Have you ever taken a walk on the beach and noticed beautiful stones in the sand? Well, those stones are actually worn-down glass pieces called sea glass. That broken bottle you passed on the street 10 years ago may become a beautiful addition to beaches around the world.
What is sea glass?
Have you ever wondered why small sea rocks and pebbles are so perfectly smooth and round? The water shapes it over years and years. The same thing happens to glass as it forms into beautiful gem-like stones. What was once jagged and sharp is now soft and beautiful.
“Sea glass begins as bottles & glass that get tossed on the shore, broken, and then tumbled smooth by the waves and currents. Nature acts like a big rock tumbler recycling our pollution! It can take 7-10 years in a constant surf environment for [it] to “become” sea glass. A quality piece of sea glass has no shiny spots, is well frosted, and has smooth tactile edges. See Our Valuing Page for more Info on sea glass quality,” [1].
Is it bad for the environment?
We all know that a massive amount of our garbage ends up in our oceans. Not only is it unfortunate for sea life, but also our planet.
“Approximately 1.4 billion pounds of litter enter the ocean each year, and about 80% of it originates from sources on land. It is estimated that by 2050, there will be more plastic in the ocean than fish” [2].
Fortunately for sea glass lovers – it is a sustainable choice [2]. Glass is essentially melted sand after all.
In fact, ocean and environmental activists encourage individuals to choose products with glass packaging when shopping. Glass can be recycled repeatedly. If it accidentally ends up in our oceans, it breaks down and ends up as a beautiful addition to our shorelines [2].
What colors does it come i?
Sea glass comes in all different colors, but you can expect to find some colors a little more often than others.
Most likely to find (from left to right): Green, white, brown, amber, honey, seafoam green, lime green and emerald
Less likely to find (from left to right): Black, Gray, aqua, yellow, red, turquoise, orange, white, teal, purple, pink aqua, citrine, teal, and cobalt [3].
The interesting thing about this type of glass is you tend to get similar colors in certain places and other colors in other places. So, for you travelers out there – I decided to put together a little guide for you so you can travel the world and collect the most exquisite collection of sea glass.
Davenport Beach, California
Davenport, California is located in the northern part of California (around 10 miles north of Santa Cruz).
People worldwide bring shovels and dig into the shoreline at low tide and hunt for these gems because its renowned for their sea glass [5].
Take a look at these sea-glass hunters and you can judge for yourself if Davenports worth the track:
Abaco Islands, the Bahamas
“Abacos Islands, a group of islands located in the Northern Bahamas, is rife with finds for those willing to search,” [4].
So, you can expect to find beautiful gem-like glass mixed in with extraordinary seashells if you take a trip to the Abacos Islands.
The glass you find on these islands’ shores is often from shipwrecks that happened a long time ago. Thus, these islands are known around the world as one of the top sea glass destinations [4].
Sea Glass Beach, Japan
Sea Glass Beach is located on Okinawa Island in Japan. What’s fascinating about this beautiful island is that it was actually used as a dumping ground before its transformation. And, with garbage comes glass. So now, you can expect to find heaps of beautiful glass instead of seeing garbage lying around [4].
Steklayashka Beach, Russia
Steklyashka Beach is located in Vladivostok, Russia. The beach borders the Sea of Japan and is now a protected zone. This beach used to be dumping ground for a porcelain factory, so as you can imagine, sea glass now covers the beautiful shorelines
Oh, and if you want to visit Steklyashka Beach – do it in the winter.
“While going to Russia in the wintertime might not be your idea of a vacation, this is one of the more amazing times to see the beach, as the bright colors of sea glass pop against the sugary snow” [4].
Keep Reading: People Are Turning Glass Tables Into Giant Succulent Gardens
References
- “What is Sea Glass or Beach Glass.” By the Sea Jewelry.
- “OUR OCEANS ARE AT RISK.”Friends of Glass.
- “About Sea Glass.” Soul Shells
- “Where to Find the World’s Most Extraordinary Beach Sea Glass.” Far and Wide. Meagan Drillinger. July 7, 2020.
- “California Sea Glass: The Best Spots for Beach Treasure!” Beach Lust. Jonna.july 16, 2021.
