The Pamlico Sound
North Carolina's Biggest Lagoon
The Pamlico Sound
The Pamlico Sound is located in North Carolina, and is the largest lagoon on the East Coast. It includes the Roanoke, Core, Pamlico, Bogue, Croatan, Currituck, and the Albemarle Sounds. The Neuse, Pamlico, and Tar Rivers also feed into the Pamlico Sound.
The Importance of Estuaries
Estuaries are very important. They provide habitats to marine animals, and also provide water filtration. When water flows through a habitat such as a salt marsh, the grasses and live roots filter out pesticides, metals, and excess sediments and nutrients. Estuaries also serve as a protectant of coastal areas and wetlands from hurricanes and storm surges. They also protect from severe erosion caused by ice, wind, and water.
Animals Found In the Pamlico Sound
The Pamlico Sound is abundant with many different kinds of wildlife. Dolphins, sea turtles, and seals come often to the Pamlico Sound, with the occasional visits from the rare species of orcas and fin whales. Great white sharks and leatherback turtles, which are endangered, will also show up every now and then.
Threats to North Carolina Estuaries
There are many types of threats to our North Carolina estuaries. Hurricanes and global warming cause sea levels to rise, which then erodes the shoreline. The organisms that have adapted to freshwater are flooded with ocean water. Toxins like weedkiller, gasoline, paint, and pesticides run off into our estuaries, and can harm plants, animals, and humans. Also, fish in the Albemarle Sound have been found to contain mercury, a toxic metallic element.
Work Cited
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pamlico_Sound#Wildlife
- https://cmast.ncsu.edu/cmast-sites/synergy/bluecrab/bscrab.html
- http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/education/kits/estuaries/estuaries03_ecosystem.html
- https://www.thinglink.com/scene/640524804868276226
- http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/animals/green-sea-turtle/#green-sea-turtle-closeup-underwater.jpg
- http://www.learnnc.org/lp/pages/544?ref=search