Canaveral National Seashore Apollo Beach Boardwalk 1
Sound
On/Off
[ Date ]
05 01 2026
This boardwalk sits on the barrier island side of New Smyrna Beach, along Florida’s central Atlantic coast near the southern edge of Canaveral National Seashore. It is part of a narrow coastal landscape positioned between the Atlantic Ocean to the east and the Indian River Lagoon / Mosquito Lagoon estuarine system to the west.
[ Geographic Features ]
Barrier Island, Shoreline, Beachfront, Dune system, Mangrove Fringe
[ Patterns of Land Use ]
Public Park, Boardwalk, Waterfront Access, Conservation Land
[ Data Set ]
7:05 PM EST
28.937833, -80.830361
77°F, 81% humidity
Wind: 9 mph, gusts up to 14 mph
Direction: 116° ESE
The shoreline forms a long, narrow margin where the Atlantic meets the land. Dark wet sand holds the last light of evening, reflecting the sky in a thin silver band. Small shorebirds move quickly at the waterline, following the retreat of each wave. The horizon remains flat and distant, giving the beach an open and quiet sense of scale.
Boardwalk 01 crosses sandy soil and low dune ridges before opening fully to the shore. A short distance to the left, large rocks rise from the sand in a rough outcropping where waves strike hard at high tide. A narrow path leads above them to a higher edge where salt-tolerant plants persist in difficult conditions. Beach sunflower, shoreline purslane, dune grasses, mangrove species, and scrub vegetation hold their place against wind, sun, and salt spray, marking the gradual transition between beachfront and inland wetland.
Because of its place on the barrier island, the landscape is never still. Erosion redraws the edge, storms cut new paths through sand, tides shift the shoreline daily, and dunes are slowly rebuilt by grass and time.
[ Plants ]
Shoreline Purslane
Common Names: Sea purslane, Shoreline sea-purslane
Botanical Name: Sesuvium portulacastrum
A low-growing perennial succulent found along shorelines, dunes, and salt marsh edges. Its fleshy green leaves and reddish stems are adapted to intense sun, salt spray, and sandy, nutrient-poor soils. It spreads in dense mats that help stabilize sand and protect against coastal erosion.
Kingdom: Plantae
Order: Caryophyllales
Family: Aizoaceae
Genus: Sesuvium
Species: portulacastrum
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Beach Sunflower
Common Names: Cucumber-leaf sunflower, Weak sunflower, East coast dune sunflower, Dune sunflower, Sand sunflower
Botanical Name: Helianthus debilis
A sprawling native flowering perennial with bright yellow petals and dark centers, commonly found in coastal dunes and sandy roadside landscapes. It thrives in full sun, tolerates drought and salt spray, and is widely used in dune restoration and native planting projects.
Kingdom: Plantae
Order: Asterales
Family: Asteraceae
Genus: Helianthus
Species: debilis
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American Beachgrass
Common Names: American marram grass, American dune grass, American marram
Botanical Name: Ammophila breviligulata
A tall perennial dune grass with narrow arching blades and extensive root systems that anchor shifting sand. It thrives in exposed beachfront conditions and plays a major role in dune formation by trapping windblown sand and stabilizing fragile coastal landscapes.
Kingdom: Plantae
Order: Poales
Family: Poaceae
Genus: Ammophila
Species: breviligulata
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White-Flowered Black Mangrove
Common Names: White-flowered mangrove, Kripa
Botanical Name: Avicennia germinans
A salt-tolerant coastal shrub or small tree found near estuaries, lagoons, and tidal creeks. Its thick, rounded leaves and woody structure allow it to survive fluctuating tides and saline soils. It plays an important role in shoreline protection and wetland health.
Kingdom: Plantae
Order: Lamiales
Family: Acanthaceae
Genus: Avicennia
Species: germinans
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Indian Blanket
Common Names: Beach blanket-flower, Gaillardia, Firewheel, Rosering gaillardia, Sundance
Botanical Name: Gaillardia pulchella
A bright red-and-yellow annual wildflower native to sandy coastal soils and open sunny fields. It is highly drought-tolerant and thrives in disturbed sites like dunes and roadsides, supporting pollinators while adding seasonal color to coastal landscapes.
Kingdom: Plantae
Order: Asterales
Family: Asteraceae
Genus: Gaillardia
Species: pulchella