View source for Cape Lookout National Seashore

{{Short description|Protected area in North Carolina, US}}
{{Use American English|date=July 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2025}}
{{Infobox protected area
| name = Cape Lookout National Seashore
| iucn_category = V
| map = North Carolina#USA
| relief = 1
| map_caption = 
| photo = File:Cape Lookout Lighthouse - 2013-06 - 07.JPG
| photo_alt = Cape Lookout Lighthouse
| photo_caption = Cape Lookout Lighthouse
| photo_width = 260
| location = [[Outer Banks]], [[Carteret County, North Carolina]], United States
| nearest_city = [[Harkers Island, North Carolina]]
| coordinates = {{Wikidatacoord|Q1034449|region:US-NC|display=inline,title}}
| area_acre = 28243
| area_ref = <ref name="area">{{NPS area |year=2011 |accessdate=December 26, 2012 }}</ref>
| established = March 10, 1966
| visitation_num = 541,533
| visitation_year = 2022
| visitation_ref = <ref name="visits">{{NPS visitation|accessdate=October 16, 2023 }}</ref>
| governing_body = [[National Park Service]]
| website = [https://www.nps.gov/calo/index.htm Cape Lookout National Seashore]
}}
'''Cape Lookout National Seashore''' preserves a 56-mile (90-km) long section of the Southern [[Outer Banks]], or [[Crystal Coast]], of [[North Carolina]], United States, running from Ocracoke Inlet on the northeast to Beaufort Inlet on the southwest. Three undeveloped barrier islands make up the seashore - North and South [[Core Banks, North Carolina|Core Banks]] and [[Shackleford Banks]]. The seashore includes two historic villages on Core Banks, Shackleford's wild horses, and the [[Cape Lookout Lighthouse]], which has a black-and-white diamond pattern. A visitor center for the seashore is located on [[Harkers Island, North Carolina|Harkers Island]].

The National Park Service, as part of their Centennial Initiative celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2016, is planning to rehabilitate the Lighthouse and restore the Cape Lookout and [[Portsmouth, North Carolina|Portsmouth Village]] Historic Districts.<ref>{{cite web |last=Bomar |first=Mary A. |author-link=Mary A. Bomar |title=Summary of Park Centennial Strategies |publisher=National Park Service |date=August 2007 |url=http://www.nps.gov/2016/assets/files/Summary-of-Park-Centennial-Strategies.pdf |access-date=February 15, 2008 |archive-date=February 15, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080215085712/http://www.nps.gov/2016/assets/files/Summary-of-Park-Centennial-Strategies.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref>

== History ==
[[File:Cape Lookout National Seashore - NPS map.pdf|thumb|right|290px|Official [[National Park Service]] map]]
The [[National Seashore]] was authorized on March 10, 1966. It was named a North Carolina Natural Heritage Area on May 23, 1986. The seashore was designated the Carolinian-South Atlantic Biosphere Reserve on June 16, 1986. Near noon on September 9, 2007, [[Tropical Storm Gabrielle (2007)|Tropical Storm Gabrielle]] made landfall at this exact point with winds of {{convert|60|mi/h|km/h|abbr=on}}. Damage was light but flooding and [[coastal erosion|beach erosion]] affected this lookout. On August 27, 2011, [[Hurricane Irene]] made landfall near Cape Lookout as a [[Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale|Category 1]] storm with 85&nbsp;mph sustained winds. [[Hurricane Arthur]] also made landfall near Cape Lookout as a [[Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale|Category 2]] storm with 100&nbsp;mph sustained winds.

