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Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation AreaMinutes Away. Worlds Apart.
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Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area
Island Facts
 
 
 
The sizes of the islands in the park change every hour, as the ocean tides ebb and flow on their shores. All totaled, the park islands change from 1,483 to 3,067 acres during the tidal cycle. Learn how island acreage was measured, considering daily tides.

The names of several islands have also changed over time. How we selected the spelling of island names, and alternate names for some islands, are described in, "What's in a name?"

Boston Harbor Inner Islands
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Learn the layout of the park. (PDF)
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View from Spectacle Island  

Did You Know?
Spectacle Island has had one of the most colorful histories of all of the Boston Harbor Islands. Once used as a dumping ground for the city of Boston, Spectacle Island now stands as a symbol of "renewal and reconnection" with over five miles of hiking trails and a solar-assisted visitor center.
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Last Updated: November 04, 2008 at 12:09 EST