The Breezy Point District is best known for its beautiful Atlantic beach and its dunes. Currents flowing east to west provide us with some of the cleanest water in New York City. These currents also carry sand along the length of Long Island and deposit it on Fort Tilden's beach. Many animals make their home in these sand deposits. You may find the shells these animals produce along the beach, particularly after storms.
Dunes are hills of sand formed by wind blowing over the beach.
When the wind is blocked by vegetation or other objects, the sand, occasional seeds, and bits of plants carried by the wind fall to the ground. This process gradually causes a small hill to form. If the conditions are right the seeds begin to grow. Plants such as beach grasses and seaside goldenrod are among the first to take mot and the far reaching web of their roots helps stabilize the otherwise loose grains of sand. By blocking much of the wind, salt and sand, dunes encourage less salt tolerant plants to grow in areas behind the dunes.