==Laws==
The [[Corolla Wild Horses Protection Act (H.R. 126;113th Congress)]], if passed, would take [[Feral horse|wild horses]] from herds on the Cape Lookout National Seashore and introduced them to the herds in the [[Currituck National Wildlife Refuge]] in order to ensure [[genetic viability]].<ref name=126sum>{{cite web |title=H.R. 126 - Summary |url=http://beta.congress.gov/bill/113th-congress/house-bill/126 |publisher=United States Congress |access-date=June 5, 2013 |archive-date=November 13, 2015 |archive-url=http://webarchive.loc.gov/all/20151113211051/https%3A//www.congress.gov/bill/113th%2Dcongress/house%2Dbill/126 |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Climate==
According to the [[Trewartha climate classification]] system, Cape Lookout National Seashore, North Carolina has a [[humid subtropical climate]] with hot and humid summers, cool winters and year-around precipitation (''Cfak''). Cfak climates are characterized by all months having an average mean temperature > 32.0&nbsp;°F (> 0.0&nbsp;°C), at least eight months with an average mean temperature ≥ 50.0&nbsp;°F (≥ 10.0&nbsp;°C), at least one month with an average mean temperature ≥ 71.6&nbsp;°F (≥ 22.0&nbsp;°C) and no significant precipitation difference between seasons. During the summer months in Cape Lookout National Seashore, a cooling afternoon [[sea breeze]] is present on most days, but episodes of extreme heat and humidity can occur with [[heat index]] values ≥ 100&nbsp;°F (≥ 38&nbsp;°C). Cape Lookout National Seashore is prone to hurricane strikes, particularly during the [[Atlantic hurricane season]] which extends from June 1 through November 30, sharply peaking from late August through September. During the winter months, episodes of cold and wind can occur with [[wind chill]] values < 10&nbsp;°F (< -12&nbsp;°C). The [[plant hardiness zone]] at Core Sound in Cape Lookout National Seashore is 8b with an average annual extreme minimum air temperature of 16.6&nbsp;°F (-8.6&nbsp;°C).<ref name="USDA">{{cite web |url=https://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/ |publisher=[[United States Department of Agriculture]] |access-date=August 6, 2019 |title=USDA Interactive Plant Hardiness Map |archive-date=July 4, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190704214427/https://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/phzmweb/interactivemap.aspx |url-status=live }}</ref> The average seasonal (Dec-Mar) snowfall total is < 2 inches (< 5&nbsp;cm), and the average annual peak in [[nor'easter]] activity is in February.
{{Weather box
| width = auto
| single line = Y
| location = Core Sound, Cape Lookout National Seashore, NC (1981-2010 Averages)
| Jan high F = 52.9
| Feb high F = 54.8
| Mar high F = 60.4
| Apr high F = 67.7
| May high F = 74.8
| Jun high F = 81.6
| Jul high F = 84.7
| Aug high F = 84.0
| Sep high F = 80.4
| Oct high F = 72.6
| Nov high F = 64.9
| Dec high F = 56.4
| year high F = 69.7
| Jan mean F = 45.4
| Feb mean F = 47.4
| Mar mean F = 53.0
| Apr mean F = 60.6
| May mean F = 68.2
| Jun mean F = 75.8
| Jul mean F = 79.3
| Aug mean F = 78.4
| Sep mean F = 74.5
| Oct mean F = 65.5
| Nov mean F = 57.3
| Dec mean F = 48.9
| year mean F = 62.9
| Jan low F = 37.9
| Feb low F = 39.9
| Mar low F = 45.5
| Apr low F = 53.5
| May low F = 61.6
| Jun low F = 70.0
| Jul low F = 73.8
| Aug low F = 72.8
| Sep low F = 68.5
| Oct low F = 58.4
| Nov low F = 49.7
| Dec low F = 41.3
| year low F = 56.1
| precipitation colour = green
| Jan precipitation inch = 4.62
| Feb precipitation inch = 3.60
| Mar precipitation inch = 4.51
| Apr precipitation inch = 3.42
| May precipitation inch = 4.00
| Jun precipitation inch = 4.20
| Jul precipitation inch = 5.93
| Aug precipitation inch = 7.30
| Sep precipitation inch = 6.35
| Oct precipitation inch = 4.62
| Nov precipitation inch = 4.04
| Dec precipitation inch = 4.06
| year precipitation inch = 56.65
| humidity colour = green
| Jan humidity = 71.7
| Feb humidity = 71.6
| Mar humidity = 69.5
| Apr humidity = 70.9
| May humidity = 73.2
| Jun humidity = 77.1
| Jul humidity = 79.2
| Aug humidity = 78.6
| Sep humidity = 77.0
| Oct humidity = 74.0
| Nov humidity = 74.6
| Dec humidity = 73.2
| year humidity = 74.2
| Jan dew point F = 36.8
| Feb dew point F = 38.7
| Mar dew point F = 43.3
| Apr dew point F = 51.1
| May dew point F = 59.3
| Jun dew point F = 68.1
| Jul dew point F = 72.3
| Aug dew point F = 71.2
| Sep dew point F = 66.8
| Oct dew point F = 57.0
| Nov dew point F = 49.3
| Dec dew point F = 40.7
| year dew point F = 54.6
|source 1 = PRISM<ref name=prism>{{cite web |url=http://prism.oregonstate.edu/explorer/ |title=PRISM Climate Group, Oregon State University |access-date=August 6, 2019 |archive-date=July 25, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190725164937/http://prism.oregonstate.edu/explorer/ |url-status=live }}</ref>}}
{{Weather box
| width = auto
| single line = Y
| location = Cape Hatteras, NC Ocean Water Temperature (53 NE Core Sound)
| Jan mean F = 49
| Feb mean F = 46
| Mar mean F = 52
| Apr mean F = 59
| May mean F = 68
| Jun mean F = 74
| Jul mean F = 78
| Aug mean F = 80
| Sep mean F = 77
| Oct mean F = 70
| Nov mean F = 58
| Dec mean F = 55
| year mean F = 64
|source 1 = NOAA<ref name=NOAA>{{cite web |url=https://www.nodc.noaa.gov/dsdt/cwtg/all_meanT.html |title=Water Temperature Table of All Coastal Regions |access-date=August 6, 2019 |archive-date=September 5, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170905202557/https://www.nodc.noaa.gov/dsdt/cwtg/all_meanT.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>}}

