Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge
United States National Wildlife Refuge in Virginia / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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The Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge is a 14,000-acre (57 km2) wildlife preserve operated by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. It is primarily located on the Virginia half of Assateague Island with portions (only about 3%) located on the Maryland side of the island, as well as Morris Island and Wildcat Marsh. Mostly composed of beach, dunes, marsh, and maritime forest, the refuge contains a large variety of wildlife animals and birds, including the Chincoteague Pony.[1] The purpose of the refuge is to maintain, regulate and preserve animal and plant species as well as their habitats for present and future generations.
Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge | |
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IUCN category IV (habitat/species management area) | |
Location | Accomack County, Virginia / Worcester County, Maryland |
Nearest city | Chincoteague, Virginia |
Coordinates | 37°57′15″N 75°19′00″W |
Area | 14,000 acres (57 km2)[1] |
Established | 1943 |
Governing body | U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service[1] |
Website | Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge |
Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge is one of the most-visited wildlife refuges in the country, drawing 1.5 million annual visitors via neighboring Chincoteague, with most arriving in the summer for the public beach.[2] The refuge is also popular for the Chincoteague Island Pony Swim, in which the refuge's herd of ponies is rounded up and corralled before swimming the channel to Chincoteague.[3]