Beach Buggies

Many coastal areas are damaged by motor vehicle usage. The picture below shows an area of coastline near Gunnersholmie, South Iceland, being used for recreational purposes. The use of motor vehicles can have a long lasting effect on beach ecosystems: They destroy plants growing in sand dunes. These plants hold the sand together, and provide shelter from the wind. In addition, the drivers of these vehicles often drop litter and waste, and there is always the problem that the vehicles leave behind oil on the beach. The wind in Iceland is sufficent to blow the sand and litter many kilometres away.