Landforms

• Barrier beaches are sandy breakwaters that form parallel to the coast. The elongated islands trap water behind them, sometimes forming lagoons.
• Barrier beaches form due to sea level change. As sea levels rise, water breaks over a dune/beach ridge forming a lagoon which divides the ridges into islands. Waves wash sand from islands depositing the barrier beach more inland forming new islands. Currents can move barrier beaches up and down the coastline.
• Barrier beaches are depositional landforms.
• You'd find barrier beaches on America's eastern seaboard. This is due to the continental shelf previously being exposed, meaning sea level rise exploited the area. The east coast is also unprotected by cliffs and there is around 300 islands.
• Some barrier beaches are urbanised, for example Atlantic city in New Jersey.