North Carolina

Officials warn of dangers accessing new island off Cape Hatteras

By John Ahrens, wsoctv.com
By John Ahrens, wsoctv.com

BUXTON, N.C. — Hundreds of tourists are flocking to a new island that has appeared in the Outer Banks.

Local leaders are worried about people's safety after several rescues and shark sightings.

[READ MORE: New island forms off North Carolina coast]

The waters of the Outer Banks are among the most chaotic seas in the world and certainly in North America.

It’s known as the “graveyard of the Atlantic,” where there have been thousands of shipwrecks and it’s those shifting seas that have leaders concerned for those who want to come and look at this natural marvel.

The inlet near Buxton, North Carolina, known as Cape Point, is at a unique spot on the globe.

The warm gulf-stream current, which is a frequent highway of hurricanes, comes right up to the Outer Banks, but then encounters the much colder Labrador current, which imports in water from the Arctic Ocean.

These two mighty ocean currents carry enormous amounts of sediment and they essentially collide over this spot.

Thunderstorms also fire up as these forces clash, sending silt and sand everywhere.

The result is this tiny strip of land becoming a mile-long island in a matter of months.

"You’ll see some bumps every now and then, but when this got some traction it got huge quick," Dare County Commissioner Danny Couch said.

While it’s growing now, it could shrink just as quickly.

The chaotic currents can erode the beach or a tropical storm or hurricane could wipe it out altogether.

Most experts give this beach about a year tops before the island is gone.

The island has been dubbed Shelley Island because of the abundance of rare seashells. They also have found whale bones on the site.

Leaders are urging caution when accessing the beach.

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