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2016 Map of Howard Reef

Name: 2016 Topographic Map of Howard Reef
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2016
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2016

About this map

Ocracoke Island and the surrounding waters of the Outer Banks define this coastal landscape on the edge of the Atlantic Ocean. This 2016 survey highlights the thin barrier of sand and marsh that separates the ocean from the Pamlico Sound. Much of the land is preserved as part of the Cape Hatteras National Seashore, maintaining a profile of the island's natural features such as First Hammock Hills and Knoll Cedars.

Maritime navigation is the primary theme of the area, as evidenced by the numerous named shoals and inlets. In addition to the eponymous Howard Reef, the map identifies Clark Reef and dynamic features like Little Swash Opening and The Great Swash. The village of Ocracoke sits at the southwestern tip of the sheet, providing a point of reference for the shifting terrain of Quokes Point and Parkers Hill.