A barrier island is a coastal landform, a type of dune system and sand island, formed when wave and tidal action pile up sand parallel to the mainland shore. Barrier islands typically occur in long, narrow chains and are continually reshaped by waves, tides, sediment supply, and changing sea level, which can cause them to shift, grow, or erode. By absorbing wave energy they shelter the coast behind them, creating calmer waters where wetlands can develop. A barrier chain can run for hundreds of kilometers, broken periodically by tidal inlets, and the longest in the world is Padre Island off Texas at 182 kilometers. Vegetation cover strongly influences how tall a barrier island stands and how it evolves over time.
Reader Challenges (0 open reader challenges)
No disputes yet. Spotted an error or a better source? Open the first one.
Sign in to dispute this or suggest a correction.
View At A Past Year
The atlas records no dated fact of its own for this entry, so there is no other year to choose.