Croatan National Forest
The Croatan National Forest is a protected by the United States of America forest on the Atlantic coast of the state of North Carolina. It is managed by the United States Forest Service, a division of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The National Forest is managed jointly with the three other protected forests in North Carolina, the Nantahala, Pisgah, and Uwharrie National Forest, the headquarters is located in Asheville. The authority responsible for Croatan Ranger Station has its office in New Bern.
The park's name comes from the Algonquin language and means something like City of the deliberations of the Council or city. The park is located on the districts of Craven County, Carteret and Jones.
Geography
The forest stretches along the coast over an area of nearly 650 square kilometers. It is bordered by the Neuse River, Bogue Sound and the White Oak River. The Croatan Forest is through pine forests, salt marshes, swamps and marshland Atlantic ( pocosins ) characterized .. The forest offers hiking trails, campgrounds, hunting grounds, mountain bike trails and off-road vehicle tours. The surrounding rivers, lakes and streams provide opportunities for swimmers, anglers and canoeists. The forest is located near the cities of New Bern and Morehead City and surrounds the Marine Corp Air Station Cherry Point.
Walking routes
Within the Croatan Forest, there are a number of hiking trails, such as the Neusiok Trail, which leads to a distance of 34 miles through swamps and pine forests. Other routes, such as the Cedar Point Tideland Trail crosses the salt marshes and runs along the White Oak River, the Iceland Forest Creek Walk focuses on a forest of hardwoods and the Black Swamp OHV Trail is suitable for bikes and off-road vehicles.
Flora and Fauna
The Croatan National Forest is inhabited by many animals on land and in water, for example by deer, poisonous snakes, black bears, turkeys, hawks and alligators. The forest consists mainly of pines, alternating in places with hard woods such as swamp cypress in the swamps. Carnivorous plants like the Venus flytrap and sundew can also be found in the forest.