Unlike other beaches, Okinawa is home to marvelous beaches that contain rarest shapes of sand. This star-shaped sand is found on the Taketomi, Iriomote, Hatoma islands of Japan. As the name suggests, millimeter-sized star sand is found on the entire beach.
Mind-Blowing Star Sand Beach Facts
Tourists can visit star sand beaches like other beaches. Only when tourists take a closer look at the sand, they are able to see the real shape of the sand. This star sand is produced from the coral reefs in the Western Pacific ocean and also in Okinawa, Japan. The truth is star sand is not real sand, they are actually living creatures known as Foraminifera. These stars are considered the exoskeletons of tiny organisms.
Star-Shaped Sand Is Naturally Made Sand.
- A. True
- B. False
They are actually ‘grains’ or shells of microscopic beings. When these Foraminifera die in the ocean, their exoskeletons known as ‘tests’ are carried to shore by the tide, creating a star-sprinkled shoreline.
Foraminifera is called a phylum comprising approximately 10,000 species. Those who develop these particular shells are called Baculogypsina sphaerulata.
Scientifically, these tiny shells are considered as the product of ocean-dwelling one-celled protozoa known as Baculogypsina sphaerulata.
Where Can the Star Sand Be Found?
Star-shaped sand can be found on a few beaches. Hatoma, Iriomote and Taketomi are blessed with this beautiful and rare star sand. The most popular spots are Hoshizuna Beach (Iriomote Island), Aharen Beach (Tokashiki), Kaiji Beach(Taketomi) and the entire Hatoma Island.
Tourists love to explore these spectacular beaches. It is like stargazing.