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List of national lakeshores and seashores of the United States

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Wooden sign saying "Fort Pickens Area, Gulf Islands National Seashore" standing in front of a beach at sunset
Welcome sign on the beach at Gulf Islands National Seashore, Florida
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The United States has ten protected areas known as national seashores and three known as national lakeshores, which are public lands operated by the National Park Service (NPS), an agency of the Department of the Interior. National seashores and lakeshores are coastal areas federally designated by Congress as being of natural and recreational significance as a preserved area.[1] All of the national lakeshores are on Lakes Michigan and Superior, and nine of the ten national seashores are on the Atlantic Ocean, including two on the Gulf of Mexico. Point Reyes is the only national seashore on the Pacific coast. While all of these protected sites have extensive beaches for recreation, they extend inland to include other natural resources like wetlands and marshes, forests, lakes and lagoons, and dunes. Many also feature historic lighthouses and estates.

National seashores are located in ten states and national lakeshores are in two other states. Florida, North Carolina, and Michigan each have two. The largest national seashore or lakeshore is Gulf Islands, at over 137,000 acres (550 km2); the smallest is Fire Island, at 19,579 acres (79.23 km2). The total areas protected by national seashores and lakeshores are approximately 595,000 acres (2,410 km2) and 214,000 acres (870 km2), respectively.[1] These thirteen sites had a total visitation of 21.1 million people in 2017, led by Cape Cod at over 4 million visitors.[2] The lakeshores and seashores have an emphasis on recreation, and most allow hunting and off-road vehicles, which is not permitted in national parks.[3] Five seashores and lakeshores also include land more strictly protected as wilderness areas.[1]

Shorelines, both on oceans and lakes, are particularly vulnerable to natural change. National seashores have experienced higher temperatures than in the past, with even hotter summers expected from the effects of climate change.[4] All nine seashores on the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico feature low-lying barrier islands, which could be submerged by rising sea levels, and storm surges from severe hurricanes can disintegrate the beaches.[5] Warmer temperatures at the Great Lakes may result in continued drop in water levels, with unclear effects on the shoreline.[6] The Natural Resources Defense Council states that long-term planning for all sites must address erosion and visitor access.[4]

History

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The first federal protection of shoreline in the U.S. for public recreation purposes was in 1930, when Congress established "the principle of conserving the natural beauty of shore lines for recreational use" in northern Minnesota.[7] With a push for job-creating conservation programs during the Great Depression, the National Park Service expanded its role in managing national parks and national monuments to protecting historic sites and recreation areas, including coastlines. Its work controlling erosion at North Carolina's Outer Banks led to it considering designation of Cape Hatteras, where not only beach-going but also fishing and hunting were already popular, as a national beach or national recreation area, but debate over the meaning of this status and how the land would be acquired by the NPS delayed action, as existing and expected development made it unsuitable for a national park.[8] The 1936 Park, Parkway, and Recreational Area Study Act gave the Park Service a framework to designate and protect a wider variety of resources that included recreational land use. Congress authorized Cape Hatteras National Seashore in August 1937, and President Roosevelt signed the bill before visiting Roanoke Island. It was not established, however, until 1953 and dedicated in 1958 after permission to hunt was determined, the land was purchased and donated to the Park Service, and ongoing funding was authorized, but the process would serve as an example for how to create and manage similar dual-purpose sites.[8]

A 1955 NPS survey of the Atlantic and Gulf coasts recommended sixteen areas that would be worthy of protection,[9] five of which would become national seashores. Studies of the Great Lakes and Pacific coast also led to designations, including Pictured Rocks, authorized as the first national lakeshore in 1966.[10] Funds from the Bureau of Outdoor Recreation and the Mission 66 program drove system expansion and land acquisition by the Park Service.[11] Altogether thirteen further national seashores and lakeshores would be authorized and established, all in the 1960s and 1970s. The 1961 law authorizing Cape Cod National Seashore was the first to include appropriations for purchasing land; to prevent local opposition it limited removal of private property and established an advisory commission with local representation, an innovation used for others.[12] The creation of Cape Cod recognized the importance of commitment to preserving entire areas threatened by development, even as philosophical questions of uniqueness, national importance, and protection of an urbanized area were raised. The national lakeshores, seashores, and riverways, although lacking recognizable monuments, would be rare coastal areas kept in more pristine condition. Their geologic features and biological significance of diverse plant life was also important for gaining federal protection.[13]

