Albemarle-Pamlico Peninsula facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Albemarle-Pamlico Peninsula
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Peninsula
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Albemarle-Pamlico Peninsula is the largest peninsula on the North Carolina seacoast (right) and includes 5 counties.
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| Country | United States |
| State | North Carolina |
| Region | Outer Banks |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1,200 sq mi (3,200 km2) |
The Albemarle-Pamlico Peninsula is a very large piece of land in North Carolina. It's called a peninsula because it's almost completely surrounded by water. This area is about 3,200 square miles in size.
It sits between two big bodies of water: the Albemarle Sound to the north and the Pamlico Sound to the south. Five different counties in North Carolina are partly or fully located on this peninsula. These counties are Dare, Hyde, Beaufort, Tyrrell, and Washington.
Wetlands and Waterways
Much of the Albemarle-Pamlico Peninsula is covered by marshland. These are wet, grassy areas. A special type of marshland found here is called a pocosin. Pocosins are wetlands with deep, rich soil.
The water from these pocosin marshlands flows into the Alligator River. This river is an important part of the Intracoastal Waterway. The Intracoastal Waterway is like a highway for boats. It's a long chain of canals and natural waterways along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts of the United States.
Land Use and Farming
A big part of the peninsula's land is used for business. About 44% of the land is owned by companies that grow trees for wood. Another 21% is owned by large farming businesses.
In the 1980s, a lot of trees were cut down here. This is called deforestation. Because of this, only about one-third of the original pocosin marshlands are still in their natural state.
Farmers on the peninsula have grown different crops and raised animals. Some of these include soybeans, corn, and pine trees. They also raised cattle and hogs. While many large farms have closed, some pine tree farms still operate on the peninsula today.
Towns and Communities
The Albemarle-Pamlico Peninsula is home to several towns and communities. These places are where people live and work. Here are some of the towns you can find on the peninsula:
