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This unique beach, located in Australia's Shark Bay World Heritage Area, is called Shell Beach. As its name suggests, from afar it looks like a pristine white sand beach, but upon closer inspection, visitors are surprised and delighted to discover that the shoreline is covered in seashells, not sand. This unique feature exists in only two places in the world.
Imagine billions of white seashells stretching endlessly along the coastline beneath your feet. This would be a fantastic idea for anyone passionate about exploring the beauty of nature. Located on the western edge of Australia, this shell beach stretches for 70km. Furthermore, if you think shells are just a thin layer on the sand, you're greatly mistaken. Because, in some places along this vast beach, the layer of shells is up to 10 meters thick.
Interestingly, the billions of seashells found at Shell Beach belong to a single species of mollusk that thrives in this area. Two factors make this place an ideal habitat for them.
Firstly, Shell Beach is located in the innermost, horseshoe-shaped area of Sharky Bay. This area boasts the world's highest concentration of seagrass, forming a natural barrier during high and low tides. Secondly, the climate here is characterized by low rainfall and high evaporation rates, resulting in salinity levels twice as high as those in the Indian Ocean. Therefore, the high salinity allows for the growth of various shellfish species.
Unhindered by tides and fierce predators, the clams continue to thrive and multiply, and over thousands of years, billions of shells have been brought ashore, building up the coastline. Although these shells are only a few millimeters in size, they have created a stunning and unique stretch of coastline.
Throughout the 19th and 20th centuries, locals used these stones to build houses, restaurants, and churches by compressing them. But today, the area is preserved after Shark Bay was recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1991.
Source: Oddity Central - Article by: Bao Khuyen
