The Boston Harbor Islands National Park, located off the coast of Massachusetts, is a unique archipelago shaped by glacial activity over 20,000 years ago. The park features hundreds of elongated, streamlined hills called drumlins, created as ice melted and retreated from the massive Wisconsin Glaciation. Rising seas eventually flooded these landforms, turning many into islands.
The park preserves distinctive geological, historical, and natural resources, including salt marshes, sandy beaches, seagrass beds, and hardwood forests. A variety of marine life inhabits the waters surrounding the islands, such as lobsters, crabs, clams, striped bass, bluefish, and flounder.
Many islands have signs of human activity, with remnants of campgrounds, homes, military infrastructure, fields, and health facilities. The park is home to several notable landmarks, including Boston Light, the oldest continually operated light station in the US, built in 1716. Additionally, Fort Warren on Georges Island was used as a prison during the Civil War for Confederate officers and government officials.
The park is managed by the Boston Harbor Islands Partnership, a federally legislated body comprising eleven agencies. While some islands can be accessed by car or ferry, others require private boats or seasonal ferries. The park protects an archipelago made of glacial debris, offering opportunities for exploration and discovery of its rich history and natural ecosystems.
Source: https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/images/154204/the-drumlin-islands-of-boston-harbor