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Gulf Islands National Seashore

 

 
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Gulf Islands National Seashore
 
 
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Gulf Islands National Seashore offers recreation opportunities and preserves natural and historic resources along the Gulf of Mexico
Gulf of Mexico

The Gulf of Mexico is the ninth largest body of water in the world. Considered a smaller part of the Atlantic Ocean, it is an oceanic basin largely surrounded by the North American continent and the island of Cuba....
 barrier islands of Florida
Florida

Florida is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States of the United States, bordering Alabama to the northwest and Georgia to the northeast....
 and Mississippi
Mississippi

Mississippi is a U.S. state located in the Deep South of the United States. Jackson, Mississippi is the state capital and largest city. The state's name comes from the Mississippi River, which flows along its western boundary, and takes its name from the Anishinaabe language word misi-ziibi ....
. Islands along the Alabama
Alabama

Alabama is a state located in the Southern United States of the United States of America. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west....
 coast were originally considered for inclusion, but as of 2006 none is part of the national seashore.

The Florida portion of the seashore features offshore islands with sparkling white sand beaches, historic fortifications, and nature trails.






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Gulf Islands National Seashore offers recreation opportunities and preserves natural and historic resources along the Gulf of Mexico
Gulf of Mexico

The Gulf of Mexico is the ninth largest body of water in the world. Considered a smaller part of the Atlantic Ocean, it is an oceanic basin largely surrounded by the North American continent and the island of Cuba....
 barrier islands of Florida
Florida

Florida is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States of the United States, bordering Alabama to the northwest and Georgia to the northeast....
 and Mississippi
Mississippi

Mississippi is a U.S. state located in the Deep South of the United States. Jackson, Mississippi is the state capital and largest city. The state's name comes from the Mississippi River, which flows along its western boundary, and takes its name from the Anishinaabe language word misi-ziibi ....
. Islands along the Alabama
Alabama

Alabama is a state located in the Southern United States of the United States of America. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west....
 coast were originally considered for inclusion, but as of 2006 none is part of the national seashore.

Gulf Islands Ns
The Florida portion of the seashore features offshore islands with sparkling white sand beaches, historic fortifications, and nature trails. Mainland features near Pensacola, Florida
Pensacola, Florida

Pensacola is the westernmost city in the Florida Panhandle and the county seat of Escambia County, Florida. As of the United States 2000 Census, the city had a total population of 56,255 and as of 2006, the estimated population was 53,248....
, include the Naval Live Oaks Reservation
Naval Live Oaks Reservation

The Naval Live Oaks Reservation is part of the Gulf Islands National Seashore, and is near Gulf Breeze, Florida, Florida. The Reservation was included in the Seashore's establishment on January 8, 1971, and added to the United States National Register of Historic Places on September 28, 1998....
, beaches, and military forts. All Florida areas are accessible by automobile.

The Mississippi portion of the seashore features sparkling beaches, historic sites, wildlife sanctuaries, islands accessible only by boat, bayous, nature trails, picnic areas, and campgrounds. The Gulf Islands Wilderness offers special protection within the seashore to parts of Petit Bois and Horn Islands.

Considerable damage to public infrastructure occurred as a result of the 2004
2004 Atlantic hurricane season

The 2004 Atlantic hurricane season officially began on June 1, 2004, and lasted until November 30, 2004. These dates conventionally delimit the period of each year when most tropical cyclones form in the Atlantic basin....
 and 2005 Atlantic hurricane season
2005 Atlantic hurricane season

The 2005 Atlantic hurricane season was the most active List of Atlantic hurricane seasons in recorded history, repeatedly shattering previous records....
s which has not been repaired. Visitation to the seashore dropped from 4,939,771 people in 2003 to only 1,689,400 in 2005.

Islands

Principal islands in the seashore (from east to west):
  • Santa Rosa Island
    Santa Rosa Island, Florida

    Santa Rosa Island is a 40-mile barrier island located in the United States U.S. state of Florida, thirty miles from the Alabama state border. The communities of Pensacola Beach, Florida, Navarre Beach, Florida, and Okaloosa Island are located on the island....
  • Perdido Key
    Perdido Key, Florida

    Perdido Key, Florida is an unincorporated community located in Escambia County, Florida, between Pensacola, Florida, Florida and Orange Beach, Alabama....
  • Petit Bois Island
  • Horn Island


  • East Ship Island
  • West Ship Island
  • Cat Island
    Cat Island (Mississippi)

    Cat Island is a barrier island off the Gulf Coast of the United States. The island is named for raccoons which early explorers mistook for cats....


Administrative history

The national seashore
National seashore

A National Seashore, in the United States, is a coast area Federal government of the United Statesly designated as being of natural and recreational significance as a preserved area....
 was authorized on January 8, 1971, administered by the National Park Service
National Park Service

The National Park Service is the List of United States federal agencies that manages all List of areas in the United States National Park System, many U.S....
. The wilderness area was designated on November 10, 1978.

See also

  • List of U.S. Wilderness Areas
    List of U.S. Wilderness Areas

    Four federal agencies of the United States government administer the U.S. Wilderness Areas, which includes 702 wilderness areas and 107,436,608 acres ....
  • Wilderness Act
    Wilderness Act

    The Wilderness Act of 1964 was written by Howard Zahniser of The Wilderness Society . It created the legal definition of wilderness in the United States, and protected some 9 million acres of federal land....
  • Hispanic Heritage Sites (U.S. National Park Service)
    Hispanic Heritage Sites (U.S. National Park Service)

    The National Park System is well endowed to commemorate Hispanic contributions to American Society. Some twenty national parklands represent America's Hispanic heritage....


External links

  • Official NPS website: