66. Why Is the Cape Hatteras area known as the graveyard of 

 ships? 



Cape Hatteras has earned its reputation as a dangerous area because 

 of a combination of factors: sudden storms, shifting sand bars, and 

 strong currents. The name "Graveyard of Ships" or "Graveyard of the 

 Atlantic" was used by Alexander Hamilton, who as a young man sailed 

 past the area. Later, he used his influence as Secretary of the Treasury 

 to have a lighthouse built at Cape Hatteras. 



The Cape is exposed to severe storm winds; it is open to the sea from 

 north through east to southwest. Storms strike with sudden intensity. 

 Hurricanes have driven many ships onto the beaches and shoals. 



The sands of Hatteras Island extend seaward as gigantic shoals for a 

 distance of 12 miles; at some places they reach almost to the surface. 

 Sand bars on Diamond Shoals are constantly shifting. 



It is in this area that the southernmost portion of the Labrador Cur- 

 rent meets the Gulf Stream. At times, the current has great velocity at 

 Diamond Shoals; at other times there is no current or its direction 

 may be reversed. With northerly and northeasterly winds a dangerous 

 cross sea is usually encountered. 



Since the introduction of modern aids to navigation the reputation 

 of Cape Hatteras has improved considerably, but the skeletons of many 

 ships are reminders of its past. 



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