Land features come and go as water and sand are pushed and pulled by tides and winds. Here a few hundred yards off the beach a few mangrove trees have grabbed hold of the shallow bottom and grown to a fairly substantial size. This is one way isalnds are formed here, as the prop roots from the trees descend into the water and collect drifting sand and hold it in place. Mangroves are critical plants in coastal areas, protecting the land against the ever-intruding sea and providing shelter for the fry of myriad aquatic species, including some economically important game fish. In Florida, mangroves are protected by law. Over the years, our little spit of land might become a major feature in the park, or it could simply wash away.
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