2019 Map of Portsmouth

About this map

Portsmouth sits at the northern terminus of the Cape Lookout National Seashore, separated from Ocracoke Island by the waters of the Ocracoke Inlet. This coastal landscape is defined by its maritime history, with numerous small graveyards including the Portsmouth Cem, Wallace Cem, and Babb-Dixon Cem marking the former village site. The map details the complex system of shoals and channels through the Outer Banks, such as Vera Cruz Shoal and Wallace Channel, which have long dictated the movement of vessels between the Pamlico Sound and the Atlantic. Ferry routes such as the Cedar Island - Ocracoke Ferry trace the deep-water paths past landmarks like Mount Vernon Rock and Shell Castle. The shifting geography of the barrier islands is evident in named landforms like Evergreen Island, Sheep Island, and the shoals of the High Hills Inlet.