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Limo Beach

Limo Beach, a wide (30-50 m) sandy beach on the south-east part of the island between Limo and Rings-Udden. A large quantity of sand has accumulated into dunes away from the sea. The beach ends at a 0.3-1 m high coastal terrace carved into sea and dune sand. On the south side before Ringsu harbor the beach becomes narrower and steeper. The underwater part of the littoral zone slope is steeper at Limo. In the upper part of the littoral zone, in a 200-300 m wide zone there are 2-4 underwater sand ridges the shape and position of which change according to the direction, strength and stability of wind and waves, to water level, and the amount of loose sand. During ebb tide some sand ridges can even be seen above water. The fine sea sand that covers both the beach and the littoral zone lies on base rocks, the only remaining ice age sediments are cobblestones and boulders that are in the littoral zone either in patches as paving or dispersed. Thickness of the sand layer decreases the further south one goes and in Korsbacka Bay it is only 0.5 m. 

Compared to other beaches on Ruhnu, the accumulation and wash out rate on Limo Beach are more balanced. The consequences of short-term coastal erosions that take place during high tide and when the waves are especially powerful are compensated over longer periods of accumulation. In fall and winter coastal erosion is prominent while in spring and summer fine debris accumulates. For instance, in February 1990 coastal sediments moved along the beach in the opposite direction to usual during an extraordinarily strong southern storm; consequently, denudation and accumulation areas changed positions. As a result, a 1.5 m long and 15-20 m wide body of sand was formed on the coast at a place where coastal erosion usually takes place. In the following five years, the dominant northern storms carried the sand back south.

Owing to earlier human activity there are two long boat harbors (known as lauters) made from erratics on Limo Beach that are located underwater on the most part and reach far out into the sea. These obstruct sand movement south along the beach. Thanks to its large sand area, Limo Beach is nowadays the main vacation spot on the island in the summer and for this purpose, Limo Sauna that also offers accommodation has been established here. 

Limo beach is included in the Ruhnu special conservation area.

The wide sand area of Limo Beach that ends at a foredune

Forest growing on the dunes that surround Limo Beach

Limo Beach is at places surrounded by rather tall dunes

Sedum growing on the foredunes of Limo Beach

Created in 2013