The newest national lakeshore or seashore is Canaveral, established in 1975. There is one former national lakeshore, renamed Indiana Dunes National Park in 2019 in a bid to increase visibility and tourism to the area despite the Park Service's naming conventions.[14][15] Other national parks that include coastal areas, such as Olympic and Acadia National Parks, emphasize conservation over recreation,[8] though the enabling legislation for seashores and lakeshores vary in the degree to which the two are stressed.[12]

National seashores

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Name Image Location Date established[1][16] Area[1] Description
Assateague Island Wild horses standing in marshes Atlantic coast:
Maryland, Virginia
38°05′N 75°13′W / 38.08°N 75.21°W / 38.08; -75.21 		September 21, 1965 39,726.75 acres (160.8 km2) As a barrier island, Assateague Island's beach and dunes are continually shaped by wind and waves. It is known for its feral horses and is also home to deer, crabs, fox, and migrating snow geese. Main vegetation includes American beach grass, saltmarsh cordgrass and sea rocket.[17]
Canaveral Irregular shaped swampy islands Atlantic coast:
Florida
28°46′N 80°47′W / 28.77°N 80.78°W / 28.77; -80.78 		January 3, 1975 57,661.69 acres (233.3 km2) Adjacent to the Kennedy Space Center, this barrier island has a variety of recreational activities including hiking, boating, and fishing. The Seminole Rest features an ancient Native American mound, and Eldora Statehouse shows historic life on the lagoon. Florida's longest undeveloped Atlantic beach surrounds Mosquito Lagoon, which is home to dolphins, manatees, and sea turtles, along with a variety of sea grasses.[18]
Cape Cod Red and white lighthouse next to a house Atlantic coast:
Massachusetts
41°57′N 70°00′W / 41.95°N 70.00°W / 41.95; -70.00 		June 1, 1966 43,608.48 acres (176.5 km2) Beyond its nearly 40 miles of beaches, this historic area has Marconi Station, the Three Sisters Lighthouses, and the former North Truro Air Force Station. Cranberry bogs, marshes, and hiking trails provide a look into the flora and fauna of Cape Cod.[19]
Cape Hatteras Black and white lighthouse on a beach Atlantic coast:
North Carolina
35°18′N 75°31′W / 35.30°N 75.51°W / 35.30; -75.51 		January 12, 1953 30,350.65 acres (122.8 km2) Located in the Outer Banks, Cape Hatteras is known for its Bodie Island and Cape Hatteras Lighthouses. Popular recreation activities include windsurfing, birdwatching, fishing, shell collecting, and kayaking. Constantly changing from ocean activity, this barrier island provides refuge for the endangered piping plover, seabeach amaranth, and sea turtles.[20]
Cape Lookout Walkway over dunes leading to a lighthouse Atlantic coast:
North Carolina
34°37′N 76°32′W / 34.61°N 76.54°W / 34.61; -76.54 		March 10, 1966 28,243.36 acres (114.3 km2) Cape Lookout National Seashore is made up of three islands of the Outer Banks, accessible only by boat. It is known for its wild horses and the Cape Lookout Lighthouse. Hiking, camping, fishing, and birdwatching are popular recreational activities. It is also home to two historic villages.[21]
Cumberland Island Narrow barrier island with trees, shrubs, sand, and ocean Atlantic coast:
Georgia
30°50′N 81°27′W / 30.83°N 81.45°W / 30.83; -81.45 		October 23, 1972 36,415.13 acres (147.4 km2) Accessible only by boat, Cumberland Island is the site of the Plum Orchard estate, Thomas Carnegie's ruined Dungeness mansion, and an African Baptist church near sandy beaches and marshes. The museum on the mainland exhibits Timucua Indian history, Nathaniel Green and Eli Whitney's works, and War of 1812 battles.[22]
Fire Island Wooden walkway between trees Atlantic coast:
New York
40°42′N 72°59′W / 40.70°N 72.98°W / 40.70; -72.98 		September 11, 1964 19,579.47 acres (79.2 km2) Fire Island, a barrier island south of Long Island, has the historic William Floyd House and Fire Island Lighthouse. The beaches and dunes are complemented by a sunken forest, wetlands, and seventeen communities.[23]
Gulf Islands Semicircular red fort on the beach Gulf coast:
Florida, Mississippi
30°22′N 86°58′W / 30.36°N 86.97°W / 30.36; -86.97 		January 8, 1971 137,990.97 acres (558.4 km2) Seven main islands have four historic forts built by the Spanish and Americans that were used for defense in the War of 1812 and Civil War. Apache Indians once lived here, including Geronimo. There are nature trails for wildlife viewing and long beaches for snorkeling, biking, and other activities.[24]
Padre Island Dunes at the beach Gulf coast:
Texas
27°00′N 97°23′W / 27°N 97.38°W / 27; -97.38 		April 6, 1968 130,434.27 acres (527.8 km2) Padre Island, the world's longest undeveloped barrier island, is a nesting ground for the Kemp's ridley sea turtle and a migratory site for least terns, brown pelicans, and piping plovers. Malaquite Beach provides a variety of recreational activities, and Novillo Line Camp has the remains of a cattle ranch. The military used part of the island as a bombing range during WWII.[25]
Point Reyes Steep cliffs by a rocky ocean and beach Pacific coast:
California
38°00′N 123°00′W / 38.00°N 123.00°W / 38.00; -123.00 		October 20, 1972 71,067.78 acres (287.6 km2) Historic locations on Point Reyes Peninsula include the Point Reyes Lighthouse and Lifeboat Station and a recreated Coast Miwok village. Gray whales can be seen as they migrate near the seashore, and tule elk and elephant seals populate the wilderness area of cliffs and ridges. Also part of a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve (Golden Gate Biosphere Reserve). [26]

