|
Outer Banks, NC
Fast Facts
Welcome to Fast Facts - interesting tidbits of trivia about the
Outer Banks. You'll read about Pirates, Wild Horses, ATV's, Golf,
Birding and more.
 Break
out those 2 wheelers
Bicycling is quite popular here in the Outer Banks. There are bike
lanes on Route 158 and stretches of Route 12 (the ocean road).
Always
adrift...
The Outer Banks are a series of barrier islands made up entirely of
sand - undersea sand bars. These islands are without the keel of
rock that anchors most islands. Due to vegetation, the islands have
stabilized and are suitable for habitation. (Vacationers soaking up
the sun, surf, and sand!).
Graveyard
of the
Atlantic
The waters off the shores of the Outer Banks are known as the
"Graveyard of the Atlantic" where over 500 ships have gone down.
Some of the most notable include:
The Monitor
Built for the Union forces during the Civil War, the Monitor was one
of the first ironclad warships. This ship and it's Confederate
counterpart, the Virginia, were the predecessors of the
submarine. The Monitor and Virginia battled to a draw off the coast
of Virginia in 1862. And on New Year's Eve in 1862, the Monitor went
down off Cape Hatteras during a storm.
U-85
The first Nazi submarine destroyed during World War II by Americans
was sunk off Bodie Island. Apparently, the Germans had a
stranglehold on US supply lines and shipping routes in the early
stages of the war. U-85, a Type VIIb, German submarine went down
after an attack by the USS Roper on April 14, 1942.
Wild
Horses
There are small herds of true Spanish Mustangs, wild since the
1500's, roaming the Islands. As the islands became settled, the
horses were pressed into service for transportation, pulling fishing
nets, and beach patrol with the U.S. Life Saving Service
(predecessor of the Coast Guard). The horse herds split north and
south of Nags Head as the human population grew. Today, horses can
be found in Currituck County (northern beaches) and in Ocracoke
(southern beaches) at the Pony Pens. These horses are wild and
protected by law. Please obey all local laws pertaining to these
animals.
Blackbeard
the Pirate
Edward Teach also known as Blackbeard the Pirate lived, pirated, and
died on the Outer Banks. Blackbeard was very
successful in his chosen occupation being a tall, intimidating man
decorated with cutlasses and pistols. During combat, his beard was
braided with ribbons and he wore lit cannon fuses in his hair.
Edward Teach died in hand-to-hand combat with members of the Royal
Navy at Ocracoke Inlet on November 22, 1718.
Birding
on the Outer Banks
The Outer Banks are part of the "Atlantic flyway". Pea Island is
renowned for its year round birding. Mid-November and December are
the best months to observe southward migrations. Some of the birds
you may see include Peregrines, Glossy and White ibises, American
Bitterns, Black and Surf scoters, Northern Gannets, Double-crested
Cormorants, Red-breasted Mergansers, gulls, terns, ...(a large and
seemingly endless list here). Sightings of rare birds occur
frequently.
The
US Lifesaving Service
The forerunner to the Coast Guard was funded by Congress in 1873 to
establish 29 stations - all but 4 of these were to be located on the
North Carolina coast. The service was established to provide rescue
operations when storms hit the coastal areas. These jobs were
definitely not for the faint of heart - service men died trying to
rescue stranded sailors and travelers.
Golf
Comes to the Outer Banks
And you thought that this was just a beach vacation spot! There are
four 18 hole courses and one 9 hole 'executive' course currently
open with two more courses due to open for the 1995 summer season.
Here's a brief overview of the courses:
Duck Woods Country Club
Southern Shores * 18 holes * Semi-private course * 14 holes parallel
water
Sea Scape Golf Resort
Kitty Hawk * 18 holes * 6200-yard par 72 * Views of the ocean from
many tee boxes
Nags Head Golf Links
Nags Head * 18 holes * 6000-yard par 70 * 18th hole called "one of
the most beautiful holes on the East Coast" by Golf Digest
Ocean Edge Golf
Frisco * 9 holes * 1800-yard 'executive' course * Known as the
"hole-in-one course" with 54 recorded.
Goose Creek Golf and Country Club
Grandy * 18 holes * 6200-yard part 72 * Tight course designed for
enjoyment
The Pointe Golf club
Powells Point * 18 holes * 6000-yard par 71
Holly Ridge Golf
Harbinger * 9 holes * 1800-yard 'executive' course
This
information is from
Southeast Getaway a Southern Vacation and Golf Guide, your source
for Southeastern United States golf and vacation information.
http://www.segetaway.com
|
