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![Gulf-Islands-National-Seashore:-Dunes:-Parking-Lot-9_03.jpg Gulf-Islands-National-Seashore:-Dunes:-Parking-Lot-9_03.jpg: driftwood, wild flowers, quartz sand, pensacola bay, sand dunes, national seashore](/photos/Gulf-Islands-National-Seashore:-Dunes:-Parking-Lot-9/thumbs/Gulf-Islands-National-Seashore:-Dunes:-Parking-Lot-9_03.jpg.width.440.c.jpg)
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![Gulf-Islands-National-Seashore:-East-Bay_01.jpg Gulf-Islands-National-Seashore:-East-Bay_01.jpg: gulf of mexico, gulf coast, escambia bay, seashore, oak trees, shoreline, sand beach, naval live oaks,](/photos/Gulf-Islands-National-Seashore:-East-Bay/thumbs/Gulf-Islands-National-Seashore:-East-Bay_01.jpg.width.440.c.jpg)
The sound side of the barrier islands is sheltered from the battering of storms.
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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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![Gulf-Islands-National-Seashore:-Fort-Pickens:-Ranger-Station_30.jpg Gulf-Islands-National-Seashore:-Fort-Pickens:-Ranger-Station_30.jpg: dunes, seashore, gulf of mexico, sea oats, emerald water, archaeological underwater wreck, scuba diving](/photos/Gulf-Islands-National-Seashore:-Fort-Pickens:-Ranger-Station/thumbs/Gulf-Islands-National-Seashore:-Fort-Pickens:-Ranger-Station_30.jpg.width.200.c.jpg)
This view of the Ranger Station is taken near the wreck of the Norweigan bark, the Catherine, which is located in 15 feet of water where it sank on August 7, 1894. The outline of the vessel can be seen as a dark shadow on the surface.
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![Gulf-Islands-National-Seashore:-Opal-Beach-Sign_01.jpg Gulf-Islands-National-Seashore:-Opal-Beach-Sign_01.jpg: dune fence, dunes, gulf of mexico, sea oats, cirrus clouds, mixed skies, national seashore](/photos/Gulf-Islands-National-Seashore:-Opal-Beach-Sign/thumbs/Gulf-Islands-National-Seashore:-Opal-Beach-Sign_01.jpg.width.440.c.jpg)
The fence is located at the Opal Beach sign, three miles from the Opal Beach boardwalk.
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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.
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![Pensacola-Beach:-Waterfront_000.jpg Pensacola-Beach:-Waterfront_000.jpg: gulf coast, beach, dunes, dog, wave, seashore, surf, gulf of mexico, sugar sand, dune](/photos/Pensacola-Beach:-Waterfront/thumbs/Pensacola-Beach:-Waterfront_000.jpg.width.200.c.jpg)
This photo features Sugar The Wonder Dog. Dogs are not allowed on the beach so it was a surprise to see a golden retriver playing in the sand.
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![Pensacola-Beach:-Waterfront_01.jpg Pensacola-Beach:-Waterfront_01.jpg: gulf coast, dunes, seashore, gulf of mexico, quartz sand, sugar sand, rhizomes,](/photos/Pensacola-Beach:-Waterfront/thumbs/Pensacola-Beach:-Waterfront_01.jpg.width.200.c.jpg)
Sea oats have a deep stem that may reach several feet below the surface of the dune. As the dune continues to grow, this stem send out vigorous branching rhizomes at or just below ground level. As a result a sea oat may reach to the very base of the dune that supports it with a laybrinth of rootlike structures.
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![Pensacola-Beach:-Waterfront_09.jpg Pensacola-Beach:-Waterfront_09.jpg: seashore, wave, quartz sand crystal, emerald coast, shallow water](/photos/Pensacola-Beach:-Waterfront/thumbs/Pensacola-Beach:-Waterfront_09.jpg.width.200.c.jpg)
White sand makes for emerald green water.
