Albemarle Sound (AL-buh-mahrl), large estuary of Atlantic Ocean, NE N.C., c.55 mi/89 km long, 3 mi/4.8 km–14 mi/23 km wide. Shallow and tideless, the sound is separated from the Atlantic Ocean by the Outer Banks sand barrier, branched through Oregeon Inlet from Pamlico Sound to SE. The Chowan R. (from N) and Roanoke R. (from W) are the main streams and enter the head of the sound. Intracoastal Waterway crosses Albermarle Sound near its mouth, from Alligator R. to Currituck Sound. Dismal Swamp Canal connects it with Chesapeake Bay to N. Fort Raleigh Natl. Historic Site on Roanoke Isl. and Wright Brothers Natl. Memorial at Kitty Hawk are at the E end of the sound on Outer Banks. Sound has several arms, including Currituck Sound (in behind Outer Banks), North R., Pasquotank R., Little R. and Perquimans R. estuaries, all on N side, and the Alligator R. estuary on S side. Elizabeth City and Edonton on N side.
