Katama Section of Edgartown, MA

 airport, beach, farm, bay, conservation, retreat centre (spiritual), plain, glacial

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Katama is the section of Edgartown roughly bounded on the east by Katama Bay, on the south by the Atlantic ocean, on the west by Edgartown Great Pond, and on the north by Cleveland Town Road or South Water Street. The geography is characterized by a flat plain that recedes from Edgartown village to the Atlantic ocean. The name "South Beach" refers to the Atlantic ocean beach that runs the length of the island, but is most commonly associated with the public beach that runs from Herring Creek Rd east to Wasque Point at the south-east end of Chappaquidick, defining the southern end of Katama. In early 2007 a severe winter storm broke through the barrier beach connecting Katama to Chappaquidick, recreating Chappaquidick as an island (this is not shown on the 2007 wikimap). Also located on the Katama plain is the [[Katama Airport]], a dirt field for small airplanes with the Right Fork Diner (It is one of the few beaches in the country where it is possible to fly to the beach), the Katama and Herring Creek Farms, and the Winnetu and Mattakesett Resorts. The weather on the Katama plains is impacted by its location adjacent to the Atlantic ocean. Cool breezes and warm sunny weather punctuated by intermittent Atlantic storms characterize the summer months. The South Beach environment during the months of July, August and September defines the best of summer beach living. Some consider early fall to be the best season on the plains with beaches emptied of the summer crowd, warm days punctuated by cool dry nights, and large numbers of migrating birds and Monarch butterflies. Come November winter sets in with summer breezes changing to frigid winds whipping off the water - not a great place to visit. Spring is generally characterized by rainy wet weather, proliferation of the "tick" population (peaks in June and quickly falls off in July as drier weather prevails), wildflowers in the meadows and on the plains, and the return of the migrating birds.

The origins of the Katama plains derive from the last ice age. As the glacier retreated, melting water spilled small rocks and dirt that washed away from the receding glacier creating the flat, gently sloping plain that leads to the Atlantic ocean. Large chunks of this plain are occuped by Katama and Herring Creek farms, permanently protected from development and continuing to function as farms. The Katama Airfield has grass runways and is bounded by Herring Creek Road and Mattakesett Way and is also permanently protected from deelopment.