LEARN NC

K–12 teaching and learning · from the UNC School of Education

Resources created by Steve Keith

Allen Creek
In Cape Fear estuaries: From river to sea, page 7
Moving south and to the opposite bank of the river, we come across Allen Creek. This side of the river is much less accessible, and wide expanses of marsh and swamp remain. Note the distinct tree line indicating a rather homogeneous change in elevation. In...
By Steve Keith.
Allen Creek input to the Cape Fear River
Allen Creek input to the Cape Fear River
Format: image/photograph
Bald Head Island
In Cape Fear estuaries: From river to sea, page 13
We have arrived at last to the Atlantic Ocean. On the left side of the inlet is Bald Head Island and on the right is Fort Caswell on the eastern tip of Oak Island. In the foreground is Soutport. The inlet is about one mile across. Notice that the boat traffic...
By Steve Keith.
Bald Head Island and the Cape Fear River Inlet
Bald Head Island and the Cape Fear River Inlet
Format: image/photograph
Cape Fear estuaries: Introduction
In Cape Fear estuaries: From river to sea, page 1
A quiet afternoon on the dock overlooking the Cape Fear estuary, fishing with friends. A gentle breeze clatters the marsh reeds and sends ripples floating across the water. A vision of stability and tranquility. Unfortunately, this vision is entirely misleading....
By Steve Keith.
Confluence of the Cape Fear River and Northeast Cape Fear River
Confluence of the Cape Fear River and Northeast Cape Fear River
Format: image/photograph
Conjunction of the Cape Fear River and the Northeast Cape Fear River
In Cape Fear estuaries: From river to sea, page 4
The town of Wilmington is located at the junction of the Northeast Cape Fear and Cape Fear rivers. In this photo the Cape Fear River is entering from the bottom. The water in the Cape Fear River is just turning salty as it reaches Wilmington, the zero salinity...
By Steve Keith.
Dutchman's Creek
In Cape Fear estuaries: From river to sea, page 12
Turning to the western shore, we have one more stop to make before we reach the sea. This photo shows Dutchman's Creek and a series of smaller tidal creeks. Just behind the serpentine creeks is a canal cutting clear across the photo. This canal originates...
By Steve Keith.
Dutchman's Creek and the CP&L canals
Dutchman's Creek and the CP&L canals
Format: image/photograph
Federal Point Basin
In Cape Fear estuaries: From river to sea, page 10
A few miles south of Snow's Cut, past Fort Fisher and the ferry to Southport, we come to the Federal Point Basin. The basin is part of the Zeke's Island Estuarine Reserve and is a research area for scientists at the North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher....
By Steve Keith.
Federal Point basin
Federal Point basin
Format: image/photograph
The Intracoastal Waterway
In Cape Fear estuaries: From river to sea, page 14
We have reached the sea and the end of the Cape Fear River estuary. Looking south, we can see the curve of the southernmost cusp of the North Carolina coast. The inlet in the distance is the Lockwood Folly River. The Intracoastal Waterway follows the coastline,...
By Steve Keith.
The Northeast Cape Fear River
In Cape Fear estuaries: From river to sea, page 3
We shall start our trip at the river end of the estuary, where the salt water makes up less than about one percent of the water volume. In this aerial shot we can see the Northeast Cape Fear River winding its way north from Wilmington, reaching, out of our...
By Steve Keith.
Port of Wilmington
In Cape Fear estuaries: From river to sea, page 5
Moving to the south end of Wilmington we come to the ports. Ports and marinas are hard to avoid in estuaries, but large ports are worth a look. The ships visiting Wilmington's port are oceangoing cargo ships that need deep water to navigate. What does this...
By Steve Keith.
Port of Wilmington
Port of Wilmington
Format: image/photograph
Salt marsh
In Cape Fear estuaries: From river to sea, page 6
Dropping to earth, we'll visit a salt marsh near Barnard's Creek, a few miles south of Wilmington's center. The dominant plant here is salt marsh cordgrass (Spartina alterniflora). Other plants include sea lavender and sea oxeye. The...
By Steve Keith.
Salt marsh near Barnard's Creek
Salt marsh near Barnard's Creek
Format: image/photograph
Tidal creek
In Cape Fear estuaries: From river to sea, page 9
This photo shows conditions just a few yards away from the shoreline. As you can see from the banks of this tidal creek, the tidal range is at least a foot, and the tide is out. Cord grass dominates the central, depressed, area of this photo, and in the background...
By Steve Keith.
A tidal creek with diverse zones
A tidal creek with diverse zones
Format: image/photograph
A view south along the Intracoastal Waterway
A view south along the Intracoastal Waterway
Format: image/photograph