==Ecology==

According to the [[A. W. Kuchler]] U.S. [[potential natural vegetation]] types, Cape Lookout National Seashore, North Carolina would have a dominant vegetation type of [[Live oak]]/Sea Oats [[Uniola paniculata]] (''90'') with a dominant vegetation form of [[Coastal]] [[Prairie]] (''20'').<ref name="Conservation Biology Institute">{{cite web |url=https://databasin.org/datasets/1c7a301c8e6843f2b4fe63fdb3a9fe39 |access-date=August 6, 2019 |title=U.S. Potential Natural Vegetation, Original Kuchler Types, v2.0 (Spatially Adjusted to Correct Geometric Distortions) |archive-date=July 3, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190703145441/https://databasin.org/datasets/1c7a301c8e6843f2b4fe63fdb3a9fe39 |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Wildlife==
<gallery>
File:Core Banks - Tern - 01.JPG|[[Common tern]] ''Sterna hirundo'' driving intruders away from the nest site
File:Core Banks - Black Skimmer nesting site - 3.JPG|[[Black skimmer]] ''Rynchops niger'' nesting site near Cape Lookout Point at southern tip of [[South Core Banks|Core Banks]]
File:Core_Banks_-_American_Oystercatcher_-_1.JPG|[[American oystercatcher]] ''Haematopus palliatus''
File:Core Banks - Pelican.JPG|[[Brown pelican]] ''Pelecanus occidentalis''
File:Core Banks - Gull - 03.JPG|[[Laughing gull]] ''Leucophaeus atricilla''
File:Core Banks - Egret - 2.JPG|[[Great egret]] ''Ardea alba''
File:Core Banks - Shark.JPG|Small shark
File:Core Banks - Whelk - 1.JPG|Live [[lightning whelk]] ''Sinistrofulgur perversum''
File:Core Banks - Hermit Crab - 2.JPG|Hermit crab, possibly [[flat-clawed hermit crab]] ''Pagurus pollicaris'', in a shell of [[knobbed whelk]] ''Busycon carica''
File:Core Banks - Moon Snail.JPG|Shark eye moon snail ''[[Neverita duplicata]]'' in a shallow water on a sand bar
File:Core Banks - Fiddler Crab.JPG|Fiddler crab
File:Core Banks - Green Anole - 1.JPG|[[Carolina anole]] ''Anolis carolinensis''
File:Branded Shackleford Pony.jpg|[[Banker horse]] on [[Shackleford Banks]]
</gallery>

==Bibliography==
* ''The National Parks: Index 2001–2003''. Washington: [[United States Department of the Interior|U.S. Department of the Interior]].
* {{Cite news |last=Timblin |first=Carol |date=September–October 2008 |title=A World Away: Getting to North Carolina's Cape Lookout National Seashore is getting away from it all |periodical=AAA World |series=side trips |publisher=AAA Midatlantic |volume=10 |issue=5 |pages=26 |url=http://www.aaamidatlantic.com/AAAWorld/Article?id=1080 |access-date=September 4, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081007073556/http://www.aaamidatlantic.com/AAAWorld/Article?id=1080 |archive-date=October 7, 2008}}

==Notes==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category|Cape Lookout National Seashore}}
* Official NPS website: [https://www.nps.gov/calo/index.htm Cape Lookout National Seashore]
* [http://capelookoutstudies.org/ Cape Lookout Studies Program]
* [https://www.darksky.org/our-work/conservation/idsp/parks/cape-lookout-national-seashore-u-s/ An entry] by the [[International Dark-Sky Association]]

{{SeashoreLakes}}
{{Protected Areas of North Carolina}}
{{Outer Banks}}
{{Crystal Coast}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Biosphere reserves of the United States]]
[[Category:Protected areas of Carteret County, North Carolina]]
[[Category:National seashores of the United States]]
[[Category:Outer Banks]]
[[Category:Protected areas established in 1966]]
[[Category:National Park Service areas in North Carolina]]
[[Category:1966 establishments in North Carolina]]