The beach habitat is quite varied. It ranges between a transition zone into water to a transition zone into forest or meadow. The beach may be a limestone pavement where all soil has been removed by wave action or it may be a sand beach. The transition between the water and the vegetated land may take place quickly - over a few meters. A limestone pavement beach consists of flat slabs of limestone rock that are covered by very thin or no soil.
Plants grow in cracks within limestone slabs or rocks.
Rain water quickly runs off the flat rock surface. However, ground water is close to the surface because the lake level occurs within a few centimetres of the pavement surface. Therefore, plants are seldom stressed by lack of water. Plants have to grow their roots in cracks in the rock or in the very shallow soil. The soil is also limey and is alkaline.