![lt= sun setting on a series of dunes with green plants on top of them](/subjects/islandofthebluedolphins/images/960Tim-Hauf-Dune.jpg?maxwidth=650&autorotate=false)
A dune is a mound or mountain of sand built up by the action of the wind. Dunes along the coast help to protect coastal areas from ocean storms, and they also provide important habitat for species that enjoy sandy, sheltered areas, like the snowy plover.
Last updated: November 9, 2018