Recently, my neighbor Ed sent me an email with this link from The Washington Post: http://wapo.st/1IAjiii.
The article asks, "When you're hanging out at the beach and you gaze off into the horizon, do you know what is across the ocean from you?" It turns out that Casablanca, Morocco, in North Africa is located at 33°32′N Latitude. Ocracoke is situated at 35°6′N Latitude. Ocracoke and Morocco are almost directly across the Atlantic from each other.
The article asks, "When you're hanging out at the beach and you gaze off into the horizon, do you know what is across the ocean from you?" It turns out that Casablanca, Morocco, in North Africa is located at 33°32′N Latitude. Ocracoke is situated at 35°6′N Latitude. Ocracoke and Morocco are almost directly across the Atlantic from each other.
Ed went on to note that "when I walk on
the beach in the morning I often find coconuts on the beach. Any idea of
where they come from?"
My guess is that coconuts that wash up on Ocracoke's beach come from the Caribbean. Because of ocean currents, especially the Gulf Stream, I think it is most likely that these coconuts travel up the coast from the south, not across the ocean from Morocco. Any other thoughts on this subject?
This month's Ocracoke Newsletter is the story of whale and porpoise fishing on the Outer Banks. You can read the story here: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news082115.htm.
Déjà vu? ;-) Hope all is well! Most likely, and as you've pointed out, I would tend to agree that they come from the Caribbean. I don't think that rules out the odd Moroccan coconut, but...
ReplyDeleteMost likely the Bahamas or Florida
ReplyDeleteDon't rule out Bermuda at latitude: 32°18'N and just 640 miles from the Outer Banks.
ReplyDeleteThey have coconuts, don't they.
Are you suggesting coconuts are migratory?
ReplyDeleteI found a coconut in Portsmouth a few days ago!!
ReplyDelete