2002 Map of Howard Reef

About this map

Ocracoke Island serves as the thin, shifting barrier between the expansive Pamlico Sound and the Atlantic Ocean in this coastal survey. Much of the land is preserved under the Cape Hatteras National Seashore, where the terrain is defined by low-lying maritime features such as Hammock Oaks and Knoll Cedars. The map records a landscape shaped by water and wind, from the tidal cuts of Little Swash Opening and Sand Hole Cr to the slightly elevated grounds of Parkers Hill and First Hammock Hills. Small outposts like Cass Williams Camp and Dicks Camp are scattered along the sound side of the island, suggesting a history of seasonal or maritime use rather than dense permanent settlement. Offshore, the namesake Howard Reef sits submerged in the sound, illustrating the complex shoals and waterways that have long challenged navigators along the Outer Banks.