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Ocracoke, North Carolina
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==Geography== [[Image:Ocracoke.svg|thumb|right|250px|Ocracoke Island]] The island of Ocracoke is a part of the [[Outer Banks]] of [[North Carolina]]. At various times throughout recorded history the barrier island now known as Ocracoke has been part of [[Hatteras Island]]. The "Old Hatteras Inlet" opened prior to 1657 south of the current inlet separating Ocracoke from Hatteras, but closed around 1764 causing the islands to be reconnected. Ocracoke remained connected to Hatteras until Wells Creek Inlet opened in the 1840s and later closed. The modern "Hatteras Inlet" that separates the two islands was formed on September 7, 1846 by a violent gale. This massive storm, known in Cuba as [[1846 Havana hurricane]] and along the East Coast of the United States as the [[Great Gale of 1846]], was the same storm that opened [[Oregon Inlet]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mallinson |first=David J. |title=Past, present and future inlets of the Outer Banks barrier islands, North Carolina : a white paper |url=http://www.digital.ncdcr.gov/cdm/ref/collection/p249901coll22/id/20315 |website=North Carolina Digital Collections}}</ref> It is one of the most remote islands in the Outer Banks, as it can only be reached by one of three public [[ferries]] (two of which are toll ferries), private boat, or private plane. Other than the village of Ocracoke and a few other areas (a ferry terminal, a pony pen, a small runway), the entire island is part of the [[Cape Hatteras National Seashore]].<ref name="ocracokeferry">{{cite web |url=http://www.outer-banks.com/ferry/ |title=Outer Banks Ferries |publisher=outer-banks.com |access-date=2013-06-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130623235849/http://www.outer-banks.com/ferry/ |archive-date=2013-06-23 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="ocracokeferries">{{cite web |url=http://www.tripadvisor.com/Travel-g49407-c163960/Ocracoke:North-Carolina:A.Primer.For.The.Ocracoke.Ferries.html |title=TripAdvisor: Ocracoke Traveler Article: Ocracoke: A Primer for the Ocracoke Ferries |publisher=tripadvisor.com |access-date=2013-06-01}}</ref> [[Image:OcracokeLighthouseSilverLake.JPG|thumb|left|View of Ocracoke Lighthouse across Silver Lake]] The village of Ocracoke is located around a small sheltered [[harbor]] called Silver Lake, with a second smaller residential area built around a series of man-made canals called Oyster Creek. The village is located at the widest point of the island, protected from the [[Atlantic Ocean]] by [[sand dunes]] and a [[salt marsh]]. The average height of the island is less than {{convert|5|ft|m|spell=in}} above sea level, and many of the buildings on the island are built on pilings to lift them off the ground. Flooding is a risk during both [[hurricane]]s and large storms. [[Ocracoke Light]] is situated near Silver Lake and has remained in continuous operation since 1823.<ref name="ocracokeguide">{{cite web|url=http://www.ocracokeguide.com/history/|title=Ocracoke History|publisher=ocracokeguide.com|access-date=2013-06-01}}</ref> [[Image:Ocracoke Part 2 030.JPG|right|thumb|British Cemetery]] The island is home to a British cemetery. During [[World War II]], German submarines sank several British ships, including {{HMT|Bedfordshire}}, and the bodies of British sailors were washed ashore.<ref name="brit_ocracoke">{{cite web |url=http://www.ocracoke-nc.com/attractions/local-attractions.shtml |title=Ocracoke Island / Hyde County's Outer Banks |publisher=ocracoke-nc.com |access-date=2013-06-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140811104714/http://www.ocracoke-nc.com/attractions/local-attractions.shtml |archive-date=2014-08-11 |url-status=dead }}</ref> They were buried in a cemetery on the island. A lease for the {{convert|2290|sqft|adj=on}} plot, where a British flag flies at all times, was given to the [[Commonwealth War Graves Commission]] for as long as the land remained a cemetery, and the small site officially became a British cemetery. The United States Coast Guard station on Ocracoke Island takes care of the property.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.ocracokeisland.com/walking_tour.htm|title=Walking Tour|website=www.ocracokeisland.com}}</ref> A memorial ceremony is held each year in May.<ref name="British Cemetery">{{cite web |url=http://www.offbeattravel.com/british-cemetery-outerbanks.html |title=Offbeat Travel |publisher=offbeattravel.com |access-date=2007-06-20 |author=Neala Schwartzberg}}</ref> Ocracoke village is located at {{Coord|35|6|46|N|75|58|33|W|type:city}} (35.112687, -75.975895).<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=2011-04-23|date=2011-02-12|title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990}}</ref> The [[United States Census Bureau]] counts the entire island as a [[census-designated place]] (CDP), with a total area of {{convert|24.9|km2|order=flip}}, of which {{convert|22.3|km2|order=flip}}, or 89.58%, of the area is land, and {{convert|2.6|km2|order=flip}}, or 10.58%, is water.<ref name="Census 2010"/>
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