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South End
Yep, this is actually the southern end of the island! It's the location of the Ft. Fisher State Recreation Area and the North Carolina Aquarium at Ft. Fisher. The only way to get out where we'll be venturing is with a 4x4 vehicle, and our Zork is that and ever so much more!
Wildlife: From ibis to crabs, this end of the island is filled with animals that make the estuaries and forests their homes. We can teach you about them or just let you stare at 'em. Remember your binoculars to see all the birds!
Ecosystems: In a relatively small area, there are coastal and marsh ecosystems at the south end. You can just wander through it or learn all about it.
Shell and shark tooth hunting: Because the South end is so long (several miles from Fort Fisher to the end), there can be all kinds of great shells just waiting to be collected. There are also several locations where we always find shark teeth.
Fort Fisher Hermit: No, this isn’t a local crab, but a man who lived as a hermit on the island for 17 years. We’ll visit where he lived and learn about his life on the island.
Maritime forest ecosystem: An ecosystem that most people don't really think about on a barrier island is the forest. We'll walk through the forests, learning about the trees and animals that live there. It's actually one of the most interesting areas and in the summer...it's in the shade!
Rock revetment: Because of the shape of the shoreline and unrelenting effects or water and wind, a wall with very large boulders has been erected to protect the Fort. Learn about the efforts being made to protect this historic place as we walk around under those funny "leaning" trees, which are some of the most recognizable sites of Ft. Fisher.
Coquina rocks: These rocks are a natural formation and unique to the Southeastern coastline. Homes have been made from it and these particular rocks are home for some very interesting sea creatures.
Fort Fisher: Learn about the history of the Fort itself. Fort Fisher was one of the most important Confederate Forts, and its fall to the North was one incident that defined the end of the war.
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