36 beachLIFE NATURE THE STORY OF SAND
NATURE : STORY OF THE SAND
outflows east of the Mississippi , and therefore far less sediment in the northeastern Gulf .
The white sand beaches of northwest Florida extend westward as far as Cape San Blas and as far east as Pensacola near the Alabama / Florida border . Some of the sand , however , has migrated to the southeast , finding its way to the beaches between St . Petersburg and Marco Island .
ONGOING PHENOMENA
The story of our soft , white sand , and the beaches that bring millions of visitors to the Emerald Coast each year , is still in the making . The Appalachian Mountains , worn by the constant flow of water , continue to release its buried veins of quartz . And in every moment of every day , the Apalachicola River delivers that small , precious cargo to the sea .
Another ongoing phenomenon : The protection of Florida ’ s beaches and coastal waters . The current offshore drilling moratorium is temporary . It expires in 2030 . Which begs the question : How durable is the will to protect the destination we love ?