Are beaches in Florida natural?

In spite of the fact that most beachgoers are unaware that many Florida beaches are artificial, even more people do not realize that the barrier islands along the southeast Florida shore are man-made coastal features, much larger and more imposing than the beach itself.



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The pure white, snow-like sand along Northwest Florida beaches is purely ground quartz mineral. The sand can be seen, felt and heard from Panama City Beach to Pensacola Bay.

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The sand is made from pure white quartz crystal, which came from the Appalachian Mountains at the end of the last Ice Age and was deposited into the Gulf of Mexico.

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Florida is home to thriving marine life such as sea turtles, corals, manatees, mangroves, dolphins, whales, sharks, sawfish, rays, spiny lobsters, crabs and countless species of fish.

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An array of crustaceans – including sand crabs, roly polies (isopods), and beach hoppers (amphipods) – as well as beetles, blood worms and clams, all move up and down the beach according to the water level. This on-the-go lifestyle makes management of this ecosystem a unique challenge (see Best Practices).

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Our sand is softer and finer than you see on most other beaches around the world. That's the result of pure, white quartz crystal that washed down from the Appalachian Mountains and was deposited in the Gulf of Mexico.

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The proximity to the ocean can help moderate temperatures, making it a beneficial place to live year-round. The breezes that come in off the sea, often considered refreshing, bring in clean air, which can result in better health, especially for people who suffer with asthma and allergies.

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The Weddell Sea has been claimed by scientists to have the clearest waters of any ocean in the world. Described by a historian as “the most wretched and dismal region on earth”, due to the flash freezes that caught Shackleton's ship, its clarity is only belied by the sheer depth of the ocean below.

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Reduces the risk of premature death Well, it turns out that living near the beach can prevent premature death in several ways. In one piece of research, it was found that immersing in cold water (swimming, wading, and diving, for instance) several times per week led to higher white blood cell counts.

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