Croatan Sound
A small and picturesque sound in the Outer Banks.
Where is the Croatan Sound?
The Croatan Sound is located in the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Specifically the sound is located in Dare county and it connects the Pamlico Sound to the Albemarle Sound. It is one of the smaller sounds, but still worth the trip. It is basically what separates Roanoke Island from the mainland essentially creating the island. It is kind of hidden on the Western sides of Roanoke Island but it is still easily accessible.
Why are estuaries important?
Estuaries are often called the nurseries of the sea. They have vast amounts of nutrients because lighter, warmer fresh water mixes with the cooler, nutrient rich water from upwelling which creates a perfect environment for wildlife to thrive. An incredible number of species of birds, fish and other wildlife depend on estuaries for survival and either make the habitat their permanent home or utilize it at certain times of the year for example for spawning. Estuaries are also commonly the economic centers of coastal communities. They are the habitat for nearly of the fish caught in the region, they provide tourism draws because many recreational activities take place in these areas, and they provide transportation. In addition to economic and environmental reason, estuaries provide ecosystem services which are fundamental life supporting processes. They provide water filtration and habitat protection.
The Croatan Sound is known for beautiful scenery:
Plants and Animals in the Croatan Sound
The Croatan Sound is home to a number of different plant and animal species. Most of the Croatan Sound borders highly wooded areas so one of the plants that is around this area is many towering pine trees. Another species that are commonly found in the Croatan Sound are the migrating waterfowl. It is known as part of the "Atlantic Flyway" where birds migrate depending on the season. Bird species such as cormorants, pelicans, ibises, and even egrets and herons are often found on the open water or on the banks of the Sound. There are also really undeveloped areas surrounding the Croatan Sound which are perfect for ducks geese and other fowl.
sf.funcheap.com
This is a photo of a heron, one of the many types of migrating waterfowl that call the Croatan Sound home.
en.wikipedia.org
This is a photo of the many towering pine trees that border the Croatan Sound.
water.weather.gov
This is a photo of the Roanoke River which is one of the many smaller streams and rivers that flow into the Croatan River.
Waterways that feed into Croatan Sound
The Croatan Sound serves as a channel between two other sounds so these are two of the main waterways that feed into the Croatan Sound. These two sounds are the Pamlico Sound and the Albemarle Sound. The other source of the constant flow of water of the Croatan Sound is the many smaller streams that feed into the Albemarle Sound such as the Roanoke and Chowan rivers.
Threats to Croatan Sound and other NC estuaries
Estuaries can be harmed by changes to land surrounding the estuaries and contamination of river and ocean water. Dredging of channels is one way North Carolina sounds are harmed. This process is done to allow large boats to pass through, however, it can increase sediment in the water and harm wildlife. Global warming that is contributing to sea level rise is also a threat to estuaries. The increased sea level could cause an imbalance in the estuary and it can also cause too much erosion. Somewhat counter intuitively, too many resources can also be a threat to the estuaries. When there is sewage water, toxic chemicals, polluted air, fertilizer, or fecal matter that makes its way to the estuary, the area can be overwhelmed with resources and have something called an algae bloom. This limits the amount of sunlight in the estuary and many animals can die. Most things related to human contamination or change in the environment have the potential to be threatening to estuaries including the Croatan Sound.