North Carolina's Outer Banks

North Carolina has an amazing history, particularly along the Outer Banks. The Outer Banks is a chain of barrier islands that stretch along the Atlantic Seaboard, 90 miles south of Norfolk, Virginia.

The Outer Banks are surrounded by 900 square miles of water, giving it the third largest estuary system in the world. A natural location for wildlife refuges, maritime forests, and sand dunes. In fact, Jockey's Ridge State Park has the highest sand dunes on the East Coast.

Among the many natural and historical locations that draw visitors to explore the Outer Banks, is Roanoke Island.

Roanoke Island is well known as the site where Sir Walter Raleigh attempted, and failed, to establish a permanent English settlement with his Roanoke Colony in the late 16th century. The fate of the final group of colonists has lead to extensive investigations into what became of the "Lost Colony", a mystery that to the best of my knowledge has not been solved to this day.

There are multiple lighthouses along the Outer Banks. The one displayed here is the Bodie Island Lighthouse, a 156-foot tall lighthouse that is set along the coast to the east of Roanoke Island.