Muskeget Island

Muskeget Island
Muskeget Island
National Natural Landmarks
Locator Red.svg
Location of Muskeget Island in Massachusetts
Location of Muskeget Island in Massachusetts
Country United States
State Massachusetts
County Nantucket
Location west of Tuckernuck and Nantucket Island, Massachusetts USA
 - coordinates 41°20′7″N 70°18′15″W / 41.33528°N 70.30417°W / 41.33528; -70.30417Coordinates: 41°20′7″N 70°18′15″W / 41.33528°N 70.30417°W / 41.33528; -70.30417
 - elevation 14 ft (4.3 m)
Muskeget Island

Muskeget Island is a low sandy island to the west of Tuckernuck Island and Nantucket, in the town of Nantucket, Massachusetts.

Contents

Geography

Muskeget Island is part of the terminal moraine marking the maximum extent of the last glacial ice sheet to reach the northeastern coast. It has an area of 292 acres (1.18 km2).[1] The Muskeget Island group contains Dry Shoal, Skiff Island, Tombolo Point, and Adams Island. Much of Muskeget is owned by the town of Nantucket. There are currently two unoccupied shacks on the island, both of which are remnants of old structures.

Muskeget has a high elevation of fourteen feet. Its northern shore is mostly sand dunes, while its southern shore is mainly marshes. A sandy point protects the lagoon.

History

It was part of Dukes County until the 1870s. The island was designated a National Natural Landmark by the National Park Service in April 1980.

Fauna

Muskeget is the southernmost breeding place of Grey Seals. Muskeget Island and Monomoy Island are the primary seal colonies off the New England coast. in 2008, more than 2,000 pups were born on Muskeget. With this large seal population, the waters surrounding Muskeget are an important feeding area for Great white sharks.[2]

The island is also home to an indigenous species of rodent known as the Muskeget Vole.

Access

Muskeget is inaccessible to most boats because of shoals and sandbars. Kayaking there can be very dangerous because of rip currents, swells, whirlpools, and lobster pots. Specialized boats designed to navigate the difficult waters around the Island depart from Nantucket Harbor.

References

  1. ^ [1]
  2. ^ MYERS, K.C. (2010-04-04). "Scientist shares great white shark insight". Cape Cod Times (Hyannis, MA: Cape Cod Media Group). http://www.capecodonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100404/NEWS/4040324. Retrieved 4 April 2010. 



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  • Muskeget — is a low sandy island to the west of Tuckernuck Island and Nantucket, in the town of Nantucket, Massachusetts. The Muskeget Island group contains Dry Shoal, Skiff Island, Tombolo Point, and Adams Island. Much of Muskeget is owned by the town of… …   Wikipedia

  • Adams Island (Massachusetts) — Adams Island was once an island in Massachusetts.It was once part of Tuckernuck. In the 1890 s the westernmost part of Tuckernuck extended almost to Muskeget, and therefore was a barrier beach, protecting the Gravel Islands, Western Dry Shoal,… …   Wikipedia

  • Tuckernuck Island — Tuckernuck (Latitude: 41° 18’N Longitude: 70° 15’W) is an island in the town of Nantucket, Massachusetts, west of Nantucket Island and east of Muskeget. Its name allegedly means a loaf of bread .The island is privately owned by its summer… …   Wikipedia

  • Dry Shoal — Dry Shoal, an exposed sandbar to the north and east of Muskeget Island in the US state of Massachusetts, is a hazard to navigation. Part of the Muskeget Island group, Dry Shoal, was once larger. Now separated from Muskeget by a stretch of fairly… …   Wikipedia

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  • Edgartown, Massachusetts — Infobox Settlement official name = Edgartown, Massachusetts nickname = motto = imagesize = image caption = image mapsize = 250px map caption = Location in Dukes County in Massachusetts mapsize1 = map caption1 = subdivision type = Country… …   Wikipedia

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