Beaches and dunes
Beaches are great places for having fun and enjoying yourself.Queensland has many beautiful sandy beaches which are used for many forms of recreation such as surfing, swimming, fishing and in some places, four-wheel-driving.
Most people use the word 'beach' when they refer to the sandy area that separates the sea from the land. However, this sand area is only a part of the beach system which begins in the sand dunes above the high tide mark, and stretches out to sea past where the waves break.
Most beaches in Queensland are backed by vegetated sand dunes. These dunes are very effective coastal protection features. They absorb the erosive energy of waves generated by cyclones and storms and are reservoirs of sand to replenish the beach during periods of wave erosion. Vegetation on the dunes traps and holds sand blown from the beach aiding dune build-up and stopping sand from being blown inland and lost from the active beach and dune system.
Last updated: 22 December 2005
