Star sand

The aptly named Hoshizuna no Hama (Star Sand Beach) has some very particular grains of sand: they are shaped like tiny stars. These "grains of sand" are actually the skeletons of small one-celled organisms that live among the sea grass. Only two beaches in Japan have this particularity, the other one being on the nearby island of Taketomi.

What to do with a Taketomi day trip in the Yaeyama Islands?! Backpacking Okinawa JAPAN

One of the rarest forms of sand, star sand, is both a beautiful sight and a scientific marvel. Here's the intriguing story behind this sand.

While Japan's Okinawa Prefecture is composed of hundreds of islands, Taketomi Island is said to have the most well-preserved heritage. The island is home to 323 inhabitants, all of whom are extremely proud of their

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star sand from Hoshizuna Beach - Okinawa

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Selection of Foraminifera from starsand (Hatoma island, Okinawa, Japan). Tentative ID via locality and this great website: foraminifera.eu/locality.php Baculogypsina sphaerulata and Calcarina gaudichaudii. Studio stack based on 49 images, assembled in Zerene Stacker (Dmap & Pmax). Sony A7RM3 (APS-C mode) + Metabones EF-E + Canon MP-E 2.8/65mm @3.2x; ISO-50, f/5.6, 1/160s, 1 diffused flash.

All sorts of sea star species! http://www.nefsc.noaa.gov/rcb/photogallery/image-of-week.html

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One of the rarest forms of sand, star sand, is both a beautiful sight and a scientific marvel. Found on the Taketomi, Hatoma, and Iriomote islands of Japan, star sand is exactly what the name implies — small, millimeter-sized pieces of sand in the shape of stars. Each little star is the exoskeleton of small, single-celled organisms known as Foraminifera. This particular, star-shaped species of Foraminifera, known as Baculogypsina sphaerulata, is found only in the coral reefs of East Asia.

Japan’s handful of star sand beaches have sand like few other places in the world.

Everything's better in miniature format. Unless we're talking about insects. Ew.

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

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