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Cape Hatteras National Seashore
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Cape Hatteras National Seashore | |
|---|---|
| IUCN Category V (Protected Landscape/Seascape) | |
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| Location: | Outer Banks, North Carolina, USA |
| Nearest city: | Nags Head, North Carolina |
| Coordinates: | |
| Area: | 30,319.43 acres 122.70 km² |
| Established: | January 12, 1953 |
| Total Visitation: | 2,260,628 (in 2005) |
| Governing body: | National Park Service |
Cape Hatteras National Seashore preserves the portion of the Outer Banks of North Carolina from Bodie Island to Ocracoke Island, stretching over 70 miles (110 km). Included within this section of barrier islands along N.C. Route 12, but outside the National Seashore boundaries, are Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge and several private communities, such as Rodanthe, Buxton, and Ocracoke.
Once dubbed the "Graveyard of the Atlantic" for its treacherous currents, shoals, and storms, Cape Hatteras has a wealth of history relating to shipwrecks, lighthouses, and the US Lifesaving Service. The islands also provide a variety of habitats and are a valuable wintering area for migrating waterfowl. The park's fishing and surfing are considered the best on the East Coast.
The National Seashore was authorized on August 17, 1937, and established on January 12, 1953. Cape Hatteras National Seashore is co-managed with two other Outer Banks parks, Wright Brothers National Memorial and Fort Raleigh National Historic Site, and is headquartered at Fort Raleigh.
- The National Parks: Index 2001–2003. Washington: U.S. Department of the Interior.
- Official NPS website: Cape Hatteras National Seashore