When we think of vacation, relaxation, and some time with family, friends, or even ourselves, one of the many places that comes to our minds immediately is a beach. Beaches are the perfect way to enjoy some getaway time from work and a chance to enjoy sunbathing. Beaches are also scenic and a treat for the eyes, which makes us think; how did these wondrous, calming places come into being? Are beaches man-made or natural?
The answer is both! Beaches can be man-made and they can be natural. Let’s find out how each of these beaches is made and which beaches classify as natural or man-made.
Man-made or natural beaches?
Natural:
Natural beaches are a combined result of the action of water bodies like the sea, wind, and gravity. What happens is that the gradual weathering of rocks by the sun, wind, and water leads to sediments of sand and gravel accumulating along shorelines as time goes on. Ultimately, a beach is formed.
Some of these beaches are made of rocks and gravel deposits, and over time as the wave moves over these rocks, they smoothen out and become easy enough to walk on. Other beaches are pure sand, and the type of sand depends on the minerals present in the sand. Black sand signifies volcanic minerals, and white sand tells quartz minerals are present in its grains.
Some famous natural beaches include Ora beach in Indonesia and Champagne beach in Vanuatu.
Man-made beaches:
What if the beach made by natural forces is not comfortable enough for people to come there and enjoy it? What if it has an imminent flooding threat from the sea and isn’t safe enough to become a resort? Or, for it to become a famous tourist attraction, we need to add white sand and palm trees? This point is where man-made beaches come in.
Man-made beaches include everything from building a beach from scratch to merely fixing some mistakes or adding additional features to a natural beach. The primary purpose, after all, is to make the beach more attractive, comfortable, and relaxing.
Some ways beaches can be man-made are:
- The beach can be elevated by using sandbags and fences to protect it from the waves. These sandbags also protect the buildings on the beach from being flooded in case of a high wave.
- If a natural beach has been destroyed by a tsunami or other natural forces, it can be reconstructed to restore it as a tourist attraction. This process of reconstruction is also considered a man-made beach.
- There can also be seaside areas that don’t have a beach, and therefore, to attract more tourists, one is constructed from scratch. Pebbles and stones are removed from the seaside using machinery and a flat concrete area is built. Finally, sand is added on top of it to make a beach.
Some famous examples of man-made beaches are the Camden beach in London and the Sugar Beach in Toronto.
Check out this amazing man-made beach in Dubai:
So, beaches can be man-made or natural. However, it is also common that natural beaches have a man-made touch to make them more comfortable for you! In either case, a beach is a perfect way to relax on your vacation.
