Smack embindini woNxweme oluseMpuma, malunga neeyure ezintathu ngemoto usuka ePhiladelphia, iAssateague Island sisiqithi esimnandi, esilondolozwe ngokukodwa kwintlango engaselunxwemeni ecaleni kweAtlantic. Ukuthatha iihektare ezingama-48,000, ayisihlali nje sesona siqithi sikhulu phakathi kweAtlantiki ukuba sibe nokuqhubeka kweendawo zokuhlala ezingaselunxwemeni - ikwenza oko kungaphazanyiswa mntu.
I-ecosystem apha ixabiseke kakhulu, enyanisweni, kangangokuba ithatha iiarhente ezintathu ezahlukeneyo ukuyilawula (Inkonzo yeSizwe yePaki, i-U.S yeNtlanzi kunye neNkonzo yezeNdalo, kunye neSebe leMithombo yeNdalo. Yongeza kuloo nto yokuba esi siqithi sahlulwe phakathi kwamazwe amabini ahlukeneyo - iMaryland neVirginia- kwaye kulula ukubona ukuba kutheni abahambi behlala bephosa izandla zabo bedidekile ngaphambi kokuba babeke unyawo kunxweme olunamagingxi-gingxi.