False Cape Natural Area Preserve

False Cape Natural Area Preserve is a Natural Area Preserve located in Virginia Beach, Virginia, just north of the state border with North Carolina. One of the most pristine stretches of its habitat type remaining in the mid-Atlantic, it is a one-by-six mile strip of land located on the so-called "False Cape" between the ocean and Back Bay, largely underdeveloped and comprising a variety of habitats, wetland and upland alike. Among the community types found in the preserve are maritime and swamp forest, interdunal wetlands, and Back Bay marshes. It also plays host to various plants and animals rare in Virginia, more than two dozen in all. Many birds also come to the area during the fall and spring migrations.

The preserve was initally part of False Cape State Park, and comprises the formerly undeveloped portions of the park; these were rededicated as a Natural Area Preserve in 2002.

Reference

* [http://www.dcr.virginia.gov/natural_heritage/natural_area_preserves/falsecape.shtml Preserve webpage]