Barbados Beaches and Coastal Features: Beaches Photogallery

<body text="#666666" bgcolor="#FFCC99" link="#FF9900" vlink="#FF6666" alink="#CC66CC"> <script language="JavaScript">  </script> <h1> <a NAME="Beaches"></a><b><font color="#FF6600">Barbados Beaches and Swimming</font></b></h1> <hr> <p><img SRC="landscap/bathcwas.jpg" ALT="Bazthsheba - Part of the Magical Easy Coast" BORDER=0 height=237 width=317 align=RIGHT> <h2> <b><font color="#CC6600">Beaches</font></b></h2> <ul> <li> <b><a href="beachimg.htm">Visit the beaches photo gallery!</a></b></li> <li> <b><a href="#Sand">Sand</a></b></li> <li> <b><a href="#Swimming">Sea</a></b></li> <li> <b><a href="#Privacy">Privacy and nude bathing</a></b></li> <li> <b><a href="#Physio">Other Coastal Features</a></b></li> <li> <b><a href="tours/toursisl.htm">Island Tours</a></b></li> </ul> <b>Barbados is a relatively flat island with an abundant supply of large gradually sloping beaches fringing the land. In some areas, notably the North, coral and sandstone cliffs rise straight out of the sea reaching several hundred feet in height. In the South West, cliffs of 50 to 100 feet rise and fall along the coast separated by small sandy beaches and bays. In the flatter South West and West coast, you may walk for miles along unbroken white sand beaches, sometimes stopping at a cluster of coral rocks jutting out to sea. All along the shore, large and small beaches are broken by coral formations, the soft coral rocks weather by the ocean surf, forming abstract sculptures to an artist's eye.</b> <br><script language="JavaScript">  </script> <p> <hr> <br>  <br>  <br>  <br>  <h1> <a NAME="Sand"></a><b><font color="#FF6600">Soft, Warm, White Sand Beaches</font></b></h1> <b><a href="beachimg.htm">Visit the beaches photo gallery!</a></b> <hr> <p><b>Barbados is a coral island and its beaches are made from finely ground coral forming a clean fine grain. There are few beaches that are not fine sand. Generally if there is a beach on the shore, it is beautiful sand. Natural sand dunes are not common but some exist in Long Bay on the South West Coast.</b> <h2> <a NAME="Privacy"></a><b>Privacy</b></h2> <b>All beaches in Barbados are open to the public. Properties which front onto a beach may own the land to the high-water mark only. Access to the beach is a right for every Barbadian and many of the sea front properties must provide a public right of way across their land to the ocean.</b> <h2> <a NAME="Nude"></a><b>Nude Bathing</b></h2> <b>It's not really done, but some do anyway! There are no official nude beaches in Barbados and there are no private beaches. As a result of these, our Christian principles and conservative British style which has been passed on through the generations, Barbadians do not have a culture of undressing on public beaches. However, whatever you do at night <u>might</u> only be seen "by the light of the silvery moon"!</b> <h2> <b>Beach Vendors and Security</b></h2> <b>Selling goods to tourists on the beach is a regulated practice in Barbados. Vendors are not permitted to roam the beach and set up shop out of a carrying case. If you are bothered by a vendor, report it to the police. Most of Barbados favorite beaches are patrolled by police, but they cannot be everywhere and it is prudent not to leave valuables unattended.</b> <p><b><a href="#Swimming">View Swimming</a></b> <br>  <br>  <br>  <br>  <br>  <br>  <br>  <br>  <br>  <br>  <br>  <br>  <br>  <br>  <br>  <br>  <br>  <h1> <a NAME="Swimming"></a><b><font color="#FF6600">Swim, Surf, Soak and Play</font></b></h1> <b><a href="http://barbados.org/beachimg.htm">Visit the beaches photo gallery!</a></b> <hr> <h4> <b>WEST COAST</b></h4> <b>Generally the sea on the West coast are the calmest, but good safe quiet swimming is available in the many tranquil bays along the South West and the South that touch the Caribbean Sea. If you like clam waters with a soft sandy bottom, then the West Coast is probably the best of these conditions, but seasonal variations can cause things to change.</b> <h4> <b>SOUTH COAST</b></h4> <b>Here you will find seas of gentle waves for body surfing and tumbling in the water. There are rollers for surfing with buggy boards and surfboards and some of the best <a href="surfseek.htm">windsurfing</a> in the world. Annual surfing competitions and international surfing meets are held on both the South and East Coast.</b> <h4> <b>EAST AND NORTH COASTS</b></h4> <b>The East and North coasts of Barbados meet the Atlantic Ocean, where huge waves crash along the shore and coral reefs. This coast is not recommended for swimming except for a few of the very protected bays. There are strong currents and fierce waves beating on the rugged coral to create a spectacle of power of a wild and rugged sea.</b> <p><b>If you love the sea at its wildest you must visit the East Coast, but don't swim unless you are with someone how knows the area well.