• An Assateague wild horse finding shelter in the dunes.

    Assateague Island

    National Seashore MD,VA

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  • Message from the Superintendent

    The planning team is currently in the final stages of drafting the General Managment Plan and beginning the internal review process which includes reviews and revisions. More »

  • Virginia District - Beach Parking Update

    Due to Hurricane Sandy and the March 6 storm, there is limited parking in the Virginia District. As of 4/4/13 parking lot 1 and part of parking lot 2 are open. All parking lots are expected to be open by Memorial Day weekend. More »

  • Hurricane Sandy Photos on flickr

    View images from the Maryland and Virginia districts of Assateague Island National Seashore on our flickr site. More »

Natural Features & Ecosystems

Aerial photo of former inlet. 16 kb

Aerial photo of former inlet

NPS Photo

Despite its relatively small size, less than 18,000 acres, a surprising array of habitats and natural features can be found on Assateague Island. Assateague stretches for 37 miles along the coasts of Maryland and Virginia, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and the Sinepuxent and Chincoteague Bays to the west. Differences in elevation (up to 16 meters in some places) and in the proximity to surrounding water bodies give various areas of the island distinctly different plant populations. Along the seaward side, sandy beaches extend the length of the island. Beyond the beach, natural and human-made dunes protect inland habitats from salt spray and ocean waves, allowing shrub thickets and pine forests to thrive. During periods of rain, many freshwater pools form in depressions in these areas. Some are small and temporary, losing their water to the coarse, sandy soil or evaporation during the spring months. Other, larger ponds provide water for wildlife well into the dry summer months.

From beach to bay, Assateague Island holds a wealth of habitats and natural features. Forests, marshes, beaches, shrublands, grasslands, and dunes, can all be found within the Seashore’s boundaries.

  • Historic Shorelines - Toms Cove, Virginia Historic Shorelines - Toms Cove, Virginia

    View 150 years of shoreline changes on the Tom's Cove Hook. PDF file, 504 kb Read More

Did You Know?

Instead of using tools to open their lunch, seastars pull it apart using tube feet that work like suction cups. 10 kb

Just like people, seastars eat clams, oysters and mussels! Instead of using tools to open their lunch they pull it apart using tube feet that work like suction cups. Then they push their stomach out of their centrally located mouth and into their prey and liquidate it!