Chincoteague, Island

Chincoteague Island is about 40 miles on up the peninsula near the Maryland border. It is a small fishing town and tourist destination. Just before entering the island we pass by the NASA Wallops Island Flight facility. It is the nations oldest most prolific rocket launching site and where the US space program began. Just beyond Chincoteague is Assateague Island National wildlife Refuge. This refuge is most famous for the wild ponies that live on the island. The Chincoteague volunteer fire department began rounding them up about 80 years ago and selling some of the colts as a fund raiser. They now own the ponies and sell enough colts in July each year to keep the herd at no more than 150 adults that their lease with the refuge requires. The refuge is also a stopping of point for huge flocks of snow geese as well as about 150 other migratory birds, eagles, ospreys, deer, Japanese elk and a squirrel found only on the island. There are also white sandy beaches where we saw many people fishing today but in the summer are covered with sun bathers. This is the southern part of the island and is only about 1/4 mile wide with the beaches on the ocean side and marshes on the west side. You can drive in this area the picture is taken from right in front of where I parked the car.