There are 34 distinct places in the park, each with its own name: These are the islands and peninsulas that comprise Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area. Each of these places has a natural environment, combined with an overlay of cultural features, that give it its character. The natural environment is described in "Natural Features & Ecosystems."
Structures have been built on many islands. On most of the larger islands, people have changed the land over time. Some sites are valued because of long use by people; others for the evidence of past use that they hold. The places in the cultural environment of the Boston Harbor islands are described in the sections linked above:
"Island Facts" presents the size, location, managing agency, facilities, natural history, historical sketch...and more for each island in the park.
Did You Know?
Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area is one of the very few places in the world where sea drumlins, glacially-formed mounds, may be found. They were formed by retreating glaciers about 15,000 years ago.
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