Alligator River (North Carolina)

Alligator River is a small river in eastern North Carolina, separating Dare County and Tyrrell County. It empties into Albemarle Sound. A 21-mile canal connects the Alligator River with Pungo River to its west. The Lindsey C. Warren Bridge of U.S. Route 64 crosses the river.

Alligator River Tributary to Albemarle Sound
Location of Alligator River mouth Show map of North Carolina Alligator River (North Carolina) (the United States) Show map of the United States
Location
Country	United States
State	North Carolina
Counties	Dare Hyde Tyrell
Physical characteristics
Source	divide between Pungo River, Lake Mattamuskeet and Alligator River
• location	about 3 miles NW of Fairfield, North Carolina[1]
• coordinates	35°33′59″N 075°58′54″W[2]
• elevation	2 ft (0.61 m)[3]
Mouth	Albemarle Sound
• location	East Lake, North Carolina[1]
• coordinates	35°58′02″N 075°58′54″W[2]
• elevation	0 ft (0 m)[3]
Length	47.37 mi (76.23 km)[4]
Basin size	571.24 square miles (1,479.5 km2)[5]
Discharge
• location	Albemarle Sound
• average	619.03 cu ft/s (17.529 m3/s) at mouth with Albemarle Sound[6]
Basin features
Progression	North
River system	Albemarle Sound
Tributaries
• left	New Lake Fork Northwest Fork Gum Neck Creek Goose Creek Second Creek Little Alligator River
• right	Swan Creek Whipping Creek Milltail Creek

The Alligator River is protected as part of Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge. Habitat bordering the Refuge includes many diverse types including high and low pocosin,[7] bogs, fresh and brackish water marshes, hardwood swamps, and Atlantic white cypress swamps. Plant species include pitcher plants and sun dews, low bush cranberries, redbay, Atlantic white cypress, pond pine, American sweetgum, red maple, and a wide variety of herbaceous and shrub species common to the East Coast.

The refuge is one of the premier strongholds for American black bear[8] on the Eastern Seaboard. It also has concentrations of ducks, geese, and swans. The wildlife diversity includes wading birds, shorebirds, American woodcock, raptors, black bears, alligators, white-tailed deer, raccoons, cottontail rabbits, bobwhite quail, northern river otters, red wolves,[9][10] red-cockaded woodpeckers,[11] and neotropical migrants.