Currituck Banks - North Carolina Reserve

Tidal Range

There is an occasional direct overwash from the Atlantic Ocean during major storms. Currituck Sound is brackish due to its distance from an ocean inlet.

River Flow

Currituck Sound receives no direct input from a freshwater river.

Soil Types

Soils are composed of sediments that have not been weathered to the extent that distinct horizons are present in the profiles. The dunes and beach areas of the component consist of excessively well-drained sands of the Newhan series. Back dunes, shrub thicket and maritime forest occur over the slightly moister and low-lying sands of the Duckston and Corolla series. Marshes and seasonal ponds of the component are associated with the poorly-drained sands of the Currituck series that is characterized by a shallow, mucky peat surface layer.

Geology

Currituck Banks separate Currituck Sound from the Atlantic Ocean. Through recent geologic time, these banks have been an unstable, migratory barrier land form, consisting of Holocene and Pleistocene sediments (primarily sand) that shift in response to changes in sea level. Though the banks were previously a series of islands, they are now part of a complex barrier spit that extends about 70 miles from Virginia Beach to Oregon Inlet.

Currituck Banks

Back

Next