built a Boston businessman a system for rendering on the island; by this time it was common to simply throw dead horses in the harbor basin. In the 20th century there was a factory for the production of fats of any kind on the island, at the same time began to use as a landfill for the costs incurred in the town municipal waste. According to tradition, ships could orient themselves in the fog alone on putrid stench of the island. Even long after closure of the landfill, the island was not only unsightly, but because of exiting into the inner harbor toxins and pollutants also pose a risk to public health. The solution of the problem consisted in the simultaneous removal of a second, by the excavation of the Big Dig project, which included approximately 30,000 m³ was used to cover the island and also to model new. Then a layer of Mother Earth was having a thickness of 2 ft ( 0.6 m ) and 5 ft (1.5 m ) was applied so that after 2,400 trees and 26,000 shrubs were planted. Today, the island serves as a recreation area and even a sheltered sandy beach.
Attractions
Spectacle Iceland has among other things a visitor center and administrative buildings. The remains of the old pier are also open to visitors. 5 mi (8 km) of hiking trails for visitors, particularly popular is the bird watching.