Geologic Column: Combining art and geology in the sand

Tue, 02 Sep 2014 08:45:27 -0400

Credit: Chris Hansen.

Every summer, millions of people descend on beaches, many intent on building sand sculptures — some even with the hopes of winning fame or fortune. Once upon a time, sculptures made of sand were mostly castles, built by children and families on summer vacations to the beach. Today, sand sculpting is also a serious business, with competitions, prize money, festivals, corporate promotional campaigns, organized team-building exercises, and entries in the Guinness Book of World Records for traits including the tallest (more than 10 meters high) and longest (more than 10 kilometers long) sculptures. The subjects range far beyond castles: 3-D representations of historical artwork, and abstract designs like giant eyeballs aren’t unusual. However, castles continue to be a mainstay of the medium. There’s something about a moat that just makes sense on the beach.

D-Day's Legacy: Remnants of invasion linger in beach sands

Thu, 05 Jan 2012 06:41:58 -0500

American troops in a landing craft vehicle approach a beach in northern France on D-Day, June 6, 1944. National Archives photo no. SC320901

Before dawn on June 6, 1944, more than 160,000 Allied troops began storming the shores of Normandy, France, in what would be the turning point of World War II. Troops poured out of planes and off ships along an 80-kilometer stretch of coastline. More than 5,000 ships and 13,000 airplanes supported the ground troops. The battles were bloody and brutal, but by day’s end, the Allies had established a beachhead. Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower said the operation was a crusade in which “we will accept nothing less than full victory.” Less than a year later, the Germans surrendered, and the Western Front of World War II came to an end.

Sand on EARTH Magazine

Geologic Column: Combining art and geology in the sand

D-Day's Legacy: Remnants of invasion linger in beach sands