Core Banks

Cape Lookout Lighthouse
Core Banks
Geography
Location	SouthernOuter Banks,Carteret County, North Carolina,United States
Coordinates	34°42′23″N76°27′32″W / 34.70639°N 76.45889°W /34.70639; -76.45889
Administration
United States
Nearest city	Harkers Island, NC
Governing body	National Park Service
Demographics
Population	no permanent population
Pop. density	0/km2 (0/sq mi)

TheCore Banks arebarrier islands inNorth Carolina, part of theCape Lookout National Seashore. Named after theCoree tribe, they extend fromOcracoke Inlet toCape Lookout, and consist of two low-relief narrow islands,North Core Banks andSouth Core Banks, and, since September 2011, two smaller islands.New Drum Inlet, Old Drum Inlet and Ophelia Inlet now separate the islands. The Core Banks are now uninhabited. However,Portsmouth, at the north end of the North Core Banks, was once a substantial port, andCape Lookout Village, about one and half miles south of theCape Lookout Lighthouse, contains the historic Lookout Life-Saving Station, aU.S. Coast Guard Station, and several island homes.

Islands can be reached by two vehicle ferries. One ferry crossesCore Sound fromAtlantic to North Core Banks, and another crosses the sound fromDavis to South Core Banks. There are no roads on the islands: vehicles use the beach and four wheel drive tracks. Passenger ferries also take tourists fromHarkers Island to the Cape Lookout area at the south end of South Core Banks.^[1]

Portsmouth Island, on whichPortsmouth Village stands, is a tidal island accessible from North Core Banks at most states of the tide.

TheCape Lookout Coast Guard Station,Cape Lookout Light Station, andCape Lookout Village Historic District are listed on theNational Register of Historic Places.^[2]

The geography of the Core Banks has changed since the mid 19th century. At that time South Core Banks was connected to theShackleford Banks. Over the years inlets have closed and opened in the barrier islands. From north to south these inlets have been Whalebone Inlet, now closed, which separated Portsmouth Island from the Core Banks, Swash Inlet (closed), Old Drum Inlet (closed in 1971 and reopened byHurricane Irene in 2011), New Drum Inlet (opened by theU.S. Army Corps of Engineers in 1971), Ophelia Inlet (opened byHurricane Ophelia in 2005^[3]), Cedar Inlet (closed) andBarden Inlet (opened by ahurricane in 1933, separating Shackleford Banks from South Core Banks).^[4]

From northeast to southwest, the islands are located in theTownships of Portsmouth, Atlantic,Sea Level, Stacy, Davis, Smyrna, and Harkers Island, all inCarteret County.

According to theTrewartha climate classification system, Core Banks, North Carolina has ahumid subtropical climate with hot and humid summers, cool winters and year-around precipitation (Cfak). Cfak climates are characterized by all months having an average mean temperature > 32.0 °F (> 0.0 °C), at least eight months with an average mean temperature ≥ 50.0 °F (≥ 10.0 °C), at least one month with an average mean temperature ≥ 71.6 °F (≥ 22.0 °C) and no significant precipitation difference between seasons. During the summer months in Core Banks, a cooling afternoonsea breeze is present on most days, but episodes of extreme heat and humidity can occur withheat index values ≥ 100 °F (≥ 38 °C). Core Banks is prone to hurricane strikes, particularly during theAtlantic hurricane season which extends from June 1 through November 30, sharply peaking from late August through September. During the winter months, episodes of cold and wind can occur withwind chill values < 10 °F (< -12 °C). Theplant hardiness zone in Core Banks is 8b with an average annual extreme minimum air temperature of 15.3 °F (-9.3 °C).^[5] The average seasonal (Dec-Mar) snowfall total is < 2 inches (< 5 cm), and the average annual peak innor'easter activity is in February.

According to theA. W. Kuchler U.S.potential natural vegetation types, Core Banks, North Carolina would have a dominant vegetation type ofLive oak/Sea OatsUniola paniculata (90) with a dominant vegetation form ofCoastalPrairie (20).^[8]

• 
  Access by ferry
• 
  Cape Lookout Lighthouse and Keeper's Quarters.
• 
  View fromCape Lookout Lighthouse looking North East
• 
  Cape Lookout Coast Guard Station
• 
  Portsmouth church
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  Bodyboarding nearGreat Island cabins
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  Surf fishing
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  Recreational vehicle customized for beach driving and surf fishing.
• 
  In 1976, about 1,500 vehicles were removed from the island.^[9] Few remain.
• 
  Many shipwreck remains can be found on the beaches^[10]
• 
  Confusing wave patterns at the beach at Cape Lookout point. Waves are coming from several directions.
• 
  Fires are allowed on the beach

34°42′23″N76°27′32″W / 34.70639°N 76.45889°W /34.70639; -76.45889

• Barrier islands of North Carolina
• Beaches of North Carolina
• Islands of Carteret County, North Carolina
• Outer Banks

• Articles using NRISref without a reference number
• Pages using gadget WikiMiniAtlas
• Articles with short description
• Short description is different from Wikidata
• Coordinates on Wikidata