Many of us view the beach as a place to visit in the summer, or spend a peaceful weekend taking in the scenery. But not a lot us actually take the time to learn more about the formation of beaches or what it takes to create one. To help you understand your beach better, we have put together some interesting beach facts.

• Beaches are not only found near oceans. The can exist near seas, rivers and lakes as well.
• Not all the sand found on beaches is beige. Beaches can have sand that is black, pink, red, gray, and green. Depending on the type of sediment surrounding the beach, it can take on different colors.
• A wild beach is one that has not been disturbed by human influences, such as buildings, camps, resorts or hotels. They are becoming rarer as developers find new and pristine locations to build.
• It was during the 18th century that beaches became popular tourist attractions. Today, beachside towns and resorts have become a necessary part of the economy for certain areas.
• Beach cusps are wavy rolling surfaces that form in the sand in an arc pattern. They create beautiful designs and add an extra touch of beauty to a beach.
• The longest beach in the world is the Praia do Cassino, also known as Casino Beach located in Rio Grande, Brazil. It is almost 212 km long.
• Beaches are not ideal areas for wildlife to live because they are a constantly changing environment.
• The tallest sand castle ever built was constructed in Connecticut in 2011. It stood 37 feet and 10 inches tall.
• The largest sand island in the world can be found off the coast of Queensland, Australia and has a beach 40 miles long.
• Beaches are made up from loose rock particles that come from gravel, sand, pebbles, and in some cases shells.

These are just some interesting beach related facts that you can use to amaze your friends. You never know when this information can come in handy, or when it can help you win a game of trivial pursuit.