Shelly Island: The new island off North Carolina's Outer Banks
Exploring Shelly Island: North Carolina's Newest Attraction
Introduction to Shelly Island
- A new attraction in North Carolina's Outer Banks, Shelly Island, has emerged as a popular destination during the holiday weekend.
- The island is not found on standard maps and formed rapidly in the Atlantic Ocean.
Characteristics of Shelly Island
- The island measures one mile long and about a football field wide, continuing to grow in size.
- Pilot Larry Elely notes that the island has visibly increased in height and area since its formation.
Unique Environmental Context
- Danny Couch, a local county commissioner, describes this sandbar as "the mother of all sandbars" due to its significant size.
- The region is known for dynamic ocean environments with powerful currents colliding off Cape Hatteras.
Formation and Growth of the Island
- Satellite imagery indicates that once the large sandbar surfaced last March, it began accumulating more sand due to current interactions.
- Caleb Rean, an 11-year-old visitor, named it "Shelly Island" after discovering numerous shells scattered across its shores.
Ownership and Future Concerns
- Currently, no federal or state agency claims ownership over Shelly Island; it's considered a "no man's land."
- Experts warn that while visitors enjoy the island now, natural events like hurricanes could drastically alter or erase it from existence.
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