How were Florida beaches formed?

Barrier islands make up more than 700 miles of Florida's coastline. They are naturally formed by shifting sands that build upon an existing sandbar to eventually form an island. The sand that has accumulated above the water surface becomes the home for the drifting seeds of beach plants.



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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 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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The seaward portion of the beach is considered state property, while the portion of beach above the high tide line is typically owned by the coastal property owner.

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On the hunt for the absolute clearest waters of Florida? Then, Destin Beach is the place to go. This beach is located in a coastal area called the Emerald Coast, which stretches about 100 miles through five counties in the idyllic 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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The record sale in the enclave was Oracle founder Larry Ellison's $173 million purchase of billionaire Jim Clark's oceanfront estate last year. A living space inside the main home on Tarpon Isle, a private island in Palm Beach, Florida, on sale for $218 million.

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Clearest Water in Florida
  • The Florida Keys. The Florida Keys are the ultimate Florida boating destination for gin-clear water. ...
  • Jupiter. Jupiter is another one of Florida's amazing boating destinations with gin-clear water. ...
  • Destin. ...
  • Panama City Beach. ...
  • Freshwater Springs. ...
  • Miami. ...
  • Palm Beach. ...
  • Tampa.


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Why does Florida beach sand squeak? Squeaking (sometimes called whistling) sand happens where sand is mostly quartz, very well rounded and highly spherical, according to Scientific American. The frequency and amplitude are related to the grain size and surface texture.

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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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