We always talk about how we need to take care of our planet. We are in support of recycling and going green as much as possible. But, there were times when civilians weren't not much aware of the impact pollution, and waste can have on our environment. Hence, they turned anything into a dumping ground.
A similar pattern was visible in Russia's Pacific coasts, Vladivostok region's Ussuri Bay. The bay was used as a dumping ground during the Soviet era by local porcelain factories and glass manufacturing plants for ceramics, empty beer, vodka, and wine bottles.
The now-turned-tourist attraction was once a no-go zone because the shattered glass bottles posed a risk to the tourists. But, now, the place is famous amongst tourists, and the Russian authorities have marked the area and its surroundings as a protected zone, and it is now completely safe.
The shattered glass has been polished and smoothed over time by the relentless erosion caused by the pounding waves, creating a vibrant display. One of the rarest beaches in the entire world, it sparkles with vibrant pebbles. Today, Steklyashka Beach is one of the most breathtaking tourist destinations in the world, thanks to its mosaic of glistening and vibrant glass pebbles.
The area is now popular as 'Glass Beach' amongst the locals, and visitors come here frequently as the sharp edges of the glass have been rounded off by erosion, making it safe for the tourists to walk on.
According to experts, this is a one-of-a-kind instance of how nature has transformed human-made pollution into something lovely but will disappear in less than a generation.
Without further pollution, the beach?will be gone permanently in two decades, thanks in part to souvenir hunters. But not just the theft of glass jewellery will leave the beach appearing like any other. The beach's sparkling aspect will be lost due to continuous?erosion, making the rounded-off glass pieces even smaller. The bay will eventually convert into an ordinary sand and pebbles bay like any other; The Siberian Times reported citing Professor Petr Brovko.
But now, no other factories dump glass waste in this region; hence, ironically, the beauty of this beach is on the verge of extinction.
Mother nature remedied human error many times, not just in Ussuri Bay. But, in other places too. Here is a list of similar beaches which have been beautified because of a similar phenomenon:
This glass beach is located near to MacKerricher State Park in Fort Bragg, a picturesque hamlet on California's northern coast. The site was used to dump vehicles, bottles, appliances, and batteries from 1906 to 1967. Years later, the shoreline was strewn with smooth, coloured sea glass. Although, visitors aren't allowed to take home the glass from this place.
Glass Beach on Kauai's southern coast, near Port Allen, is a bright point in the industrial zone of Hanapepe Bay. For decades, the beach was a trash dump, but owing to time and the beauty of the water, it has re-emerged as a colourful jewel that is a haven for sea glass collectors?and photographers. The glass pieces here are generally small, indicating further erosion by the sea waves.
A small, peaceful beach village just north of Santa Cruz is known among sea-glass collectors. A large flood in the 1970s washed containers of Lundberg Studio's blown-glass trimmings down San Vicente Creek and into the sea, washing up on these coastlines. Although it is not as plentiful as it once was, this sea glass is still among the most beautiful in the world.
McCurdy Point was a popular location for rubbish disposal before environmentalists and real estate developers intervened. Visitors can now find some of the best beach sea glass available and stores that sell exquisite masterpieces produced with it at this glass beach, which is located just past the Point. The beach is popular for wannabe geologists searching for semi-precious stones like basalt, quartz, and jasper.
Some beaches in England, Ireland, The Bahamas, the USA, Japan, Puerto Rico, El Salvador, Morocco, Australia, Spain, and many more locations have glass beaches similar to that of the Ussuri Bay. The Russian beach is particularly surrounded by gorgeous areas of land that are flanked by tall cliffs that look out onto a clean sea and are illuminated by thousands of different coloured lights.