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![Gulf-Islands-National-Seashore:-Fort-Pickens:-Ranger-Station_03.jpg Gulf-Islands-National-Seashore:-Fort-Pickens:-Ranger-Station_03.jpg: old coast guard station, fort pickens, gulf islands national seashore, dunes, sea oats, victorian house, red roof, dormer windows](/photos/Gulf-Islands-National-Seashore:-Fort-Pickens:-Ranger-Station/thumbs/Gulf-Islands-National-Seashore:-Fort-Pickens:-Ranger-Station_03.jpg.width.440.c.jpg)
The building was formerly used as the Coast Guard Station.
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![Pensacola-Beach:-Dunes-Road_01.jpg Pensacola-Beach:-Dunes-Road_01.jpg: santa rosa island, gulf of mexico, gulf islands national seashore, escambia county, cumulus clouds, beach, sand dunes, emerald coast, two-lane road, curving road](/photos/Pensacola-Beach:-Dunes-Road/thumbs/Pensacola-Beach:-Dunes-Road_01.jpg.width.440.c.jpg)
The beach road bisects Santa Rosa Island.
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![Pensacola-Beach:-Dunes_02.jpg Pensacola-Beach:-Dunes_02.jpg: santa rosa island, gulf of mexico, gulf islands national seashore, escambia county, cumulus clouds, beach, sand dunes, emerald coastsanta rosa island, gulf of mexico, gulf islands national seashore, escambia county, cumulus clouds, beach, sand dunes, emerald coast](/photos/Pensacola-Beach:-Dunes/thumbs/Pensacola-Beach:-Dunes_02.jpg.width.440.c.jpg)
The dunes form undulating ridges along the north side of the beach road. This area is across the road from Parking Lot 10 at the Gulf Islands National Seashore.
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![Pensacola-Beach:-Dunes_04.jpg Pensacola-Beach:-Dunes_04.jpg: santa rosa island, gulf of mexico, gulf islands national seashore, escambia county, cumulus clouds, beach, sand dunes, emerald coast](/photos/Pensacola-Beach:-Dunes/thumbs/Pensacola-Beach:-Dunes_04.jpg.width.200.c.jpg)
Sparse vegetation holds the dunes in place.
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![Pensacola-Beach:-Dunes_05.jpg Pensacola-Beach:-Dunes_05.jpg: santa rosa island, gulf of mexico, gulf islands national seashore, escambia county, cumulus clouds, beach, sand dunes, emerald coast](/photos/Pensacola-Beach:-Dunes/thumbs/Pensacola-Beach:-Dunes_05.jpg.width.200.c.jpg)
Some of dune formations on the north side of the beach road rise to a height of about 30 feet.
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![Pensacola-Beach:-Dunes_06.jpg Pensacola-Beach:-Dunes_06.jpg: santa rosa island, gulf of mexico, gulf islands national seashore, escambia county, cumulus clouds, beach, sand dunes, emerald coast](/photos/Pensacola-Beach:-Dunes/thumbs/Pensacola-Beach:-Dunes_06.jpg.width.200.c.jpg)
The Gulf can be seen on the far right of the photograph.
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![Pensacola-Beach:-Dunes_08.jpg Pensacola-Beach:-Dunes_08.jpg: santa rosa island, gulf of mexico, gulf islands national seashore, escambia county, cumulus clouds, beach, sand dunes, emerald coast](/photos/Pensacola-Beach:-Dunes/thumbs/Pensacola-Beach:-Dunes_08.jpg.width.200.c.jpg)
Beach grasses have long roots that form a subsurface net, keeping the dunes from disintegrating.
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![Pensacola-Beach:-Dunes_09.jpg Pensacola-Beach:-Dunes_09.jpg: santa rosa island, gulf of mexico, gulf islands national seashore, escambia county, cumulus clouds, beach, sand dunes, emerald coast,](/photos/Pensacola-Beach:-Dunes/thumbs/Pensacola-Beach:-Dunes_09.jpg.width.200.c.jpg)
Beach elder accumulates sand rapidly and produces low rounded dunes.
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![Pensacola-Beach:-Dunes_10.jpg Pensacola-Beach:-Dunes_10.jpg: santa rosa island, gulf of mexico, gulf islands national seashore, escambia county, cumulus clouds, beach, sand dunes, emerald coast, ,](/photos/Pensacola-Beach:-Dunes/thumbs/Pensacola-Beach:-Dunes_10.jpg.width.200.c.jpg)
Beach elder (Iva imbricata) has sparse, woody, upright stems and fleshy narrow bright green leaves. Small lavender flowers occur in late summer.