Photo Gallery (U.S. National Park Service)

See a sample of the flora and fauna on this New York Harbor island.

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From the first people here, Lenape Indians, to present day New Yorkers, the oyster has been one of the reasons for New York City's economic success in the U.S. and throughout the world.

Oyster Shells

3168 x 4752
5.9 MB

Many different trees inhabit Governors Island. Unfortunately all trees are non-native. Very early in the island's human history, the Dutch harvested the trees were used to build their new settlement on the lower half of Manhattan.

Open Spaces

3168 x 4752
6.3 MB

Chestnut trees used to be a common site in America, and were prized for their hard wood until it became susceptible to chestnut blight, an Asian fungus. A handful of American Chestnut trees have recently been reintroduced to Governors Island.

Chestnut Sapling

3168 x 4752
7.7 MB

A harbor seal, off the southern tip of Governors Island takes interest in the changes to the island. With all of the harbor traffic it is easy to forget about the marine life here.

Harbor Seal

1132 x 771
0.8 MB

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