Strange Things That Washed Up On Shore at NC Outer Banks
Strange thanks can wash up on shore on the beaches at the Outer Banks. The islands of the Outer Banks extend out into the Atlantic Ocean. About 50 miles off the coast the Gulf Stream waters and the Labrador Current meet. The waves where the two strong currents meet result in large waves, the largest anywhere else on the East Coast. The Gulf Stream current flows from the south to the north, the Labrador Current flows from the north to the south. The two strong currents can carry strange things. Those strange things can get carried toward the shores of the Outer Banks and end up on the beaches. The frequent strong storms can also push some strange things onto the shore. Through the years beachcombers strolling along the Outer Banks beaches have reported finding some rather strange things while walking along the beach.
Shipwrecks
Old Shipwreck On Outer Banks Beach
Everyone knows about the numerous shipwrecks found along the beaches of the Outer Banks. The area is known as the Graveyard of the Atlantic. Hundreds of ships have struck the dangerous shoals off the coast. Remains of dozens of old shipwrecks have been found in the ever-shifting sands. Storms uncover then recover shipwrecks all the time. Some well-know shipwrecks include: the Laura A. Barnes (1921) located 4.7 miles south of Whalebone Junction; the Oriental (1862) located 7 miles south of Oregon Inlet campground; the George A. Kohler (1933) located near Ramp 14; and the Altoona (1878) located about a mile south of the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse.
Possibly the oldest shipwreck was discovered in 2008 after a November storm. The exposed timber was from a ship from the 1600s. Just a couple of years ago, a boat made of metal pipe, angle iron, wood and pieces of rigid foam was found washed up onshore. The boat was found on an Avon beach. It was unoccupied but onboard was a store of supplies including bottles of water, sardines and fuel. It was thought to be a boat made by Cuban refugees. The strange boat was considered an engineering marvel due to the material and how it was put together.
Strange Things That Wash Up On NC Beaches! Cuban Raft Washes Up On Beach in NC
Coins, Doritos, And Spaceships
Numerous old coins have been found. The Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum, located in Hatteras Village, has a large coin collection of old coins that have been found. The collection Includes bronze pieces from Egypt that date back to about 200 B.C. A training mine washed up on the beach in Salvo in 2017. Three other pieces of ordnance, some from World War II, were also found in 2017.
Thousands of Bags of Doritos On Outer Banks Beach
In 2006, on the beaches of Frisco, thousands of bags of Doritos washed up onshore. The bags had spilled from a container that fell from a passing ship during bad weather. The news was covered worldwide! The locals gathered thousands of bags of Doritos to clean up the beach.
In 2017 a piece of a SpaceX rocket was spotted lying on the beach near Hatteras Village by Outer Banks photographer Erin Everlee. It was later determined the piece was part of the nose cone intentionally
jettisoned after take-off from a launch site in Florida. It must have floated north on the Gulf Stream then washed up on shore on the Frisco area beach. After some research, they determined it must be part of a space-bound craft. Cape Hatteras National Seashore and SpaceX confirmed its origin.
Also in 2017, some beachcombers found dozens of smelly plastic disks lying on the beaches in Corolla and Kill Devil Hills. The disks were about 2 feet in diameter. They discovered later that the disks had come from a Navy ship. The Navy compacts trash into circles and disposes of them properly later. An investigation showed two sailors had thrown them overboard in violation of Navy regulations.
Again in 2017, the well-dressed body of a man was found washed ashore in Nags Head. The body was in a partially torn body bag. The man had likely been intentionally buried at sea. The police chief recovered the body and sent it to the state medical examiner.
Dead Whales and More
Dead Whale Washed Up on Outer Banks Shore
In 2019 three dead whales washed ashore on the beaches of the Outer Banks. all within two weeks. Dead whales often draw crowds of onlookers as biologists dissect them for information on the cause of death. Due to their massive weight, the dissection must be done at the site the whale washes up. The bodies are then buried deep in the sand with heavy equipment. On occasion, dead porpoises can also wash up on the beach. Many sick or injured sea creatures beach themselves to die.
The Graveyard of the Atlantic refers to shipwreck but it can also refer to all the strange things that have washed up on the beaches of the Outer Banks. Some more interesting than others!
More Photos of Stange Things That Washed Up On Shore Somewhere On The Outer Banks of North Carolina
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- Large Buoy
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- Old Mine
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- Blue Buttons
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- Old Shipwreck
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- Dead Porpoise
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- Old Shipwreck
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- Sailboat
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- Old Wooden Shipwreck
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- Sailboat
