Life on the Edge

Life on the Edge. . These migrating barrier islands are land's answer to the dynamic Atlantic Ocean. Here, at the confluence of two global ocean currents, strong winds, storms, nearshore currents, and tides continually shift the shoreline, while overall sea level is on the rise. , , This is Cape Hatteras National Seashore. Living in such an energetic location shapes people and their heritage. During your visit, watch for ways previous and current residents live on these moving islands, protect others from danger, study coastal change, and weather storms safely., (captions) , Known as the Graveyard of the Atlantic, storms and treacherous shoals (sandbars) have claimed many ships traveling the ocean currents., In an effort to protect roads and homes from storm damage, the Civilian Conservation Corps and later the North Carolina Department of Transportation built artificial dunes., As the barrier islands migrated and shoreline changed, Cape Hatteras Lighthouse verged on toppling into the ocean. To save it, in 1999, the National Park Service moved the lighthouse 2,900 feet., Meteorologists study weather patterns in Hatteras and geologists research barrier island changes to understand the past and forecast for the future., Barrier islands, thin ribbons of sand, line many of our nation's coasts. Watch for ways the ocean changes these islands.