sand dune

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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 small lake is approximately seven acres in size. It borders Escambia Bay.
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  The lake is bordered by sand dunes and marsh grass. It is located about 2 miles from the main gate of Fort Pickens on the north side of the road.
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  The boardwalk leads from Johnson Beach Road to the Gulf.
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  There is little wave action on the sound side.
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  There is a boardwalk on the Gulf side of the turn-around leading to the beach.
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  For nature lovers, the park is a good place to begin an exploration of the barrier island ecosystem.
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  Santa and his helpers enjoy refreshments.
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  The beach road bisects Santa Rosa Island.
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  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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  Sparse vegetation holds the dunes in place.
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  Some of dune formations on the north side of the beach road rise to a height of about 30 feet.
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  The Gulf can be seen on the far right of the photograph.
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  Beach grasses have long roots that form a subsurface net, keeping the dunes from disintegrating.
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  Beach elder accumulates sand rapidly and produces low rounded dunes.
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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.
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  The seed heads mature in August.
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  Barrier beaches are one of the world's most restless landforms. As can be seen above the tress are growing on shifting sand which looks like snow.
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  The sand pine forest is located on the sound side of the key on older dunes.
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  Ridges of old dunes form hills and valleys through the forest.
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  In contrast to the species of pine shown below, the sand pine is much shorter. Its form can be twisted with lower branches growing close to the ground.
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  The overstory in some locations is composed of an older growth of short-leafed pine tree.
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  Florida rosemary is a sand-loving evergreen shrub.
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  A variety of lichen and moss are the most common ground cover.
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  Pieces of pine scrub trees decay slowly because of the high content of sap.
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  The colors of Florida rosemary compliments the green lichens and mosses.