Deveaux Bank, South Carolina
  Deveaux Bank | |
| Geography | |
|---|---|
| Location | Atlantic Ocean |
| Coordinates | 32°32′56″N 80°10′52″W / 32.549°N 80.181°W |
| Area | .33 sq mi (0.85 km2) |
| Length | 1 mi (2 km) |
| Width | 1.2 mi (1.9 km) |
| Highest elevation | 3 ft (0.9 m) |
| Administration | |
United States | |
| State |  South Carolina |
| County | Charleston County |
Deveaux Bank is a horseshoe-shaped sand spit island encompassing a 215-acre (87-hectare) bird sanctuary at the mouth of the North Edisto River in Charleston County, South Carolina.[1] It is located on the Atlantic Coast between Edisto Island, South Carolina and Seabrook Island, South Carolina. Its average elevation is three feet.[2] It has approximately 2.75 miles (4.43 kilometres) of sandy beaches on four sides (some of which are completely submerged at high tides) and a tidal dragon on the side facing the mainland.
History
[edit]Deveaux bank was first documented in 1921 and by the 1930s was an established seabird rookery. During World War II, Deveaux Bank was used as a bombing range. The bank was completely submerged by Hurricane David in 1979 and tidal shifts that followed the next spring.[3] Over the next several years the island continued to rebuild as sand was deposited by currents.
Today
[edit]Currents cause the shape of the island to constantly shift. Due to a lack of land predators, the island has become a heavily utilized bird nesting area. It is protected by the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources. Landings may only be done below the high-water line. Dogs are prohibited and overnight camping is also prohibited.
Flora
[edit]Plant species on the island include:
- Russian thistle, Echinops exaltatus
- marsh hay
- camphorweed
- beach elder
- beach tea
- dog fennel
Fauna
[edit]Observed species vary from year-to-year but include:
- Brown pelican
- Royal tern
- Least tern
- Wilson's plover
- Sandwich tern
- Black skimmer
- Tricolored heron
- Snowy egret
- Great egret
- Gull-billed tern
- Willet
- American oystercatcher
- Laughing gull
- Ibis
- Hudsonian whimbrel
References
[edit]- ^ "Deveaux Bank Seabird Sanctuary". South Carolina Department of Natural Resources. Archived from the original on 28 November 2010. Retrieved 19 November 2013.
- ^ "Deveaux Bank, South Carolina, United States". SatelliteView.co. Retrieved 20 November 2013.
- ^ Langley, Lynne (6 August 1991). "Deveaux Bank plays game of hide and seek". The News and Courier. Charleston, SC. Retrieved 19 November 2013.
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