Little Brewster Island

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Aerial view of Little Brewster Island and Boston Light, 2010 Boston Light, on Little Brewster Island.jpg
Aerial view of Little Brewster Island and Boston Light, 2010
Little Brewster Island with Boston Light Boston Light on Little Brewster.jpg
Little Brewster Island with Boston Light

Little Brewster Island is a rocky outer island in the Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area. It is best known as the location of Boston Light, one of only five remaining Coast Guard-staffed lighthouses in the United States, and an important navigation aid for traffic to and from the Port of Boston. The island is situated some 9 miles (14 km) offshore of downtown Boston and has a permanent size of 3 acres (12,000 m2), plus an intertidal zone of a further 4 acres (16,000 m2). [1]

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Like the neighboring islands of Great Brewster, Middle Brewster and Outer Brewster, Little Brewster Island is named after William Brewster, the first preacher and teacher for the Plymouth Colony. Because it is still the site of an active Coast Guard facility, opportunities to visit the island are restricted, although guided tours of the island and lighthouse are available. [1] [2]

See also

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Great Brewster Island</span>

Great Brewster Island is one of the outer islands in the Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area, situated some 9 miles (14 km) offshore of downtown Boston. The island has a permanent size of 18 acres (73,000 m2), plus an intertidal zone of a further 49 acres (200,000 m2). Unlike the other outer islands, which are low-lying outcroppings of bedrock, Great Brewster is a drumlin which reaches a height of over 100 feet above sea level. It has vegetation cover consisting of Apple Trees, Pear Trees, Sumac, Beach Roses, Grasses and Common Reeds, together with a large Gull colony. The birds are aggressive during nesting season and access by humans, which is by private boat only, is discouraged during that time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Long Island (Massachusetts)</span> Island in Boston Harbor

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Outer Brewster Island</span>

Outer Brewster Island, also known as Outward Island, is one of the outer islands in the Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area and is situated some 10 miles offshore of downtown Boston. The island has a permanent size of 20 acres, and consists of exposed bedrock covered by fertile soil bounded by a rocky shore with steep cliffs. It provides a nesting habitat for coastal water birds, including cormorants, gulls, common eider ducks, glossy ibis and American oystercatchers. The birds are aggressive during their nesting season and access by humans, which is by private boat only, is discouraged during this period.

Middle Brewster Island is a rugged outer island in the Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area, located 9 miles (14 km) offshore from downtown Boston. The island has a permanent size of 13 acres (53,000 m2), reaches a height of 52 feet (16 m) above sea level, and is bounded by sharp cliffs and sunken crags. It has only sparse vegetation and serves primarily as a nesting site for gulls and cormorants. The birds are aggressive during their nesting season and access by humans is discouraged during this period. Access is difficult due to the lack of beaches and inlets, and is only accessible by private boat.

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References

  1. 1 2 "Little Brewster Island Factsheet". Boston Harbor Islands Partnership. Archived from the original on July 18, 2006. Retrieved August 3, 2006.
  2. "Great Brewster Island Factsheet". Boston Harbor Islands Partnership. Archived from the original on June 27, 2006. Retrieved August 11, 2006.


42°19′40.68″N70°53′26.12″W / 42.3279667°N 70.8905889°W / 42.3279667; -70.8905889