The Living Beach

Humans are transforming Florida's landscape rapidly at the cost of its shorelines--but can they also help preserve and protect its vast biodiversity? Visit three very different beaches to see how this pressing question is being answered.

Every 13 hours, the Bay of Fundy in Nova Scotia performs a record-breaking feat: The sea levels rise to the height of a four-story building! Witness the unstoppable natural cycle of the Atlantic tide and the diverse ecosystems it supports.

The sands along the coast of the Yucatán Peninsula are home to both a vast array of wildlife and a booming tourism industry. From protecting the fragile nesting cycles of sea turtles to moving huge bales of sargassum seaweed that wash up on beaches, learn how humans and animals coexist within this diverse ecosystem.

Many of Hawaii's beaches are the byproduct of unusual scientific events. The green sand of Papakōle comes from a legacy of rich olivine deposits, while the ominous black sands of Punalu'u were forged from the fires of Mount Kilauea. Immerse yourself in the origin stories of some of the world’s most inviting beaches.

Fraser Island is the largest sand island in the world. Despite this, it boasts an astonishing variety of landscapes, including coastal heathland, open woodlands, and tropical rainforests. Explore a unique Australian paradise where dingos run freely on sand dune-protected terrain.

California beaches conjure up images of tanned surfers, gorgeous blue waters, and carefree summers. But powerful environmental phenomena, some manmade, are causing irreparable stress to the local animal, bird, and fish species. Join as we explore the forces that are threatening this coastal paradise.