National lakeshores

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Name Image Location Date established[1][16] Area[1] Description
Apostle Islands Waves crashing into a rocky shore Wisconsin
46°58′N 90°40′W / 46.97°N 90.66°W / 46.97; -90.66 		September 26, 1970 69,371.89 acres (280.7 km2) Twenty-one islands and shoreline on the northern tip of Wisconsin on Lake Superior offer a variety of recreation opportunities, including scuba diving at four shipwrecks. It is known for its sandstone sea caves, a few old growth remnant forests, natural animal habitats, and eight lighthouses, the most at any NPS site.[27] Eighty percent of the land area is protected as the Gaylord Nelson Wilderness.[28]
Pictured Rocks Rounded rock tower jutting into the lake Michigan
46°34′N 86°19′W / 46.56°N 86.31°W / 46.56; -86.31 		October 15, 1966 73,235.83 acres (296.4 km2) The Pictured Rocks are colorful sandstone cliffs jutting in Lake Superior from the Upper Peninsula. Sea caves around them become climbable ice caves in the winter and waterfalls also freeze into curtained formations. The five-mile-long Great Sable Dunes stand over 300 ft (91 m) high near the 1874 Au Sable Light. A portion is protected as the Beaver Basin Wilderness.[29]
Sleeping Bear Dunes People on sandy dunes overlooking farmland and the lake Michigan
44°55′N 86°01′W / 44.91°N 86.02°W / 44.91; -86.02 		October 21, 1970 71,198.48 acres (288.1 km2) Sand dunes reaching 450 ft (140 m) above Lake Michigan on 4 sq mi (10 km2) of glacial moraines are the centerpiece of one of the state's most popular areas for hiking, camping, and canoeing. Two wilderness islands, marshy wetlands, and maple forests are home to more than 1500 plant and animal species living near historic farmsteads.[30]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g The National Parks: Index 2012–2016 (PDF). Washington, D.C.: National Park Service. ISBN 978-0-16-093209-0. Retrieved January 28, 2017.
  2. ^ "Annual Visitation by Park Type or Region for: 2017 By Park Type". Integrated Resource Management Applications Portal. National Park Service. Retrieved February 16, 2019.
  3. ^ Waterman, Jon (August 6, 2020). "Water, Sand and Plenty of Elbow Room on 8 Wild, Protected Coastlines". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved August 13, 2020.
  4. ^ a b Saunders, Stephen; et al. (August 2012). "Atlantic National Seashores in Peril The Threats of Climate Disruption" (PDF). National Resources Defense Council. Retrieved February 16, 2019.
  5. ^ "National Seashores: On the Front Line of Climate Change". Coastal Review Online. November 7, 2012. Retrieved February 17, 2019.
  6. ^ Pendleton, Elizabeth A.; et al. (2007). "Coastal Change-Potential Assessment of Sleeping Bear Dunes, Indiana Dunes, and Apostle Islands National Lakeshores to Lake-Level Changes" (PDF). U.S. Geological Survey. Retrieved February 18, 2019.
  7. ^ "[USC03] 16 USC 577a: Conserving shore line beauty for recreational use of public lands in northern Minnesota; regulation of logging". United States Code. Office of the Law Revision Counsel. Retrieved February 17, 2019.
