Great Wass Island facts for kids
Great Wass Island is a beautiful island located in the Atlantic Ocean, right off the coast of Maine in the United States. It's near a town called Jonesport in Washington County. This island is quite large, about 5 mi (8 km) long and 1.5 mi (2.5 km) wide. It's actually the biggest island in a group of over 43 islands known as the Great Wass Archipelago, which stretches out from Jonesport.
You can reach Great Wass Island by a bridge that connects it to Beals Island. From Beals Island, another connection takes you to the mainland. Two other islands, Head Harbor Island and Steels Harbor Island, are located close by to the east. Great Wass Island is part of the Town of Beals, which is also in Washington County.
Discovering Great Wass Island
Great Wass Island covers about 1,700 acres. A large part of the island, about 1,450 acres, is protected as the Great Wass Island Preserve. This preserve helps to protect the island's unique plants and animals. It's a special place for nature lovers and scientists.
Unique Plants and Nature
The inside of Great Wass Island is home to Maine's largest group of jack pine trees. These trees are very important to the island's ecosystem. You can also find other interesting plants here. These include the bakeapple, which is a type of cloudberry (Rubus chamaemorus). Another plant is the deer-hair sedge (Trichophorum cespitosum). One of the most beautiful plants found here is the dragon's mouth orchid (Arethusa bulbosa). These special plants make Great Wass Island a unique place to explore.
