Ship Island, Barrier island in Harrison County, United States.
Ship Island is a barrier island off the Mississippi coast that stretches with wide sandy beaches, shallow waters, and dunes running along its length. Fort Massachusetts, a sturdy stone structure from the 1800s, stands on the island and shapes its visual landscape.
The island developed as part of natural coastal processes along the Gulf and was later chosen for military purposes. Tropical storms have altered the island's physical form over the decades.
The island functions as part of Gulf Islands National Seashore, preserving the natural and historical elements of the Mississippi Gulf Coast.
Getting to the island requires ferry service, which runs mainly from March through October. Visitors should prepare for heat and bring sun protection for extended time on the beaches.
A hurricane split the island into two sections in 1969, leaving two isolated segments separated by water. A later restoration project reconnected these sections and made them whole again.
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