Hatteras Island divides the Pamlico Sound from the Atlantic Ocean and is the largest island within the Outer Banks region, spanning nearly 48 miles. With year-round mild temperatures, accessible beaches, and a wide variety of laid-back tourist activities, the island is the quintessential North Carolina getaway. The island is the primary site of the 72-mile Cape Hatteras National Seashore, which also spans nearby Bodie and Ocracoke Islands and offers eco-friendly outdoor activities such as boating, windsurfing, and kiteboarding. Seven villages on the island offer attractions such as the Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum, the Hatteras Island Ocean Center, and the Oregon Inlet Life-Saving Station, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Other attractions include the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, which is the tallest extant lighthouse in the United States.

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