World’s Most Colorful Beaches: You Need To See These

Beaches that have varying shades of yellow sand are not out of the ordinary. Although they are often stunningly beautiful, we have all probably seen too many to count. However, there are some beaches in the world that are unlike anything you have seen before.

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Around the world, there are particular shorelines boast the most unusual colors. One can find black, red, green, and purple sand, as long as you know where to look. Such waterfronts will leave you awe.

Are you interested in seeing some of these colorful locations for yourself? Check out our list below. Here are some of the world’s most wonderful and colorful beaches you need to see.

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Glass Beach – California

This attractive tourist spot is a former city dumpsite. But the waves gradually crushed and smoothed the multicolored glass from bottles and other garbage. Unfortunately, many visitors come to gather pieces of sea glass, carrying them away by the bagful or bucketful, even if it’s forbidden. So, if you visit this beach, make sure you leave the glass for future visitors to see.

Papakolea – Hawaii

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Papakolea is nestled on the Big Island close to the southernmost point. This beach has deep green sand because of olivine, a mineral that a nearby volcanic cone deposited on the shores. Getting down to the water is an experience — tourists have to walk about three miles along the surrounding cliffs of the sea— but the perfect reward is a stroll along the picturesque shore.

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Scala Dei Turchi – Sicily, Italy

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Often known as the Turkish Steps, what was once a port point for Arab pirates during their long Mediterranean voyages has now become a site, unlike any other tourist attraction. With sand formed mainly from quartz particles and shell fragments, the beach features active white steps that fall into the underlying turquoise waters.

The steps are so exceptional that they were considered a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. If you’re going, find time to check out Agrigento’s nearby Greek Temples. But make sure it’s back to the beach for sunset. You won’t want to miss out on that view.

Black Sand Beach – Vik, Iceland

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Beachgoers in southern Iceland definitely won’t want to take a dip in the sea at this cove. Besides the weather, Vik is also one of the country’s rainiest cities. But those braving the storm can see beautiful views of black sand, rock formations, and perhaps even a flock of puffins.

While some beaches are primarily made of black sand, even other beaches of color can often have black sand deposits, particularly after storms. More massive waves may sort out sand grains and leave deposits of heavy minerals visible on the surface.

Red Beach – Santorini, Greece

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Santorini retains the award for the most impressive geology in the world. Its crown jewel is the blood-colored cliffs near the town of Akrotiri. The rock gets its crimson color from the nearby volcano Thera, which is responsible for one of the most significant volcanic events on Earth.

Nevertheless, tourists do not have to fear — more than 3,500 years have passed since Thera’s claim to fame. Red Beach remains a stunning reminder of what Mother Nature can do. Located in a safe lagoon, the beach is ideal for sunbathing and snorkeling. It also comes with an excellent selection of cafes and tavernas by the water.

Conclusion

The colors of these beaches come from various rocks and minerals that make up the sand. These little rock pieces come from the mountains and are eroded by rivers and brought down to the beaches. The whitish bits come from quartz. Typically the black bits are hornblende and sometimes mica biotite.

For more beach trip tips, click here.