- State: TX
- NPCA Region: Texas
- Est. Date: 1968
Travelers might not picture stunning beaches and undisturbed lagoons, marshlands, and coastal prairies when they think of Texas, but Padre Island National Seashore preserves the largest undeveloped barrier island in the world with a range of unspoiled natural features. The varied types of geography at the park make it an ideal stopover for a range of migratory birds on the Central Flyway seeking food and shelter, and the American Bird Conservancy has designated the park a Globally Important Bird Area. An estimated 380 different types of birds inhabit Padre Island over the course of a year—nearly half the total number of bird species in the entire country.
More about Padre Island
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Report A Legacy Threatened NPCA's photo book shows the damage to parks caused by the 2017 hurricanes.
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Blog Post Trivia Challenge: The Longest Stretch of Undeveloped Barrier Island in the World Q: Barrier islands make up about 10 percent of the world’s coastline, and the United States has the greatest number of them with more than 400. The U.S. also holds the world record for the longest stretch of undeveloped barrier island, which happens to be located in a national park. Can you guess which park?
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Blog Post 12 of America’s Best National Park Beaches Still recovering from winter ... or just need some sun and surf in your travel plans this year? NPCA staff pick a dozen of the best beach vacation spots at national parks around the country.
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Report Texas Pride This report profiles the 13 national park sites here in Texas, visited annually by nearly 5.5 million people. They are the pride of our state and economic boons to local communities, with national park tourism providing nearly 5,000 jobs and $308 million annually for state and local economies.
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