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All Japan Taketomi The Star Sands of Hoshizuna-no-hama

The Star Sands of Hoshizuna-no-hama

White beach sands made of the remains of tiny, star shaped creatures.

Taketomi, Japan

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Annetta Black
Foraminifera   Psammophile on Wiipedia
Star sands   Geomr on Wikipedia
Getting around the island- take a buffalo ride   adrienneleighm / Atlas Obscura User
Star Sand Beach   adrienneleighm / Atlas Obscura User
Star Sand Beach   adrienneleighm / Atlas Obscura User
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Look closely, and you'll see that the sands of this beach are very special. In fact, only two places on Earth are known to produce the tiny star-shaped grains of sand that make up Hoshizuna-no-hama (Star Sand Beach).

These unique grains are actually the pointy husks of millions of tiny protists known as Foraminifera. Hoshizuna-no-hama is found on the north shore of the island of Iriomote, within the greater Yaeyama Islands in Okinawa Prefecture. Star sand beaches can also be found on the neighboring island of Hatoma, as well as the Kaijihama and Aiyaruhama beaches on the island of Taketomi.

Iriomote Island is also known for its vast jungles, and a rare subspecies of the leopard cat, the Iriomote-yamaneko. It is part of the Iriomote-Ishigaki National Park.

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Added By

Annetta Black

Published

February 7, 2013

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