Additional Information for Amelia Island State Park
Plant Life
Amelia Island State Park encompasses approximately 230 acres along the south eastern tip of Amelia Island. The beaches, dunes, and adjacent upland communities have plant life typical of a barrier island. Railroad vine, morning glories, and the protected sea oat are some of the vegetation that have adapted to the harsh, high salt environment of the coast. Upland areas are forested with live oak, red cedar, and pine trees. The understory is dominated by yaupon holly, wax myrtle, and palmetto.
Area Geography
Amelia Island is a sea island in a chain of barrier islands that stretches down the southeast coast of the US from South Carolina to northeast Florida. Sea islands are short, curved barrier islands separated from each other by inlets and waterways, and divided from the mainland by well developed marshes or estuaries. Sea islands consist of both a recent Holocene geologic component on the outer edges and an older, or Pleistocene, core at the center. The core of Amelia Island's Pleistocene sediments has distinct soil profiles consisting of fine sands with little shell material. Unsorted sand with silt and shell layers overlays this older material, creating patches of clay and silt.
Barrier islands are dynamic systems formed by the interaction of wave, wind, and tidal energies that erode, transport, and deposit sediments (Leatherman, 1982). These islands contain ecologically significant habitats that undergo continuous changes due to erosion and accretion (build up) of sediment.
The physical geography of the beach at Amelia Island is somewhat inconsistent with those of other barrier islands. This is due to the presence of erosion control structures that have been placed along the island, the periodic addition of beach fill material, and the development along the coastline north of Amelia Island State Park boundaries.
Resources
The effect of wind and wave energy upon a barrier island is clearly illustrated at Amelia Island State Park. These dynamic forces continually alter the shape of the shoreline removing and depositing sand in an endless cycle. A beach walk observation in September can become a very different observation in April.
Pets
Pets are not allowed on the shoreline of Amelia Island State Park or on the George Crady Bridge Fishing Pier. For more information, please read the Official Pet Policy.
Please see our General Parks Pet Policy for more information.
Links
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