North Landing Mornings

Morning fog on the North Landing River

The North Landing River in southeastern Virginia is a watery ribbon that cuts a winding path through a maze of marshes and pocosins. Unlike many rivers, the North Landing River does not start narrow and fast in the mountains of Virginia. Rather, it percolates up through the deep black soils and sponge-like peat of surrounding swamps, gathering and widening to form a blackwater river that eventually converges with the Northwest River in Currituck Sound.

Mornings on the banks of the river are reminiscent of an older, slower time. The air is thick and cool, heavy with the lingering fog as labradors retrieve bumpers tossed out into the coffee-colored water. The rumble of a tug boat floats across the still water as it carefully maneuvers a barge under the Pungo Ferry Bridge and small jon boats head out towards the foggy marsh, fishing poles and bobbers dangling behind the small outboard. Just as the sky begins to lighten, ducks streak low above the tall marsh grasses and in the distance, the sharp cry of an osprey breaks the silence as eagles assume their perches on the cypress trees that line the river. As the sun rises, the fog - clinging like a curtain to the shore -lifts and the soft pinks give way to blue. 

Schedule your ecotour with Moore To See Photo Expeditions to explore this environmental wonderland.