Types of beaches based on composition – Understand what you are seeing

This is the most common type of beaches you find in the world. Someone staying at a Kalutara hotel in Sri Lanka, possibly the likes of AVANI Kalutara Resort, has the opportunity of enjoying fine sandy beaches. This type of beaches is created by the low-energy waves that deposit sand which is transported by ocean currents. These beaches are at the risk of backwash erosion and the repercussions of powerful storms. To remedy this problem, some measures have been put in place; one is to bring sand from another source and deposit them on the beach. These beaches are also habitable to marine creatures like sea turtles.

You see pebbles on almost every beach in the world; however, beaches made entirely of pebbles aren't that of a regular sight. Pebble beaches are covered in pebbles, and they come in various sizes; the beach pebbles range from 0.1 to 7.9 inches, and you find the larger ones closer to the shore. These beaches are created by high-energy waves; the ocean currents transport the pebbles and deposit them on the beach. Pebble beaches aren't prone to backward erosion, and their porous nature prevents the dissipation of wave-energy. These beaches make a picturesque sight, though they aren't all that popular among tourists, which makes it ideal for a private beach experience. However, rock collectors take a great interest in pebble beaches; the pebbles found on these beaches are used for decorating homes.

As the name suggests, on boulder beaches, you find boulders lining the shoreline. The sizes vary drastically starting from tiny boulders to house-sized boulders. An example of a boulder beach is Valugan Boulder Beach located in the Philippines. The shoreline is entirely covered with boulders, and they are thought to be the result of strong volcanic eruptions. The smooth surfaces of the boulders are the result of waves pounding on them for centuries.

Made up entirely of shells, shell beaches make up an amazing sight. The shells found on these beaches are the residue of dead mollusks that's carried to the shore by waves. The layer of shells found on some beaches is about 12 feet deep. You don't find many shell beaches in the world, and there are only two real shell beaches; they are found in Australia and the United States. Shell Beach found in Australia is a true shell beach which is entirely made up of shells. Western Australia's Shark Bay is home to this beach which is found 28 miles away from the town of Denham. On the beach, you find some spots with a shell layer which is about 33 feet deep. The shells are produced from mollusk with the name cockle of the Fragum erugatum species. The other shell beach is found in the United States, and it is located in Florida. The name of the beach is Sanibel Island's beach. The composition of the beach is the result of its positioning on the Gulf of Mexico. There are other shell beaches, though not covered entirely with shells.

This is another substance found on some beaches. Sea glass is the outcome of glass deposited in the sea, which is smoothed by erosion action. This results in glass stones with smooth edges. You won't find any beach composed entirely of sea glass; this is because the quantity of sea glass that occur in the ocean is quite small. An example of sea glass is Bermuda's Black Bay Beach.