Which of the following statements regarding barrier islands is/are correct? 1. These are small chain of sand islands that form offshore, far from the coast. 2. Lagoons or shallower marshes separate the barrier islands from the mainland. 3. Such locations are hazardous for settlements because they are easily swept away by storms and hurricanes.

Barrier islands are long, narrow, offshore deposits of sand or sediment that run parallel to the coast and are separated from the mainland by lagoons, bays or marshes. They form a chain along many coastlines (e.g., the U.S. East Coast). These islands are highly dynamic and are easily eroded, shifted or swept away by hurricanes, tropical storms and storm surges, making them hazardous for permanent settlement. Hence all three statements are correct.