Sculpted by wave and wind-worked sand, green cloaked dunes stand flank to flank parallel to the beach, gently guarding the quiet waterways behind them. Lush forests cover the dunes, drawing from the freshwater trapped in these elevated sands. Protected from fire by the surrounding saline coastal plain, these oases of fruits, flowers and leaves harbour refugees from a wetter time. Deciduous vines, figs, ebonies, bean trees and hundreds of others crowd the available space, and cover the sand with a litter of spent leaves. Insects abound, and together with nectar, provide food for a vigorous bird life.