NC as a Distinct Region Region: ◦A place where the landscape and the habits of the people are much the same. ◦Unique features of a place, both culturally and geographically. NC has four main Regions: tidewater, coastal plain, piedmont, and the mountains All are distinct.

The Tidewater The Tidewater Region  A narrow strip of land that extends along NC’s east coast.  Many bodies of water, lakes, streams, all influenced by the oceans tides.

The Tidewater Many sounds are found within the Tidewater region.  Sound: inland bodies of water that are both fresh and salt water.

The Tidewater Five Major Sounds of North Carolina 1. Currituck 2. Albemarle 3. Pamlico 4. Core 5. Bogue

Currituck Sound

Albemarle Sound

Pamlico Sound

Core Sound

Bogue Sound

The Tidewater Each sound fed by fresh water river Oldest towns in NC near the sounds Great location for trade along river routes and ocean Fishing is an important industry Sediment (soil, clay, gravel) is deposited by the rivers in the sounds – makes them too shallow for large ships

The Tidewater A large portion of tidewater is wetland  Wetland: soil remains saturated with water much of the year. Salt marshes that dot the coast and provide an incubator for sea life such as shrimp are called Estuaries

The Tidewater Barrier Islands: the islands off the coast of NC. They are: “ a large connected series of sand pits”  Most less than two miles across, barely above sea level The most famous of the barrier islands are the Outer Banks  The Outer Banks include “ Jockey’s Ridge”- a huge sand dune that is the highest point on the eastern seaboard (114’)

Barrier Islands North Carolina’s Cape Fear River

Barrier Islands The Cape Fear River Meets The Atlantic Ocean

Barrier Islands The Cape Fear River Passes Through Wilmington, NC

Barrier Islands The Cape Fear River Passes Through Fayetteville, NC

Barrier Islands The Cape Fear Passes Raven Rock, Harnett County, NC

Barrier Islands The Cape Fear River Passes Into Lee County, NC

Barrier Islands The Cape Fear River Splits (Lee/Chatham Counties, NC)

The Tidewater Inlets: low places along the coast that allow seawater to come in and out with the tides. Masonboro Inlet

The Tidewater Most eastern part of the state Gulf Stream - the ocean current heading north, passes by Hatteras, carries warm water from the Gulf of Mexico across the Atlantic to the British Isles “Graveyard of the Atlantic”  Nickname for waters near Cape Hatteras – dangerous due to storms caused by warm Gulf Stream colliding with cold Labrador Current Cape Fear: true break in the island chain; Cape Fear River flows directly into the Atlantic

The Tidewater Other features of the Tidewater  Swamps and lakes  Pocosin: the second most common wetland in the region next to estuaries.  “Swamp on a Hill” (made up of peat and vegetation)  Savannah: a flat grassland with some scattered with pine trees.

The Green Swamp

The Tidewater Lakes:  Lake Mataamuskeet is the largest.  Others include: Pungo, Phelps, Waccamaw

Jockey’s Ridge Sand Dune

Wright Brother’s Memorial (Kitty Hawk)

Elizabeth II (Roanoke Island)

The Lost Colony (Manteo)

Seafood Festival (Morehead City)

Deep Sea Fishing (NC coast)

Kayaking

Coastal Golfing

Ocracoke Island

Sailing (Edenton Bay)