This block of four stamps honors Cape Hatteras, a promontory on Hatteras Island that is the easternmost point of North Carolina's Outer Banks. While the stamps may be used individually, they are far more meaningful a design when viewed together. Frequent storms off Cape Hatteras, where cold northern currents collide with the Gulf Stream, historically have taken a heavy toll on shipping. Known as the "Graveyard of the Atlantic," the cape has had a lighthouse since 1798. The present lighthouse, which is the tallest in the United States, has been in operation since 1870. Cape Hatteras National Seashore is 70 miles (110 km) of unspoiled beaches, dunes, and salt marshes. It is made up of the islands of Bodie, Hatteras, and Ocracoke.