Editing St. Simons, Georgia (section)

==Geography==
{{climate chart
|St. Simons Island
|42.6|60.5 |3.22
|45.8|63.2 |3.47
|51.7|68.9 |3.88
|58.1|75.0 |2.49
|66.8|82.2 |1.86
|73.1|87.5 |4.84
|75.3|90.4 |4.08
|75.0|88.7 |6.27
|71.6|84.7 |5.76
|62.5|77.8 |4.46
|53.2|70.4 |2.03
|45.4|62.8 |2.64
|units = imperial|float = right|clear = both|source = [http://w2.weather.gov/climate/xmacis.php?wfo=jax/ NOAA]}}St. Simons Island is part of a cluster of [[barrier island]]s and [[marsh]] [[Hammock (ecology)|hammocks]] between the [[Altamaha River]] [[Delta (landform)|delta]] to the north, and St. Simons Sound to the south. Sea Island forms the eastern edge of this cluster, with Little St. Simons on the north and the marshes of Glynn plus the [[Intracoastal Waterway]] to the west.

St. Simons is located at {{Coord|31|9|40|N|81|23|13|W|type:city}} (31.161250, -81.386875),<ref name="GR12">{{cite web|url = https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html|publisher = [[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date = 2011-04-23|date = 2011-02-12|title = US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990}}</ref> midway between Savannah, Georgia and Jacksonville, Florida, and approximately {{convert|12|mi|km}} east of [[Brunswick, Georgia]], the sole [[municipality]] in Glynn County and the county government seat.

=== Climate ===
The [[Köppen climate classification|Köppen Climate Classification System]] rates the climate of St. Simons Island as humid subtropical.<ref>{{Cite web|title = 7(v) Climate Classification and Climatic Regions of the World|url = http://www.physicalgeography.net/fundamentals/7v.html|website = www.physicalgeography.net|access-date = 2015-12-21}}</ref> Ocean breezes tend to moderate the island climate, as compared to the nearby mainland.<ref>{{Cite web|title = University Of Georgia|url = http://georgiaseagrant.uga.edu/article/georgia_coast_101/|website = georgiaseagrant.uga.edu|access-date = 2015-12-21}}</ref> Daytime mean highs in winter range from {{convert|61|to|68|F|C}}, with nighttime lows averaging {{convert|43|to|52|F|C}}. Summertime mean highs are {{convert|88|to|90|F|C}}, with average lows {{convert|73|to|75|F|C}}. The average rainfall is 45 inches per year. Rainfall is greatest in August and September when passing afternoon thunderstorms are typical. Accumulation of snow/ice is extremely rare. The last recorded snow on St. Simons was in 1989.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Christmas Coastal Snowstorm: December 22-24, 1989|url = http://www.weather.gov/ilm/ChristmasSnow1989|website = www.weather.gov|access-date = 2015-12-21|language = EN-US|first = US Department of Commerce, NOAA, National Weather|last = Service}}</ref> The island is located in USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 9a.<ref>{{Cite web|title = USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map|url = http://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/PHZMWeb/#|website = planthardiness.ars.usda.gov|access-date = 2015-12-21|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140227032333/http://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/PHZMWeb/|archive-date = 2014-02-27|url-status = dead}}</ref>

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the CDP has a total area of {{convert|17.7|sqmi|km2}}, {{convert|15.9|sqmi|km2}} of which is land and {{convert|1.7|sqmi|km2}} of it (10 percent) is water.

