Editing Hyde County, North Carolina (section)

==Geography and physical features==
{{maplink|frame=yes|zoom=8|id=Q511659|type=shape-inverse|text=Interactive map of Hyde County}}
According to the [[U.S. Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of {{convert|1459.05|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|612.35|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|846.70|sqmi}} (58.03%) is water.<ref name="CensusGazetteerData">{{Cite web |date=August 23, 2022 |title=2020 County Gazetteer Files – North Carolina |url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2020_Gazetteer/2020_gaz_counties_37.txt |access-date=September 9, 2023 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref> It is the second-largest county in North Carolina by total area.<ref name="CensusGazetteerData"/> Hyde County's comprises an inland portion and Ocracoke Island, a part of the [[Outer Banks]].{{sfn|Hyde County Land Use Plan|2008|p=4}} It is bordered by [[Dare County, North Carolina|Dare]] and [[Tyrrell County, North Carolina|Tyrrell]] counties to the north, by [[Washington County, North Carolina|Washington County]] to the northwest, by [[Beaufort County, North Carolina|Beaufort County]] to the west, and by [[Pamlico County, North Carolina|Pamlico]] and [[Carteret County, North Carolina|Carteret]] counties to the southwest.<ref>{{Cite web |date=January 31, 2020 |title=North Carolina – County Outline Map |url=https://connect.ncdot.gov/resources/State-Mapping/Documents/nc_statemap_countyoutline.pdf |access-date=September 6, 2023 |website=connect.ncdot.gov}}</ref> The mainland portion of the county also borders the [[Pamlico Sound]], while Ocracoke Island rests on the [[Atlantic Ocean]].{{sfn|Hyde County Land Use Plan|2008|p=10}}

Hyde County is characterized by many swamps.{{sfn|Hyde County Land Use Plan|2008|p=4}} It has a flat topography and its highest point, a spot west of Alligator Lake, rests about 18 feet above sea level.{{sfn|Hyde County Land Use Plan|2008|p=49}} Owing to its low elevation, the county suffers from frequent flooding and [[saltwater intrusion]] of its soil.<ref>{{cite web| url = https://climate.ncsu.edu/blog/2022/07/our-curious-coast-soils-and-agriculture/| title = Our Curious Coast: Soils and Agriculture| last1 = Davis| first1 = Corey| last2 = Saia| first2 = Sheila| date = July 14, 2022| website = North Carolina State Climate Office| publisher = North Carolina State University| access-date = September 3, 2023}}</ref> Lake Mattamuskeet is the largest naturally-occurring lake in North Carolina.<ref name="medlin"/>

Hyde County is within the path of the [[Atlantic Flyway]], and thus features seasonal populations of various migratory waterfowl species, including [[tundra swan]] and [[Canada geese]].{{sfn|Hyde County Land Use Plan|2008|p=4}}

===National protected areas===
* [[Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge]] (part)
* [[Cape Hatteras National Seashore]] (part)
* [[Mattamuskeet National Wildlife Refuge]]
* [[Pocosin Lakes National Wildlife Refuge]] (part)
* [[Swanquarter National Wildlife Refuge]]
* [[Swanquarter Wilderness]]

===State and local protected areas===
* [[Dare Game Land]] (part)<ref name="NCWRC Game Lands">{{Cite web |title=NCWRC Game Lands |url=https://www.ncpaws.org/ncwrcmaps/gamelands |access-date=March 30, 2023 |website=www.ncpaws.org}}</ref>
* [[Emily and Richardson Preyer Buckridge Reserve]] (part)
* [[Gull Rock Game Land]]<ref name="NCWRC Game Lands"/>
* [[Hatteras Inlet Crab Spawning Sanctuary]] (part)
* [[New Lake Game Land]]<ref name="NCWRC Game Lands"/>
* [[Pungo River Game Land]]<ref name="NCWRC Game Lands"/>

===Major water bodies===
* [[Albemarle Sound]]
* [[Alligator Lake (North Carolina)|Alligator Lake]]
* [[Alligator River (North Carolina)|Alligator River]]
* [[Atlantic Ocean]] (North Atlantic Ocean)
* [[Hatteras Inlet]]
* [[Intracoastal Waterway]]
* [[Lake Mattamuskeet]]
* [[Ocracoke Inlet]]
* [[Pamlico River]]
* [[Pamlico Sound]]
* [[Pungo Lake]]
* [[Pungo River]]
* [[Raleigh Bay]]

===Major highways===
* {{Jct|state=NC|US|264}}
* {{Jct|state=NC|NC|12}}
* {{Jct|state=NC|NC|45}}
* {{Jct|state=NC|NC|94}}
* {{Jct|state=NC|NC|99}}

===Major infrastructure===
* [[North Carolina Department of Transportation Ferry Division#Routes|Cedar Island–Ocracoke Ferry]] (to Carteret County)
* [[North Carolina Department of Transportation Ferry Division#Routes|Hatteras–Ocracoke Ferry]] (to Dare County)
* [[North Carolina Department of Transportation Ferry Division#Routes|Swan Quarter–Ocracoke Ferry]]