Ultimate Shoreline Showdown

It’s warm out! Want to go to the beach?

Beaches are any strip of land along the edge of an ocean, lake or river, and great places to spot wildlife! There are plenty of types of beaches, including sand beaches, shingle beaches, and shore platforms. Is there one you would want visit? Who would win at Ultimate Shoreline Showdown?

Sand Beaches

Sand beaches are created when rocks or minerals are broken into teeny, tiny pieces. The sand comes in different colours: brown, white, black, green, pink, violet, and red. Many animals live on these shores, burrowing underground to hide from predators or lay their eggs.

What to look out for: Sea turtles, crabs, birds, or seals.

Be a Shoreline Saver: Sand beaches are popular, but easily damaged—and plastic is a huge culprit! Plastic trash breaks down into very small pieces, called microplastics, and they have been found in high concentrations in beach sand around the world. You can help by picking up any plastic trash or pieces you find on sandy beaches, and disposing of them responsibly!

Shingle Beaches

Don’t forget your water shoes! Shingle beaches, pebble beaches, rocky beaches – they all involve the same thing: rocks. Most shingle beaches come from glacier remains or wave action on cliffs and riverbeds, which create the pebbles. Shingle beach rocks come in many shapes and sizes and some, like quartz and granite, even have crystals.

What to look out for: Birds, worms, snails, crabs, plankton, sea anemones, and even rabbits or foxes. Watch out for the sea urchins!

Be a Shoreline Saver: Shingle beaches – especially ones that also have plants – are home to a huge variety of species. Some are even recognized as internationally important habitats! When cleaning up a shingle beach, take extra care to look for litter that can hurt or ensnare animals, like cans with sharp edges and long pieces of string.

Shore Platforms

Shore platforms go by many names, like wave-cut platforms, coastal benches, or rocky shores. They are made from sea waves hitting cliffs and creating a flattened area. Because of the waves and the tides, these shorelines can be dangerous for humans, but they are still important homes for plants and marine animals!

What to look out for:  Fish nurseries, kelp, coral, anemones, limpets, oysters, mussels, or barnacles

Be a Shoreline Saver: Shore platforms may have fewer visitors, but that doesn’t mean we can’t help them stay clean! Our waterways are all connected, meaning litter around creeks, rivers, and lakes all eventually end up in the ocean. Stop ocean pollution in its tracks by picking up shoreline litter, anywhere you go!

Which shoreline do you think should win the ultimate showdown?

When we work to reduce waste and keep our shorelines clean, everyone can enjoy them!

What can you do to help clean up? Accept Shoreline Saver in the Mission section in the Earth Rangers App! You’ll get ton of helpful information to get you well on your way to becoming a shoreline superstar!

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