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![Pensacola-Beach:-Waterfront_10.jpg Pensacola-Beach:-Waterfront_10.jpg: santa rosa island, gulf of mexico, seashore, dune, road, white sand, quartz sand crystal, wave, surf, barrier island, santa rosa sound, aerial view](/photos/Pensacola-Beach:-Waterfront/thumbs/Pensacola-Beach:-Waterfront_10.jpg.width.200.c.jpg)
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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![Pensacola-Beach:-Waterfront_13.jpg Pensacola-Beach:-Waterfront_13.jpg: sea oats, dunes, beach, seashore, cumulus clouds, gulf of mexico, dune, quartz crystal sand,](/photos/Pensacola-Beach:-Waterfront/thumbs/Pensacola-Beach:-Waterfront_13.jpg.width.440.c.jpg)
The white sand actually traveled from the Appalachian mountains from local rivers. The dunes are tops with a smattering of sea oats.
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![Pensacola-Beach:-Waterfront_13a.jpg Pensacola-Beach:-Waterfront_13a.jpg: weather front, storm, seashore, beach, emerald water, dune fences, gulf of mexico, surf](/photos/Pensacola-Beach:-Waterfront/thumbs/Pensacola-Beach:-Waterfront_13a.jpg.width.200.c.jpg)
The short fences were installed after recent storms to promote dune formation by trapping blowing sand.
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![Pensacola-Beach:-Waterfront_33.jpg Pensacola-Beach:-Waterfront_33.jpg: navarre, water, gulf of mexico, seashore, quartz crystal sand](/photos/Pensacola-Beach:-Waterfront/thumbs/Pensacola-Beach:-Waterfront_33.jpg.width.200.c.jpg)
The shoreline along the coast is uniform throughout the gulf side of the island.
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![Pensacola-Beach:-Waterfront_34.jpg Pensacola-Beach:-Waterfront_34.jpg: gulf of mexico, barrier island, dunes, via de luna drive, santa rosa island, coast, seashore](/photos/Pensacola-Beach:-Waterfront/thumbs/Pensacola-Beach:-Waterfront_34.jpg.width.200.c.jpg)
A two lane road runs through the middle of the island.
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![Pensacola-Beach:-Road-Updated_01.jpg Pensacola-Beach:-Road-Updated_01.jpg: road, beach, sand, water, gulf, seashore, park, white sand, sea oats](/photos/Pensacola-Beach:-Road-Updated/thumbs/Pensacola-Beach:-Road-Updated_01.jpg.width.440.c.jpg)
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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![Pensacola-Beach:-Road-Updated_02.jpg Pensacola-Beach:-Road-Updated_02.jpg: road, beach, sand, water, gulf, seashore, park, white sand, sea oats](/photos/Pensacola-Beach:-Road-Updated/thumbs/Pensacola-Beach:-Road-Updated_02.jpg.width.200.c.jpg)
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![Pensacola-Beach:-Road-Updated_03.jpg Pensacola-Beach:-Road-Updated_03.jpg: road, beach, sand, water, gulf, seashore, park, white sand, sea oats](/photos/Pensacola-Beach:-Road-Updated/thumbs/Pensacola-Beach:-Road-Updated_03.jpg.width.200.c.jpg)
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![Pensacola-Beach:-Road-Updated_04.jpg Pensacola-Beach:-Road-Updated_04.jpg: road, beach, sand, water, gulf, seashore, park, white sand, sea oats](/photos/Pensacola-Beach:-Road-Updated/thumbs/Pensacola-Beach:-Road-Updated_04.jpg.width.200.c.jpg)
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![Pensacola-Beach:-Road-Updated_05.jpg Pensacola-Beach:-Road-Updated_05.jpg: road, beach, sand, water, gulf, seashore, park, white sand, sea oats](/photos/Pensacola-Beach:-Road-Updated/thumbs/Pensacola-Beach:-Road-Updated_05.jpg.width.200.c.jpg)