Seaworthy

Fun Facts About Seashores

• The seashore is always moving. That's because waves, tides, and wind constantly reshape beaches. You might even notice your favorite shoreline looks noticeably different from one year to the next.
• Seashore sand is primarily produced through the weathering and erosion of rocks over thousands — even millions — of years, breaking them down into tiny, durable grains (mostly quartz).
• Some beaches create audible squeaks or hums when walked upon due to uniform grain size and dryness. Many of the best "singing" beaches are in Australia and Japan.
• Beach sand varies in color considerably. It's based on the erosion of nearby rocks, minerals and organic materials. Some beaches are black (from volcanic material), pink (crushed coral), green (olivine crystals), or even purple (mineral-rich deposits).
• Ocean tides at a seashore are powered by the Moon. This is due to its gravitational pull. The Sun has an effect too, but the Moon is much stronger.
• That bubbly foam you see at the shore may look like soap or pollution, but it's really made from dissolved organic matter churned up by waves.
• Documented cases from catastrophic events like tsunamis show that drifwood can travel thousands of miles across oceans, even crossing from one continent to another.
• Some beaches glow at night if they contain enough microscopic organisms, called phytoplankton, capable of producing bioluminescence. This will make waves glow electric blue when disturbed.