Question 1: Today’s image features a maritime forest in Cumberland Island National Seashore. Where are we?
- Georgia
- Florida
- South Carolina
Answer: Georgia
Fact: Cumberland Island National Seashore in Georgia is renowned for its untamed natural beauty, featuring windswept beaches, salt marshes, and a maritime forest. It also preserves historical remnants, such as the ruins of Dungeness, a once-grand estate built by the Carnegie family. Now, the island is safeguarded as a national seashore.
Question 2: What makes maritime forests rare?
- They only grow in deserts
- They need high altitudes
- They survive in salty, coastal conditions
Answer: They survive in salty, coastal conditions
Fact: Maritime forests are unique because they grow in coastal areas where most forests cannot survive. They withstand harsh conditions like salt spray, sandy soil, strong winds, and hurricanes, serving as a vital and resilient barrier between the land and the ocean.
Question 3: What kind of animals are armadillos, a common sight in the maritime forest of Cumberland Island?
- Reptiles
- Mammals
- Amphibians
Answer: Mammals
Fact: Armadillos may resemble small armored tanks, but they are actually warm-blooded mammals. On Cumberland Island, they are often spotted rummaging through the underbrush, quietly digging for insects.