The glass tubes are called fulgurites, after a Roman goddess named Fulgora who was thought to keep people safe from thunderstorms. Over the last quarter of a century, Jockey's Ridge has moved several hundred feet southwest and has begun to flatten out, threatening to bury nearby houses and roads. Scientists and local residents are studying the process carefully, trying to understand why the dunes now seem to be steadily moving and shrinking, and what should be done about it. Many geologists believe that the dune migration is a natural process, perhaps the result of changes in wind patterns over recent years. Others believe that commercial and residential development of the barrier islands has interfered with the cycle of shifting sand on Jockey's Ridge.
Debate continues about what to do with the moving dunes.
While each proposal for handling the moving sands of Jockey's Ridge has its own set of problems and issues, one thing is certain. The turrets of the castle that used to decorate the now-buried miniature golf course are an eerie reminder of the vastness and power of the moving dunes. Exerpted from Cricket Magazine. Text by Lyn Bourdow. All rights reserved.