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	Padre Island National Seashore Soundscape / Noise

Sea oats and sunrise over the Gulf of Mexico

NPS photo

Sea oats form the foreground for this photo of sunrise over the Gulf of Mexico, when the only sounds are of shorebirds and the lapping of the nearly glass-smooth surf against beach.

The soundscape is almost completely natural. Few ships or aircraft pass to disturb the natural tranquility. Occasionally military or Coast Guard helicopters fly low over the beach, but these disappear quickly. The only major sources of noise are the vehicles and infrequent portable stereos of visitors near the Malaquite Visitors Center. Few of these venture farther than a few miles south of the end of the park road at the entrance to South Beach.


			Did You Know? The Laguna Madre is one of only six lagoons in the world termed "hypersaline" (i.e. saltier than the ocean)? more...

Last Updated: August 20, 2006 at 12:20 EST