Muskeget Island facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Muskeget Island |
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Muskeget Island
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 Muskeget Island
Location in Massachusetts
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| Location | Nantucket, Massachusetts, United States |
| Elevation | 14 ft (4.3 m) |
Muskeget Island is a small, sandy island located to the west of Tuckernuck Island and Nantucket in Massachusetts. It's a special place known for its unique wildlife and natural beauty. This island is part of the town of Nantucket and is mostly owned by the town.
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Island Shape and Size
Muskeget Island was formed by a huge glacier (a giant sheet of ice) during the last Ice Age. This glacier pushed a lot of sand and rocks, creating the island's shape. The island covers about 292 acres (which is about 1.2 square kilometers).
Muskeget Island is part of a small group of islands. This group includes Dry Shoal, Skiff Island, Tombolo Point, and Adams Island. The highest point on Muskeget Island is about 14 feet (4.3 meters) above sea level.
The northern side of the island has many sand dunes. These are hills of sand shaped by the wind. The southern side is mostly marshes, which are wet, grassy areas. A sandy point helps protect a calm lagoon (a shallow body of water) on the island.
Island History
Muskeget Island was once part of Dukes County until the year 1887. In April 1980, the National Park Service officially named the island a National Natural Landmark. This means it's a very important natural area that deserves to be protected.
Amazing Animals
Muskeget Island is a very important home for many animals.
Grey Seals
The island is the southernmost place where grey seals come to have their babies. Muskeget Island and Monomoy Island are the two main places where seals gather off the coast of New England. In 2008, more than 2,000 baby seals were born on Muskeget!
Great White Sharks
Because there are so many seals, the waters around Muskeget Island are a popular feeding spot for great white sharks. These large sharks come here to hunt for fish and seals.
Muskeget Vole
The island is also home to a special type of small rodent called the Muskeget vole. This animal is endemic to the island, which means it lives only there and nowhere else in the world.
Island Ecology
The southern part of Muskeget Island is mostly made up of marshes and grassland. The grey seal is the most common large animal you'll find on the island.
The beach vole is the only land mammal living on Muskeget Island. These voles eat stalks, leaves, and seeds from beach grass. They also munch on insects. Some animals that hunt the voles include domestic cats, short-eared owls, northern harriers, and the common garter snake. Sadly, the Muskeget vole is considered a vulnerable species. This means its population is at risk, and it needs protection.
Visiting the Island
Getting to Muskeget Island can be tricky. Most boats cannot get close because of many shoals (shallow areas) and sandbars (underwater ridges of sand).
Kayaking to the island can also be very dangerous. The waters around Muskeget have strong rip currents, large swells, and even whirlpools. If you want to visit, specialized boats that can handle these difficult waters depart from Nantucket Harbor.
