Cape Lookout National Seashore

Illustration: An aerial view of Cape Lookout National Seashore in
North Carolina.

 Cape Lookout National Seashore in north Carolina is a natural sculpture that has never been completed. Winds and waves are constantly changing this 55-mile-long chain of barrier islands. Storms open new inlets and bury old ones, and the pounding ocean never stops eating away at the shoreline. Not even historic Cape Lookout Lighthouse at the southern end of the national seashore is safe from the elements. It has survived many hurricanes, but today is fighting a losing battle with the waves.

Only the toughest plants can survive here. The most important is sea oats, a hardy grass whose deep, weblike roots help anchor the sand. At the northern tip of the seashore is Portsmouth Village. Establishes as a fishing port in 1753, it is a quiet place today. The few fishing folk who remain are outnumbered by campers, who pitch their tents in the surronding dunes. Arriving by ferry or private boat, visitors come to Cape Lookout Seashore to enjoy it's peaceful beauty, to fish, and to watch migrating birds. Campers must bring with them everything they need, especially fresh water and a tent sturdy enough to withstand the wind. The park has no maintained roads, though many sections are open to four-wheel-drive vehicles.

DID YOU KNOW....One of the earliest historical references to Cape Lookout describes it as "promontorium tremendium", Latin for "fearful headland." The name refers to the dangerous offshore rocks that have caused countless shipwrecks.

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A Special Thanks To Groiler Books.

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