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Point Reyes National Seashore
Press Kit: Exceptional Park Resources
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Natural Resources
- Over 71,000 acres, including 32,000 acres of wilderness
- 80 miles of unspoiled and undeveloped coastline
- 27 threatened and endangered species
- Over 900 species of flowering plants
- More than 120 species of trees
- 480 bird species in North America (over 45%) have been sighted here and the American Bird Conservancy named Point Reyes as one of 100 "globally important bird areas."
- 65 species of mammals
- 28 species of reptiles and amphibians
- 125 species of fish from 45 families
- The San Andreas Fault separates the Point Reyes Peninsula from the rest of the North American continent
Cultural and Historic Resources
- The cultural history of Point Reyes extends back some 5,000 years to the Coast Miwok Indians, who were the first known inhabitants of the peninsula.
- According to many experts, Sir Francis Drake landed here in 1579, the first European to do so.
- In response to the many shipwrecks in the treacherous coastal waters, key lighthouse and lifesaving stations were established by the United States government in the late 1800s and early 1900s.
- In the early 1800s, Mexican land grantees established ranchos.
- American agricultural operations, begun in the late 1800s, continue to this day in the Seashore's pastoral zone.
- 352 designated historic structures
- 34 cultural landscapes
- 124 archeological sites
- 516,000 objects and documents in the park's museum collection
- Point Reyes Lifeboat Station, a National Historic Landmark
- Morgan Horse Ranch
Infrastructure
- 5 backcountry campgrounds
- 28 water systems
- 150 miles of trails
- approximately 100 miles of roads
- 310 public and administrative structures
- 51 wastewater systems
- 3 visitor centers
- 1 environmental education center
- 1 science and learning center
- 30 restroom complexes
- 34 housing units
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Did You Know?
Even if California and the West gets more rainfall with global warming, earlier snow melt and hotter summers will likely produce more drought stress, increasing susceptibility to pathogens and invasive species.
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Last Updated: June 25, 2007 at 17:33 EST |