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Spittal Pond Nature Reserve is the largest wildlife sanctuary in Bermuda, located close to the Atlantic coast of Smith's Parish. Surrounding the third largest pond in Bermuda, Spittal Pond, it covers an area of . It is one of 13 parks or reserves managed by the Bermuda Department of Conservation Services which protects and conserves environmentally critical areas and habitats. The pond reserve, a wetland site, is one of the seven Ramsar Sites in Bermuda, which was approved on 10 May 1999 for the criteria (i, iii and iv) of its unique characteristics such as its lagoon which is permanently brackish, ecology featuring wet grassland and mangrove forests, seasonal shorebirds, other waterbirds and European eels. ==Geography== Spittal Pond Nature Reserve is situated in the Smith's Parish. The habitat comprises rocky shore habitat which includes limestone pavement formation called "the Checkerboard". Ostensibly fresh water, with no connection to the nearby Atlantic, the pond is in fact brackish. as the ocean can inundate the lake during severe storms. Hurricanes and gales with strong winds are a common feature. Hurricane tides and waves impacts the pond is its south coast line (extending over a length of consisting of the reef line is only off shore. A very thin line of small hillocks separate the pond from the ocean and there are also three low lands through which waves flood the lake during hurricanes; the 2003 hurricane is reported to have caused a wave height inundating the pond with silt, boulders and trees causing serious disturbance in the ecological conditions of the pond. For this reason, parts of the lake can become discoloured and malodorous due to the work of sulphur-producing bacteria which thrive in brackish conditions. The pond is mudflats and salt marsh of 80% area, with only 10% consisting of freshwater, tidal flats form 6%, salt marshes 3% and rocky shores 1%. The watershed is formed by hills surrounding which are densely forested.〔 Climate in the area is subtropical with mild temperatures and humid conditions.〔 The habitat of the reserve is ideal for migratory and resident birds and also water birds.〔 Apart from the main Spittal Pond there are two other smaller ponds adjoining this Ramsar Site, which are excavated ponds (excavated in 1966) for fresh water. The fluctuation in the water is reported to be about depending on the incidence of rain and flooding from the sea during the hurricanes. During low water levels mudflats get exposed in the lake.〔 The dominant geological formation is limestone with fossils of palmetto stumps and fronds embedded in it. Tropical trees, plants and flowers enrich the reserve during summer months. The winter season provides one of the best vistas for visitors walking along the many small trails in the park.〔 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Spittal Pond Nature Reserve」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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