2013 Map of Horsepen Point

About this map

Horsepen Point stands as a prominent finger of land reaching into the waters of Core Sound, part of a complex barrier island system along the North Carolina coast. This 2013 survey documents the dynamic interaction between the mainland-facing islands and the thin ribbon of the South Core Banks, which separates the sound from the Atlantic Ocean. The landscape is defined by an intricate network of marshes, shoals, and small islands with evocative local names such as Cowpen Island, Hogpen Bay, and Sheep Pen Creek, suggesting a history of maritime husbandry and coastal utilization. Significant geographical features like the High Hills and Guthrie Hammock provide subtle elevation among the tidal flats. For those studying the evolution of the Outer Banks, the map clearly delineates the shifting boundaries of Bare Sand Beach and the various islands like Teal Island and Rush Island that shape this fragile maritime environment.