Estuaries of the Sound

Estuaries of the Sound. . An estuary is where water from rivers mixes with salt water from the ocean. The country’s second largest estuary is located here within North Carolina’s Back, Core, and Pamlico Sounds. Its water, nutrients, marsh grasses, and sunlight create a biological engine that supports the plentiful and diverse life of the sounds., These three sounds, and the estuary they create, are sheltered by the barrier islands of the Outer Banks, including the islands within Cape Lookout and Cape Hatteras National Seashores., The estuary created by the Outer Banks is rivaled in size only by that of the Chesapeake Bay. , Plants and creatures from across the food web thrive in the estuaries. The rich sea life is an important source of food and income for regional communities., (captions) , Cordgrass provides food and shelter for birds, crabs, crustaceans, and mollusks. , The sharp claws of a blue crab tear apart shrimp, worms, and even other crabs. , The estuary enclosed by the Outer Banks is a nursery and home to many fish. , Tricolored herons stab their long beaks into the muddy waters to feed on crabs, fish, and insects. , Watch for osprey flying over open water, searching for fish to eat.