</b> <p><b><a href="#Physio">View Other Coastal Features</a></b> <hr> <br>  <br>  <br>  <br>  <br>  <br>  <h1> <a NAME="Physio"></a><b><font color="#FF6600">Other Coastal Features</font></b></h1> <hr><a href="http://barbados.org/spray.htm"><img SRC="http://barbados.org/landscap/thmb/wtrspt.gif" HSPACE=10 BORDER=4 height=100 width=120 align=RIGHT></a> <br><b><a href="#Beaches">Back to Beaches and Swimming</a></b> <p><b>Of course, not all of Barbados coast is sand, there are mangrove swamps, cliffs, tide pools and areas where beds of low lying coral rock, sandstone, clay or shale reach out to the sea.</b> <p><b>Barbados swamps are to be found in Chancery Lane, Inch Marlow and Graham Hall in the South and South West of the Island. They are the major wetlands of Barbados providing an assemble of plants and animals forming an important link in the food chain of offshore fish and birds.</b> <p><img SRC="http://barbados.org/landscap/thmb/tdflts2.gif" HSPACE=10 BORDER=4 height=100 width=120 align=RIGHT> <p><b>Low lying rock formations are particularly prevalent along the North East and South Easter points, periwinkles, sea anemones, crabs and snails make their home along these rocks.</b> <p><b>Tidal flats and wave ridges occur mostly off the East coast within eroded limestone plateaus and other low lying rock formations.</b> <br>  <p><a href="tdplprop.htm"><img SRC="http://barbados.org/landscap/thmb/tdplprop.gif" HSPACE=10 BORDER=4 height=100 width=120 align=RIGHT></a> <br><b>On the South and South West Coast you will find many tide pools, an important ecological resource, acting as nurseries for juvenile fish and other permanent residence like the ghost crab, sea roaches as well as marine plants like sea moss which is made into a health drink.</b> <br>  <br>  <br>  <p><a href="fshpeopl.htm"><img SRC="http://barbados.org/people/thmb/fshmnet.gif" HSPACE=10 BORDER=4 height=100 width=120 align=RIGHT></a><b>Cliffs of coral and sandstone overlook calm bays and rugged coastline and sometimes small, cozy soft sand beaches nestle between heads of coral sculptured by the sea. Most of the larger cliffs are in the North, in the parish of St. Lucy.</b> <p><b><a href="#Beaches">Back to Beaches and Swimming</a></b> <br>  <br>  <br>  <br>  <br>  <br>  <br>  <br>  <br>  <br>  <br>  <br>  <p> <hr> <br>  <center> <h1> <b><i><font color="#FF6600">Barbados Tourism Encyclopedia</font></i></b></h1></center> <center> <hr></center> <p><br> <table BORDER=0 > <tr VALIGN=CENTER> <th ALIGN=CENTER VALIGN=CENTER WIDTH="10%"> <br><a href="http://barbados.org/stay.htm">WHERE TO STAY</a></th> <th ALIGN=CENTER VALIGN=CENTER WIDTH="10%"> <br><a href="http://barbados.org/eat.htm">WHERE TO EAT</a></th> <th ALIGN=CENTER VALIGN=CENTER WIDTH="10%"><a href="http://barbados.org/shop.htm">SHOPS</a></th> <th ALIGN=CENTER VALIGN=CENTER WIDTH="10%"><a href="do.htm">DO & SEE</a></th> <th ALIGN=CENTER VALIGN=CENTER WIDTH="10%"> <br><a href="http://barbados.org/know.htm">THINGS TO KNOW</a></th> <th ALIGN=CENTER VALIGN=CENTER WIDTH="10%"><a href="http://barbados.org/business.htm#Business">BUSINESS</a></th> <th ALIGN=CENTER VALIGN=CENTER WIDTH="10%"><a href="http://barbados.org/sales.htm">SALES & BOOKINGS</a></th> </tr> <tr VALIGN=CENTER> <td ALIGN=CENTER VALIGN=CENTER WIDTH="10%"> <center><a href="http://barbados.org/stay.htm"><img SRC="http://barbados.org/!2fishs.gif" BORDER=0 ></a></center> </td> <td ALIGN=CENTER VALIGN=CENTER WIDTH="10%"> <center><a href="http://barbados.org/eat.htm"><img SRC="http://barbados.org/!fish1s.gif" BORDER=0 ></a></center> </td> <td ALIGN=CENTER VALIGN=CENTER WIDTH="10%"> <center><a href="http://barbados.org/shop.htm"><img SRC="http://barbados.org/!rockfis.gif" BORDER=0 ></a></center> </td> <td ALIGN=CENTER VALIGN=CENTER WIDTH="10%"> <center><a href="http://barbados.org/do.htm"><img SRC="http://barbados.org/!gruntss.gif" BORDER=0 ></a></center> </td> <td ALIGN=CENTER VALIGN=CENTER WIDTH="10%"> <center><a href="http://barbados.org/know.htm"><img SRC="http://barbados.org/!blueans.gif" BORDER=0 ></a></center> </td> <td ALIGN=CENTER VALIGN=CENTER WIDTH="10%"> <center><a href="http://barbados.org/business.htm#Business"><img SRC="http://barbados.org/!seahora.gif" BORDER=0 ></a></center> </td> <td ALIGN=CENTER VALIGN=CENTER WIDTH="10%"> <center><a href="http://barbados.org/sales.htm"><img SRC="!reds.gif" BORDER=0 ></a></center> </td> </tr> </table> <center> <p> <hr></center> <center> <h2> <b><i><a href="http://barbados.org/btaindex.htm#Main">Barbados Tourism Encyclopedia</a></i></b></h2></center> <center><b><i>The official Website of</i></b> <br><b><i><a href="http://barbados.org/bta.htm">The Barbados Tourism Encyclopedia</a></i></b></center> <center> <h3> <b><i>Created by <br> <a href="http://barbados.org/techn.htm">AXSES Systems Caribbean Ltd.<br> <font= 1>©AXSES 1996-1999</a></i></b></h3></center> <center> <hr></center> <p><br> <br> <br> </body>