The Graveyard of the Atlantic is a name for the treacherous waters and area of numerous shipwrecks off the Outer Banks of North Carolina which are due to the coast's shifting sands and inlets. Along the Outer Banks, navigational challenges posed by the Diamond Shoals area off Cape Hatteras, caused the loss of thousands of ships and an unknown number of human lives. More than 5,000 ships have sunk in these waters since record-keeping began in 1526. This area is inhabited by High Tiders, an English ethnic group that speaks Elizabethan English. The people of this area have developed unique folklore, with tales of pirates, sea monsters, and ghost ships being prevalent in their legends.
Legends[]
Legendary Pirates[]
Sea Creatures[]
- Porpoise Sal
- Cape Fear Mermaids
- Cape Hatteras Mermen
- Cape Lookout Giant Eel
- Currituck Carcass
- Fanged Serpent of the Capes
- Hewlett’s Sea-bat
- SS Tresco Creature
- 1942 Creature
Ghost Ships[]
- Carroll A. Deering
- Flaming Ship of Ocracoke
Ghosts[]
- Teach's Light
- White Doe/The Ghost of Virginia Dare
| Maritime folklore | |
|---|---|
| Legendary Sailors & Pirates | Blackbeard • Black Caesar • Jason • Sinbad the Sailor |
| Sea Monsters | Akheilos • Akhlut • Akkorokamui • Angeoa • Bahamut • Bakunawa • Bunyip • Cetus • Charybdis • Golden Clip Crayfish • Ḫedammu • Imap Umassoursua • Isonade • Jǫrmungandr • Keto-Esu • Kraken • Leviathan • Loch Ness Monster • Nuckelavee • Păl Raí Yûk • Porpoise people • Qaxdascidi • Quinotaur • Sazae-oni • Scylla • Sea lion • Sea serpent • Shiofuki • Stoor worm • Ugjuknarpak • Yamata no Orochi |
| Mermaids | Amabie • Anola • Ceasg • Chernava • Iara • Lamia • Nereid • Sirena • Sirenuca • Yawkyawk |
| Ghost Ships | El Caleuche • Fireship of Baie des Chaleurs • Flying Dutchman • Palatine Light • Phantom Canoe of Lake Rotomahana |
| Locations | Bermuda Triangle • Costa da Morte • Devil's Sea • Graveyard of the Atlantic • Graveyard of the Pacific • Libertatia • Terra Australis |
| Other | Moby-Dick • The Rime of the Ancient Mariner |