Coskata-Coatue Wildlife Refuge

IUCN Category V - Protected Landscape / Seascape

The Lighthouse Great Point Light in reserve

Coskata - Coatue Wildlife Refuge is a 1,117 acre ( 4.5 km ²) large nature reserve on the island of Nantucket, Massachusetts in the United States. It is managed by the organization The Trustees of Reservations.

History

In the 17th century met the first European settlers who reached Nantucket, on living there for thousands of years Wampanoag Indians, and took over the Indian name of the island, which roughly translated means the land far out to sea. The name of their chief Wauwinet stands today at the entrance to the reserve. The words Coskata and Coatue also originate from place names of the Wampanoag and are translated at the vast forest and the pine forest. As the settlers preferred the proximity to the inner harbor, this area remained largely unaffected.

In 1974 the Trustees were given the first parts of the protected area, more assignments followed in the 1980s. In the 1990s additional land could be acquired.

Sanctuary

Comprised of sandy beaches, dunes and forest land reserve separates the Nantucket Sound from the Atlantic Ocean and is most easily accessible by water or on the beaches and regularly attracts tourists and nature lovers, bird watching, fishing or want to visit the lighthouse of Great Point Light. In reserve thrive maritime oak forests and Virginian juniper, which forms the largest deposit of its kind in New England there. On the coast horseshoe crabs and sea lions can be observed. Overall, visitors are 16 mi ( 25.7 km ) hiking trails and several kilometers of shoreline available. For pedestrians, the reserve is accessible for free.