Illegal Sea Sand Dredging Leaves Behind Environmental Mess, China
China’s economic boom has triggered unprecedented number of construction projects. The regular supply of sand has almost run out and many construction firms have been using sand from the sea, illegally, and leaving behind an environmental mess. The coastline in Rizhao, Shandong, has retreated more than 100 meters due to excessive sea sand dredging.
Land Reclamation at Rotterdam, Netherlands
The Port of Rotterdam is already Europe’s biggest port, but the Maasvlakte 2 Land Reclamation Project will triple its container capacity in one bold stroke. Stretching 3 miles beyond the former coastline, Maasvlakte 2 will be as large as Midtown and Downtown Manhattan combined.
Cancun’s Beaches: Vanishing Sand and Wasted Money
In a major restoration project last year, millions of cubic yards (meters) of sand were dredged from the sandy bottom of the Caribbean and pumped ashore in Cancun. The project created a seven-mile stretch of beach some 40 to 70 yards (meters) wide, at a cost of about $70 million. It is already washing away.
Artificial Offshore Reef Could Stop Serious Beach Erosion
Such costly reef have proved successful in other areas, and it could be the only option to protect the coastline of Old Bar, Australia.
Louisiana Rethinks Its Sand Berms
Many faulted the project as pointless, and transforming the rapidly built berms into permanent barrier islands that can withstand the strong storms and tides of coastal Louisiana will be extremely challenging.
Potentially devastating impacts of major coastal developments, Australia
100 major coastal developments were proposed for the Queensland coast, with potentially devastating impacts.
L’île Mystérieuse
It isn’t on the map, no one knows what to call it, and it could vanish at any moment.
Sand Color Palette
Most beach sand color ranges from pale cream to golden to caramel, but in select places around the world, sand can be red, pink, orange, chocolate, gold, purple, green, or black.
So Much to Learn About the Oceans From Sand
Rob Holman, a coastal oceanographer from Oregon State University, has collected more than 860 samples of sand, from all continents.