Gateway to the Atlantic

Gateway to the Atlantic. . , Formed by a hurricane in 1846, Oregon Inlet connects the Atlantic Ocean with Pamlico Sound and a maze of inland waterways. Forming a 3,000-square mile estuary, these waters offer crucial habitat for commercially important fish, shrimp, and shellfish species. Over 95% of North Carolina's seafood species use Pamlico Sound as a nursery, thriving in the nutrient rich shallow water and seagrass beds., Named after the first ship to pass through, the inlet is one of the few regional access points to the Atlantic Ocean, making it a busy thoroughfare for recreational and commercial fishing vessels. Since 1883, members of the United States Lifesaving Service and the United States Coast Guard have heroically watched over Oregon Inlet, protecting thousands of mariners and keeping the vital waterway open., (captions) , Connecting the Islands , Prior to 1963, a vehicle ferry kept traffic flowing between the northern Outer Banks and Hatteras Island. Today the inlet is spanned by the 2.8-mile Marc Basnight Bridge. , , Oregon Inlet Camping , A view of the newly constructed Oregon Inlet Campground in 1966 with Oregon Inlet in the background. Today, the campground attracts thousands of campers a year., Oregon Inlet Fishing Center , The Oregon Inlet Fishing Center has provided fishing services since the 1950s, and continues to serve customers from around the world., The Herbert C. Bonner Bridge, 1963-2019.