Formed by a hurricane in 1846, Oregon Inlet connects the Atlantic Ocean with Pamlico Sound and a maze of inland waterways. Together these waters form a 3,000-square-mile estuary that provides crucial habitat for commercially important fish, shrimp, and shellfish species. More than 95% of North Carolina's seafood species use Pamlico Sound as a nursery, thriving in the nutrient-rich shallow water and seagrass beds. Named after the first ship to pass through, the inlet is one of the few regional access points to the Atlantic Ocean and a busy thoroughfare for recreational and commercial fishing vessels. Since 1883, members of the United States Lifesaving Service and the United States Coast Guard have watched over Oregon Inlet, protecting thousands of mariners and keeping the vital waterway open. Before 1963, a vehicle ferry carried traffic between the northern Outer Banks and Hatteras Island; today the inlet is spanned by the 2.8-mile Marc Basnight Bridge. The Oregon Inlet Campground was newly constructed in 1966 and today attracts thousands of campers each year, while the Oregon Inlet Fishing Center has provided fishing services since the 1950s and continues to serve customers from around the world.