Only 5 areas in the world have been known to coastal dunes of the Lakes. This list includes: Panhandle from the Pacific coast of North America, New Zealand, Australia, Madagascar and Florida Gulf Coast. That alone qualifies as a rare phenomenon and worthy of anyone's time to find and explore.
I shall the lakes of Florida in particular thanks to my familiarity with them, but I think the same facts are valid for all. "Aeolian" Lakes are formed by wind eroding the rock and sand redistributes to create lakes. These lakes wind between 2,000 and 10,000 years old. They are also quite shallow with an average depth 5 feet.
The unique feature of coastal dune lakes are fresh water content in the feet of salt water from the ocean. When the lake water rises due to rain or other inflow, a height where water reaches a certain point cause the dunes to react like a dam bursting. The sand gives way to water pressure Lake briefly allowing contact with the sea. When the water level stabilizes, the salty sea water washes back into the lake. The resulting salinity creates an ecosystem rare marine biological species.
Fortunately, Walton County, Florida has had the vision to create the coastal dunes Lakes Task Force. This group maintains a vigil on the integrity of the lakes so that local development has no negative impact on them. A policy is now in effect that says "no construction or disturbance will be allowed in the natural outlet of a coastal dune lake. A buffer zone of not less than fifteen meters from the vegetation be left undisturbed along each side of the lake's natural outlet.
How can anyone put a value on such natural resources? With moderate levels of growth algae and plants that provide a source of freshwater for beach bodies and migratory birds. Their existence is a unique wonder like no other. The indescribable view of these very beautiful blue lakes separated from the emerald green Gulf of Mexico white sand dunes reaching 30 meters high at some points is an impressive value itself. To be present and witness the "break in the dam" is a moving experience few have shared. Ironically, residents and tourists up and down Scenic Highway 30A passes along, and sometimes more of these lakes without any understanding or appreciation of rare value.
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