Photo Source: South Walton
Searching for a unique way to enjoy your beach vacation? While the beautiful beach and Gulf of Mexico are the main attractions, this area is also home to rare natural wonders – coastal dune lakes. Coastal Dune Lakes are very unique phenomena that only occur in a handful of locations around the globe, including New Zealand, Australia, Madagascar and Emerald Coast, Florida. In fact, Emerald Coast has 15 named coastal dune lakes along its 26 miles of coastline. Two of the area’s larger dune lakes – Morris Lake and Campbell Lake – can be found just a few miles away from the Hilton Sandestin® Beach at Topsail Hill Preserve State Park. The Coastal Dune Lakes are considered one of the rarest ecosystems in the world and as much as 10,000 years old! They were formed by winds that redistributed sand and created the shallow basins (with most lakes averaging only about 5 feet deep).
Coastal Dune Lakes are filled with rainwater and other fresh water sources. The lakes’ small inlets occasionally open to the Gulf, allowing salt water and fresh water to periodically exchange. What makes these lakes truly unique is that their mostly fresh water content sits within just a few feet of the Gulf’s salt water, separated only by a natural berm of sand. Following a heavy rain or other inflow, the sand berms are suddenly breached, causing a flood of fresh water to pour openly into the Gulf. This event is known as an “outfall,” and it’s a time when salty seawater can also flood back into the dune lake, until the levels stabilize. The result is a rare brackish ecosystem that’s home to both fresh and salt water species.
The First Coastal Dune Lake (CDL) Day event being held from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., June 4, 2016 at Grayton Beach State Park! Join the community to learn about these rare local treasures and experience Western Lake for yourself. Food, entertainment and educational fun for the whole family are included.
For more information about these beautiful natural treasures, visit www.coastaldunelakes.org.
My Vacation Haven features more than 140 Emerald Coast vacation rentals in Sandestin® Golf and Beach Resort, Destin, Tops’l Beach and Racquet Resort, 30A, and surrounding South Walton areas. My Vacation Haven is known for its personalized customer care and awesome guest discounts for area attractions and businesses. For beachside fun at its best, every accommodation includes complimentary beach chairs, an umbrella, sand toys and a boogie board for guest use. For your convenience My Vacation Haven is located in Grand Boulevard at Sandestin® Town Center. Our Rentals are available for a whole week or just for a short weekend. Check out our wonderful selections and see our great rental rates available this time of the year. Call up your friends and family and start making plans to come down for an awesome visit. You will be glad that you did!
Keep checking our Blog for today’s news and stories! Like us on Facebook to make sure you get the most recent updates from our Blog. And as always remember, My Vacation Haven. YOUR Vacation Spot!
All information provided is deemed correct but subject to change
#myvacationhaven