| Cape Hatteras National Seashore | |
|---|---|
IUCN category V (protected landscape/seascape) | |
.jpg) Aerial view of the lighthouse | |
   | |
| Location | Outer Banks, Dare County & Hyde County, North Carolina, USA |
| Nearest city | Nags Head, North Carolina |
| Coordinates | 35°18′13″N 75°30′41″W / 35.30361°N 75.51139°W |
| Area | 30,351 acres (122.83 km2)[1] |
| Established | January 12, 1953 |
| Visitors | 2,862,844 (in 2022)[2] |
| Governing body | National Park Service |
| Website | Cape Hatteras National Seashore |
Cape Hatteras National Seashore is a United States national seashore which preserves the portion of the Outer Banks of North Carolina from Bodie Island to Ocracoke Island, stretching over 70 miles (110 km), and is managed by the National Park Service. Included within this section of barrier islands along N.C. 12, but outside the national seashore boundaries, are Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge and several communities, such as Rodanthe, Buxton, and Ocracoke. Cape Hatteras is a combination of natural and cultural resources, and provides a wide variety of recreational opportunities.
Once dubbed the "Graveyard of the Atlantic" for its treacherous currents, shoals, and storms, Cape Hatteras has a wealth of history relating to shipwrecks, lighthouses, and the US Lifesaving Service. The islands also provide a variety of habitats and are a valuable wintering area for migrating waterfowl. The park's fishing and surfing are considered the best on the East Coast.
- ^ "Listing of acreage – December 31, 2011" (XLSX). Land Resource Division, National Park Service. Retrieved December 26, 2012. (National Park Service Acreage Reports)
- ^ "NPS Annual Recreation Visits Report". National Park Service. Retrieved July 23, 2023.