Alligator River (North Carolina)

Last updated
Alligator River
Tributary to Albemarle Sound
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Location of Alligator River mouth
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Alligator River (North Carolina) (the United States)
Location
Country United States
StateNorth Carolina
CountiesDare
Hyde
Tyrell
Physical characteristics
Sourcedivide between Pungo River, Lake Mattamuskeet and Alligator River
 • locationabout 3 miles NW of Fairfield, North Carolina [1]
 • coordinates 35°33′59″N075°58′54″W / 35.56639°N 75.98167°W / 35.56639; -75.98167 [2]
 • elevation2 ft (0.61 m) [3]
Mouth Albemarle Sound
 • location
East Lake, North Carolina [1]
 • coordinates
 35°58′02″N075°58′54″W / 35.96722°N 75.98167°W / 35.96722; -75.98167 Coordinates: 35°58′02″N075°58′54″W / 35.96722°N 75.98167°W / 35.96722; -75.98167 [2]
 • elevation
0 ft (0 m) [3]
Length47.37 mi (76.23 km) [4]
Basin size571.24 square miles (1,479.5 km2) [5]
Discharge 
 • locationAlbemarle Sound
 • average619.03 cu ft/s (17.529 m3/s) at mouth with Albemarle Sound [6]
Basin features
ProgressionNorth
River system Albemarle Sound
Tributaries 
 • leftNew Lake Fork
Northwest Fork
Gum Neck Creek
Goose Creek
Second Creek
Little Alligator River
 • rightSwan Creek
Whipping Creek
Milltail Creek

Alligator River is a small river in eastern North Carolina, separating Dare County and Tyrrell County. It empties into Albemarle Sound. A 21-mile canal connects the Alligator River with Pungo River to its west. The Lindsey C. Warren Bridge of U.S. Route 64 crosses the river.

The Alligator River is protected as part of Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge. Habitat bordering the Refuge includes many diverse types including high and low pocosin, [7] bogs, fresh and brackish water marshes, hardwood swamps, and Atlantic white cypress swamps. Plant species include pitcher plants and sun dews, low bush cranberries, redbay, Atlantic white cypress, pond pine, American sweetgum, red maple, and a wide variety of herbaceous and shrub species common to the East Coast.

The refuge is one of the premier strongholds for American black bear [8] on the Eastern Seaboard. It also has concentrations of ducks, geese, and swans. The wildlife diversity includes wading birds, shorebirds, American woodcock, raptors, black bears, alligators, white-tailed deer, raccoons, cottontail rabbits, bobwhite quail, northern river otters, red wolves, [9] [10] red-cockaded woodpeckers, [11] and neotropical migrants.

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References

  1. 1 2 "Alligator River Topo Map, Tyrrell County NC (East Lake Area)". TopoZone. Locality, LLC. Retrieved 23 July 2019.
  2. 1 2 "GNIS Detail - Alligator River". geonames.usgs.gov. US Geological Survey. Retrieved 23 July 2019.
  3. 1 2 "Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge Topo Map, Dare County NC (East Lake SE Area)". TopoZone. Locality, LLC. Retrieved 31 July 2019.
  4. ↑ "ArcGIS Web Application". epa.maps.arcgis.com. US EPA. Retrieved 23 July 2019.
  5. ↑ "Alligator River Watershed Report". Waters Geoviewer. US EPA. Retrieved 31 July 2019.
  6. ↑ "Alligator River Watershed Report". Waters Geoviewer. US EPA. Retrieved 23 July 2019.
  7. ↑ "Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge". Outer Bank News. Archived from the original on 2006-06-13. Retrieved 2006-06-11.
  8. ↑ "Draft Comprehensive Conservation Plan and Environmental Assessment comments due by June 29, 2006". U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Archived from the original on 30 June 2006. Retrieved 2006-06-11.
  9. ↑ "Red Wolf Recovery Project". Archived from the original on 3 July 2006. Retrieved 2006-06-11.
  10. ↑ "Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge Red Wolf Re-establishment Program". Outer Banks News. Archived from the original on 16 June 2006. Retrieved 11 June 2006.
  11. ↑ "Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge". Trails.com. Archived from the original on 1 June 2006. Retrieved 11 June 2006.



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