Spittal Pond Nature Reserve
| Spittal Pond Nature Reserve, Bermuda | |
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Spittal Pond in Spittal Pond Nature Reserve.
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| Location | Spittal Pond |
| Nearest city | Hamilton |
| Coordinates | 32°18′43″N 64°43′33″W / 32.31194°N 64.72583°WCoordinates: 32°18′43″N 64°43′33″W / 32.31194°N 64.72583°W |
| Area | 60 acres (24 ha) |
| Established | 1999 |
| Visitors | NA (in NA) |
| Governing body | Bermuda Government and the Bermuda National Trust |
| Designated | 11 May 1999 |
| Reference no. | (6UK005) |
| UK Overseas Territories Conservation Forum | UK41006 |
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 60 acres (24 ha). 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.
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 1.4 kilometres (0.87 mi) consisting of the reef line is only 100–200 metres (330–660 ft) 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 12 metres (39 ft) wave height inundating the pond with silt, boulders and trees causing serious disturbance in its ecological conditions. In such circumstances, parts of the lake can become discoloured and malodorous due to the work of sulphur-producing bacteria which thrive in brackish conditions. The reserve is mudflats and salt marsh in 80% of its area, with 10% comprising freshwater, 6% tidal flats, 3% salt marshes and 1% rocky shores 1%. The watershed is formed by hills surrounding which are densely forested.
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