One of nature’s wonders is the Jockey’s Ridge which is located in the Dare County on the Outer Banks.It has been converted in to a state park and it can be accessed from the Carolista Drive which is a town in the Nags Head town.

The Jockey’s Ridge State Park was commissioned in 1975 and encompassed 152 acres of land purchased by the state.Later on an additional purchase from the Nature Conservancy took up the size to 266.8 acres and in the present times, the Park extends over an area of 420 acres. “Friends of Jockey’s Ridge” is a non-profit group which provides additional support to the State Park by organizing events and taking up promotional initiatives.

This huge sand dune is the tallest living sand dune system in the Eastern United States.Depending on the winds and other climatic conditions, the height of the sand dune varies from anything like 100 feet to 140 feet.It is an excellent example of a medano – a huge hill of shifting sands which doesn’t have any flora.There are many other sand dunes in the area but this is by far the most spectacular one.

There are different views related to the formation of the sand dunes.Some of the geologists believe that Jockey’s Ridge was formed when strong water currents from hurricanes and storms brought in large amounts of sand.Over the years, the wind picked up this sand and blew it inland.This gave birth to a series of sand dunes which now stretch for many miles along the coast.

The main reason for this shifting sand dune is the wind that moves from southwest to northeast and back again.This helps the sand in constantly moving back and forth.

Nags Head was a remote coastal area till the 1800s and had started to be developed as a summer resort.After the Civil War, rapid development took place in the area.Today it is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the country. Jockey’s Ridge possesses place of pride in the local geographical region.

The sand dune is a treasure trove for the nature enthusiasts.There is a rich biodiversity on the sand dunes system.
Ecology of Jockey’s Ridge: The area includes three very distinct ecological environments, namely the dunes, maritime thickets and the Roanoke Sound Estuary.

The dunes in the Jockey’s Ridge consist of three peaks.But due to the harsh weather conditions, there is no plant or animal growth on the shifting sands.However the area around the base of the dune is host to a variety of grasses and small plants.
The maritime thicket involves the live oaks, persimmons, red cedar, wax myrtle, bayberry etc.these plants grow best in the area as they are protected by the huge sand dunes.The winds and salt from the ocean doesn’t affect them but it also stunts their growth, causing them to look like shrubs.

The Roanoke Sound Estuary forms a rich habitat for different species of plant, animal and bird life.The Sound is home to the Blue Crab which is an important component for the commercial fisheries industry in North Carolina.

Thus, the Jockey’s Ridge makes for an interesting and an enjoyable learning experience for both the young and the old.

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Category: Recreation and Leisure
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