“S” is for Sea Islands. Scattered along the state’s approximately 185 miles of coastline, South Carolina’s Sea Islands shelter the mainland from storms and erosion. The islands differ considerably in formation, size, and land use. There are two distinct types of islands: active barriers and erosion remnants. Active barrier islands (e.g. Hunting and Fripp Islands) developed as currents and storms moved sand into beach ridges and dunes, held in place by persistent vegetation. Erosion remnant islands (e.g. Hilton Head) were once part of the mainland, separated during the Pleistocene epoch. But this ever-changing string of islands, battered by ocean tides as well as man’s influences, is more than just a physical buffer. The islands’ borders also protect a way of life, a unique cultural identity nurtured by the nearby warm Gulf Stream water that provided the climate that has defined life on the Sea Islands.
“S” is for Sea Islands