=== Ecology, vegetation, and wildlife ===
A diverse and complex [[ecology]] exists alongside residential and commercial development on St. Simons Island. The island shares many features common to the chain of [[Sea Islands|sea islands]] along the southeastern U.S. coast, such as sandy beaches on the ocean side, marshes to the west, and maritime forests inland. Despite centuries of agriculture and development, a canopy of [[live oak]]s and other hardwoods draped in [[Spanish moss]] continues to shade much of the island. The abundance of food provided by the marshes, [[Estuary|estuaries]], and vegetation attracts various wildlife on the land, sea, and in the air.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Sherpa Guides {{!}} Georgia {{!}} Coast {{!}} Southern Coast {{!}} St. Simons Island|url = http://www.sherpaguides.com/georgia/coast/southern_coast/st_simons_island.html|website = www.sherpaguides.com|access-date = 2016-01-02}}</ref>

Commonly sighted land and [[Amphibians|amphibious]] animals include [[white-tailed deer]], marsh [[rabbit]]s, [[raccoon]]s, [[mink]]s, [[alligator]]s, [[armadillo]]s, [[terrapin]]s and [[frog]]s. Overhead, along the shore, and in the marshes, a wide variety of native and migratory [[shorebirds]] can be seen year-round. Species include [[sandpiper]]s, [[plover]]s, [[tern]]s, [[gull]]s, [[heron]]s, [[egret]]s, [[hawk]]s, [[osprey]]s, [[cormorant]]s, [[American white ibis|white ibis]], [[brown pelican]]s, and the [[Bald eagle|southern bald eagle]].<ref>{{Cite web|title = Gould's Inlet, St. Simons Island|url = http://www.sherpaguides.com/georgia/wildlife_viewing/colonial_coast/67.html|website = www.sherpaguides.com|access-date = 2016-01-02}}</ref>

The area surrounding St. Simons Island and the Altamaha River delta is an important stopover for migrating shorebirds traveling between [[South America]] and their spawning grounds in the [[Canadian Arctic Lands|Canadian arctic]]. As a result of all this avian activity, Gould's Inlet and East Beach on St. Simons Island have designated stops on the Colonial Coast Birding Trail.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Georgia's Colonial Coast Birding Trail {{!}} Georgia DNR - Wildlife Resources Division|url = http://georgiawildlife.com/node/1344|website = georgiawildlife.com|access-date = 2016-01-02}}</ref>

The waters off St. Simons Island are likewise home to a great variety of sea life, including [[dolphin]]s, [[right whale]]s, a wide diversity of [[Game fish|gamefish]], and the occasional [[manatee]]. On late spring and summer nights, [[loggerhead sea turtle]]s arrive on the beach to lay their eggs. Area naturalists monitor and protect nests, and guided turtle walks are available. Shrimping is still important to the region, and shrimp boats are often seen just off the beaches.

Like most barrier islands, St. Simons Island beaches constantly shift as tides, wind, and storms move tons of sand annually. Along with umbrellas and folding chairs, beach-goers can encounter fast-moving [[ghost crab]]s, [[sand dollar]]s, giant [[horseshoe crab]]s, and moving [[conch]] shells powered by resident [[hermit crab]]s. [[Sea oats]] and [[Morning glory|morning glories]] cover the [[dune]]s along East Beach. Jumping [[Mullet (fish)|mullet]] and tiny [[bait fish]] populate the coastal waters. [[Dolphin]] sightings are common, particularly off the island's south coast.

=== Cannon's Point Preserve ===

In September 2012, following an 18-month fund-raising effort, the St. Simons Land Trust acquired a 608-acre tract of undeveloped land in the northeast portion of the island. The acreage includes maritime forest, [[salt marsh]], tidal creek, and river shoreline, as well as ancient shell [[midden]]s and remains of the John Couper plantation of the early 19th century.

The Preserve is open to the public on Saturdays, Sundays, and Mondays, 9 AM-3 PM, for hiking, bicycling, bird-watching, and picnicking. The Preserve also features a launch site for kayaks, canoes, and paddleboards and an observation tower at the north end.<ref>{{Cite web|url = http://www.sslt.org/pro_cpp_visit.php|title = Visit Cannon's Point Preserve|access-date = 2016-01-02|website = St. Simons Land Trust|publisher = St. Simons Land Trust, Inc.|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20151222091834/http://www.sslt.org/pro_cpp_visit.php|archive-date = 2015-12-22|url-status = dead}}</ref>