  8. ^ a b c Binkley, Cameron (2007). The Creation and Establishment of Cape Hatteras National Seashore: The Great Depression through Mission 66 (PDF). National Park Service.
  9. ^ "National Park Service: Atlantic and Gulf Coasts Recreation Area Survey (Summary of Findings and Recommendations)". National Park Service. Retrieved February 17, 2019.
  10. ^ Unrau, Harlan; Williss, G. Frank (1983). Administrative history: expansion of the National Park Service in the 1930s (PDF). National Park Service. p. 155.
  11. ^ Wirth, Conrad (1980). "Parks, Politics, and the People (Chapter 9)". University of Oklahoma Press. Retrieved February 17, 2019 – via National Park Service.
  12. ^ a b Mackintosh, Barry (2005). The National Parks: Shaping the System. U.S. Department of the Interior. pp. 73–75. ISBN 978-0-912627-73-1.
  13. ^ Runte, Alfred (1997). "National Parks: The American Experience (Chapter 11)". University of Nebraska Press. Retrieved March 8, 2021.
  14. ^ Thiele, Rebecca. "Park Service: Indiana Dunes Shouldn't Be A National Park". WBAA. Retrieved February 17, 2019.
  15. ^ Carden, Dan; Pete, Joseph S. (February 15, 2019). "Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore now is America's newest national park". The Times of Northwest Indiana. Retrieved February 17, 2019.
  16. ^ a b "National Park System Areas Listed in Chronological Order of Date Authorized under DOI" (PDF). National Park Service. June 27, 2005. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 11, 2012. Retrieved January 18, 2010.
  17. ^ "Assateague Island National Seashore". National Park Service. Retrieved January 22, 2011.
  18. ^ "Canaveral National Seashore". National Park Service. Retrieved January 22, 2011.
  19. ^ "Cape Cod National Seashore". National Park Service. Retrieved January 22, 2011.
  20. ^ "Cape Hatteras National Seashore". National Park Service. Retrieved January 22, 2011.
  21. ^ "Cape Lookout National Seashore". National Park Service. Retrieved January 22, 2011.
  22. ^ "Cumberland Island National Seashore". National Park Service. Retrieved January 22, 2011.
  23. ^ "Fire Island National Seashore". National Park Service. Retrieved January 22, 2011.
  24. ^ "Gulf Islands National Seashore". National Park Service. Retrieved January 22, 2011.
  25. ^ "Padre Island National Seashore". National Park Service. Retrieved January 22, 2011.
  26. ^ "Point Reyes National Seashore". National Park Service. Retrieved January 22, 2011.
  27. ^ "Apostle Islands National Lakeshore". National Park Service. Retrieved January 22, 2011.
  28. ^ "Visit Wilderness". wilderness.net. Retrieved December 14, 2023.
  29. ^ "Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore". National Park Service. Retrieved January 22, 2011.
  30. ^ "Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore". National Park Service. Retrieved January 22, 2011.
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to National Seashores of the United States.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to National Lakeshores of the United States.
Wikivoyage has a travel guide for National scenic areas in the United States.

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