white sand

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  Beach elder (Iva imbricata) has sparse, woody, upright stems and fleshy narrow bright green leaves. Small lavender flowers occur in late summer. Beach elder accumulates sand rapidly and produces low rounded dunes.
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  The road to the fortifications bisects the narrow barrier island.
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  There is a wide expanse of beach between the waterfront and the home.
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  Every room has the advantage of a large expanse of windows or skylights on both floors.
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  Dunes on the side and front are held in place by the extensive root system of sea oats.
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  A boardwalk leads from the backporch to the beach.
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  The view is facilitated by glass balcony railings. The fence on the beach is a dune building line trap the blowing sand.
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  The house was rebuilt in 1995. Stainless steel trim and hardware were added to the exterior finishing.
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  The second floor deck wraps around the house and is an extension of the interior living space.
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  A hot tub is sunken into the deck off the master bedroom.
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  The staircase bisects the deck leading to the downstairs living area.
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  There is an enclosed patio area on the east side the house.
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  The home faces north on Ariola Drive.
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  The glass brick tower is the dominant feature of the facade. It functions as the enclosure for the circular staircase.
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  Stucco is the exterior finish of the home.
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  A circular staircase connects the guest quarters to the second floor residence.
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  The risers are wood that match the upstairs flooring material.
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  The kitchen is located on the west side of the second floor. It features a catering kitchen and wine cooler.
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  The appliances were imported from France.
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  Breaking waves run up on wide, sandy beaches against a backdrop of large sand dunes topped with a smattering of sea oats.
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  Atop and just behind the dunes lies an intriguing habitat that supports a limited but interesting array of plants and animals.
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  Deep white sand is so fine that the beach below you squeaks when you walk. Its seaward edges borders deep green and blue water.
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  The road bisects Santa Rosa Island.
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  The large dunes are located on the soundside or northside of the island.
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  The sparse vegetation has extensive root systems that hold the dunes in place.
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  Emerald water on the right of the photograph is on the gulf side of the island.
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  The plants grow to 6 feet high and they function to trap wind-blown sands that eventually mound to begin dune formation.
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  This aerial shows the road that goes the length of Santa Rosa Island. All beach areas can be reached by road, but the road can't be seen from the water.
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  The road was damaged by Hurricanes Ivan and Dennis, but has been repaired repeatedly. The county views the road as a safety issue since they can use it to get to the two bridges off the island and so will repair it as often as need be.
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  These were taken just before the road was finished and then damaged again by Dennis.
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