Ask the Chatbot Games & Quizzes History & Society Science & Tech Biographies Animals & Nature Geography & Travel Arts & Culture ProCon Money Videos
Albemarle Sound
Introduction References & Edit History Related Topics
Images
Albemarle Sound, North Carolina
Quizzes
water glass on white background. (drink; clear; clean water; liquid)
Water and its Varying Forms
Britannica AI Icon
Adding us as a Preferred Source tells Google you trust our content, so our articles show up more often in your Google Search, Discover feed, and AI Overviews.
verifiedCite
While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions.
Select Citation Style
Feedback
Corrections? Updates? Omissions? Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login).
Thank you for your feedback

Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.

External Websites
Albemarle Sound, North Carolina
Albemarle Sound, North Carolina

Albemarle Sound

inlet, North Carolina, United States
Written and fact-checked by
Britannica Editors
Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree....
Britannica Editors
History

Albemarle Sound, shallow coastal inlet of northeastern North Carolina, U.S. Protected from the Atlantic Ocean by the Outer Banks, it extends (east-west) for about 50 miles (80 km) and varies in width from 5 to 14 miles (8 to 23 km); nowhere is it deeper than 25 feet (8 meters). It receives the Pasquotank, Alligator, Chowan, and Roanoke rivers and discharges this flow at its southeastern end through the Roanoke and Croatan sounds to Pamlico Sound. It is connected with Chesapeake Bay by the Albemarle and Chesapeake Canal and the Dismal Swamp Canal, which traverses the Great Dismal Swamp; both canals are part of the Intracoastal Waterway. Elizabeth City is the chief port.

Explored by Ralph Lane from the Roanoke Island colony in 1586, Albemarle Sound was first called the Sea of Rawnocke (Roanoke Sea). It later appeared on maps as Roanoke Sound and Carolina River before it was renamed for George Monck, 1st duke of Albemarle. The state’s earliest European settlements were established along its shores.

The Editors of Encyclopaedia BritannicaThis article was most recently revised and updated by Barbara A. Schreiber.
Discover the fascinating events that shaped the world, straight from our editors.
By clicking “Sign Up”, you consent to the Britannica Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.