Villano Beach is located just north of St. Augustine's historic district. It is known for its sandy Atlantic shoreline and its orange sand. The sand here can actually be categorized as coquina sand as it is predominantly crushed shell. While Florida may have 663 miles of beaches, each beach is different and unique in its own ways.
The more prominent feature that can be seen from these coordinates are the sand dunes. Sand dunes are important, and help protect inland areas from flooding, and can absorb the impact of high energy storms. They also protect the beach from erosion. There are six types of dunes, as seen in the image above. Sand dunes have several characteristics. The windward side (the direction from which the prevailing wind blows) has a gentle slope, while the leeward side (opposite the direction of the prevailing wind)has a steep slope. The crest is the top of the dune.
Logging Requirements:
- Examine some of the sand that can be found on the beach. Describe the shape, color and texture. How do you think the characteristics of the sand have impacted the formation of the dunes?
- Observe the sand dunes near the rear of the beach. Please stay on the trail at all times when making your observations, in order to help protect the dunes. What type of dune(s) are present here? Which direction does the prevailing wind blow from? Estimate the height of a dune.
- Upload a photo taken at Vilano Beach. Per geocaching guidelines, you don't have to be in the photos, but it is strongly recommended.