If you come to Florida, our beaches are white. And it is all one mineral: quartz. The farther up the coast, in our area the sand is different-colored because it differs in mineralogy.
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The sand is made from pure white quartz crystal, which came from the Appalachian Mountains at the end of the last Ice Age and was deposited into the Gulf of Mexico.
New South Wales, AustraliaAs for the honor of the world's whitest sand? Well, it goes to the little-known beach at Hyam's Beach, on the shores of Jervis Bay in the Australia state of New South Wales.
Olivine SandSand of almost exclusively olivine grains is very rare, and Papakolea is one of only four green sand beaches in the world. The others are Hornindalsvatnet in Norway, Punta Cormorant in the Galapagos Islands, and Talofofo Beach in Guam.
Miami Beach offers a variety that goes far beyond sun and sand, encompassing world-famous nightlife and world-renowned art galleries, first-class hotels and second-to-none dining, designer shopping and a unique architectural style that makes it one of the world's most visually distinctive regions.
On the beaches of Miami, the Atlantic Ocean merges with the Caribbean Sea, the sands turn soft and white and the waters lap the shore in shades of light blue to nearly clear aqua. The area offers more than a dozen beaches, all with their own vibe. Here's where to find the best beaches of Miami.
Even in the coldest months (well, “cold” for Miami), the water usually stays above 70 degrees, which is perfect for a dip. You'll see some people swimming, kids splashing around, and couples taking the long way along the surf. But the majority of the crowd seems perfectly content to stay posing—err, seated—on the sand.
The average depth of the Bay is a very shallow 5.9 feet (1.8 meters) with a maximum natural depth of 13.1 feet (14 meters). Most Miami Heat players could comfortably stand in the Bay and still breathe.
No matter where you find yourself in Miami Beach, the Beachwalk is accessible and always nearby. Running the length of the city, the Beachwalk is an approximately nine-mile oceanfront pedestrian promenade designed for joggers, cyclists and anyone who wants to enjoy a scenic seaside stroll.
Whitehaven Beach, Whitsunday Island, AustraliaWhitehaven Beach is consistently ranked as the world's best beach, and with good reason: It's almost surreally beautiful. Besides its crystal clear waters, it's known for its white sand, consisting of 98% pure silica which gives it a bright white color.
One of the main highlights of Pfeiffer Beach in Big Sur is the famous purple sand. Erosion of the cliffs above, which contain Manganese garnet rocks, is responsible for the incredible plum-like colors you see here.
Black beaches are so rare because they're only formed under very specific conditions. Essentially, when hot lava is rapidly cooled by the ocean, basalt rock is formed and shattered into tiny pieces and black sand.