Whitehaven beach - voted as one of the top ten beaches in the world. It is famous for its almost blindingly white fine sand. In person, it is an amazing sight to behold.
"The sand is minute powder-size grains of quartz and has been assayed at 99.89% pure, well above the minimum requirement for glass-making and suitable for the finest glass for optical lenses for binoculars etc. Its origin is not known definitely but geologists say it does not have a local origin as rocks of the Whitsunday area are quartz-poor. They think the most likely explanation is that it is the result of a longshore drift system which brings sand from the south along the Queensland coast, very evident in the Gold Coast/Fraser Island area. The Whitehaven sand is so pure it indicates that during the drift all heavy mineral sands and other impurities have been winnowed out leaving the quartz sand. Probably there is an eddy effect in Whitehaven Bay which causes the sand to drop out and accumuulate there."
Another one with the underwater camera.
Monday, August 27, 2007
stroll on the beach
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1 comment:
Again I love how it's difficult to tell where the sky ends and the water begins... it's hard to imagine a place so idyllic actually exists!
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