(RNN) - Shelly Island, which erupted in June off the coast of North Carolina, surprising and intriguing locals and tourists alike, is no longer an island, The Virginian-Pilot reports.
Now, the nearly mile-long and 450-yard-wide sand bar, which had grown to 27 acres by August, connects at low tide to Cape Point, part of the Cape Hatteras National Seashore.
Winds from Hurricane Irma to the west and south, combined with Jose's activity in the Atlantic, are thought to be behind the sudden connection.
Appearing suddenly in late June off the Cape Hatteras National Seashore, the huge sandbar was named by a young visitor because of its copious amounts of seashells. When it appeared, explorers had to use kayaks and other small boats to cross the 50-yard channel that separated Shelly from the mainland.
It's unknown if Shelly Island will once again separate itself from the coast, experts say. But a lot of people enjoyed the unexpected oasis while it lasted as this video from Cape Hatteras National Seashore shows.
Copyright 2017 Raycom News Network. All rights reserved.
