Barred Island’s Tombolo EarthCache
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This earthcache bring you to a wilderness section on Maine’s coast where the forces of nature has formed a tombolo or tied island.
Welcome to Barred Island Preserve that is owned by The Nature Conservancy in Maine (TNC) and is co-managed with The Island Heritage Trust (IHT) through a formal agreement. The preserve is located just off of Stinson Point on the eastern end of the Deer Isle Peninsula and forms part of Goose Cove. Barred Island itself was once owned by Charles Seller and then the famous landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted. His grandniece, Carolyn Olmsted, donated the 2.3 acre island to The Nature Conservancy in 1969. She wanted the site to continue to be available to the people of Deer Isle and elsewhere to enjoy as an undisturbed natural area. George Pavloff, a former owner of Goose Cove Lodge, donated 47.5 acres that allows for public access to the island and which makes up the bulk of today’s preserve. David and Mary Ruggieri donated 1.87 acres in 1997 and Ken and Marnie Crowell donated 7.6 acres in 1999 to bring the total size of Barred Island Preserve to 60.3 acres.
The natural history of this preserve comes in three parts. First the continental collision forces began about 423 million years ago in late Silurian time, and culminated in mid Devonian time, some 383 million years ago caused the igneous activity in the area. Granites were intruded into deeper parts of the crust, while volcanoes dotted the landscape above these intrusions creating the landscape. Then the glacier took their turn covered and moved over the land shaping the rock bound coast into the smooth rocks that forms the preserve. These rocks were finally shaped and the voids filled in by the forces of the longshore currents that flow along the coast today creating this tombolo or tied island.
Only the sand bar along the north end breaks the large, smooth granite ledges surrounding the island, where currents have deposited sand. A tombolo (Italian, from Latin tumulus – mound) or sometimes ayre (Old Norse Eyrr – gravel beach) is a deposition landform in which an island is attached to the mainland by a narrow piece of land. Once attached the island is then known as a tied island. This has formed because the granite island causes wave refraction, depositing sand moved by longshore drift in each direction around the island where the waves meet. At most tides, a wide sandbar connects the island to the mainland. The island is most accessible at low tide. The tied islands, or land-tied islands, as they are often known, are really a type of peninsula where the island is only connected to land by a tombolo - a spit of beach materials connected to land at both ends.
At the posted coordinates you will find yourself at beginning of the tombolo. Remember this is an earthcache so there is no container just an earth science lesson at an amazing and unique natural feature. To log this cache, you must post a photo of yourself or your hand with your GPS showing a view of the tied island in the background. You should be able to see the layering of the sands and gravels caused by the forces of the waves and current. Email me through my profile the width and height of the tombolo. Please include the name of the earthcache and the number of people in your group in your email. In your log please take the time to describe what you find special about this tied island.
Directions: Take Rte. 15 to Deer Isle. Turn right onto Rte. 15A/Sunset Rd. Turn right onto Goose Cove Rd. Once at the trailhead take the mile-long winding trail that leads you through a variety of forest scenery until you come to a commanding view of a panorama encompassing Isle Au Haut to Mark Island and beyond. Turning back to the main trail, you will shortly discover wonderful beaches on either side of the bar leading to Barred Island.
The preserve is open to the public for careful day use only with no camping or fires. Dogs are not allowed on-site and motor vehicles are prohibited. Leave plants, animals, rocks, and other features on the island as you found them for others to enjoy. Take the time to read the eagle information sign on the shore loop trail before heading out to the island. It will give you information on potential nesting eagles; please follow all written instructions and warnings. If the eagles are nesting the island is off limits to protect the birds. It is the special location of this island that makes it a nesting site for these birds. If the island is closed don’t be disappointed, as you do not need to go to the island for this earthcache just visit the start of the tombolo. The Barred Island Preserve is a coastal natural history treasure chest for the explorer to enjoy but remember “The Nature Conservancy” mission is to preserve the plants, animals, and natural communities that represent the diversity of life on Earth by protecting the lands and waters they need to survive. So please obey all rules, remember that dogs are not permitted and make sure to practice "Carry-in-carry out" to keep this preserve special for the future visitors.
If you enjoy this earthcache you may want to check the Maine Geological Survey located at (visit link)
They have developed a number of information sheets or field localities giving a great deal of information about geologic features. They also have a number of books and maps about Maine’s natural history/ geology that you might find interesting.
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