Hello and welcome to Antigua's pink sand beach.
This EarthCache teaches you about the formation of pink sand and gives you some information about sand. There is another pink sand beach on the island of Barbuda. But if you can't visit Antigua's sister island, I hope this EarthCache is interesting for you and you have fun on this pink colored beach of Antigua.
Tasks:
You are welcome to log your answers straight away but please message or Email me with your answers. I'll let you know if anything is unclear. Please don't forget: the answers must be received within 10-14 days or the log may be deleted.
1) The pink stands out more in the wet sand at the water's edge. Grab a handful of sand and describe the color and texture in your own words.
2) Where can you find and see the more pink sand :
- the beach ?
- the shore ?
- the water ?
3) What is the name of the animal that gives the sand its distinctive hue.
4) A picture of your team, your mascot or GPS at half moon bay is mandatory. You don't have to appear in the photo.
Where it's located?
Half Moon Beach is located about a 5 minute drive from Freetown village on the south east coast of Antigua.
Almost a 1.6-kilometer length spread of soft pink sands meet gem-like waters which cater to windsurfing adventurers or snorkeling explorers alike. A personal favourite of ours, Half Moon Beach has wonderful cooling breezes and fine pink sand.
The sand
Sand is a naturally occurring granular material composed of finely divided rock and mineral particles. The composition of sand is highly variable, depending on the local rock sources and conditions.
Most of the beaches in the world have common similarity when it comes to sand color, texture and water quality. In fact, there are countless of beaches in different part of the world. You know that sand comes in colors of yellow, white, or gray. Sometimes, if it’s volcanic, also black.
But what about a pink sand beach, such as here at hald moon bay ?
What causes pink sand ?
Pink sand is a result of tiny red organisms (microscopic coral insects, known as foraminifera), that grow on the dead coral reefs and pieces of shells which fall to the ocean floor.
These organisms which have a bright pink or red shell full of holes through which it extends a footing, called pseudopodia, which it uses to attach itself and feed. These animals live on the underside of reefs, on the sea floors, beneath rocks and in caves. After the insect dies, the wave action and scavengers pulverize their colorful shells. Waves and currents then mix the shells in with the sand and bits of coral and wash the remains ashore to a final resting place of powdery sand.
It is also made of natural formulation of calcium carbonate from very small marine invertebrates that mixed to corals and shells and other marine things which has Foraminifera, microscopic amoeba that has a red or bright pink body shell. All of these are what causes the sand to have a pink hue.
Have fun and enjoy your visit.
sources:
www.antiguanice.com/client.php?id=462&cat=6
www.antiguanice.com/client.php?id=462&cat=6
www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g3473300-d150167-r260615352-Half_Moon_Bay-Saint_Philip_Parish_Antigua_Antigua_and_Barbuda.html