Categories: Travel

The Magical, Pink Phenomenon of Elafonisi Beach

I have been to hundreds of beaches around the world and I have never seen this phenomenon: sand that turns from white to pink during sunset. It’s quite hard to believe but it’s true.

by Edwin Santiago

Around 4:00 pm, the pure white sand of Elafonisi Beach (on the west coast of Crete) turns from pure white to dark pink. It’s as though someone sprinkled pink dust on the shores when you weren’t looking. In some light, the sand takes on a pink glow, said to be from corals. (Elafonisi Beach is actually protected by an E.U. environmental program.)

Elafonisi is a tiny island with white sand, separated from the shore by a lagoon no more than 3 feet deep. It is connected to the main island by a sandbar.

Every friend of mine knows this about me: Taking photos is my thing. I would rather be taking photos than eat, drink, sleep or rest. But somehow, when I got to Elafonisi Beach, I got really conflicted whether to jump in its water or take photos of it. This has never happened before. For the longest time, I kept a picture of this beautiful island as my screensaver.

Enjoy new highlights of travel photographer Edwin Santiago’s journeys each Tuesday and Thursday.

Leave a Comment
Share
Published by
Edwin Santiago
Tags: geoscope

Recent Posts

The Ultimate Queer Guide to SITGES

Sitges, Spain is, without a doubt, one of my favorite places on the planet. Located…

3 weeks ago

Desert Magic in the High Desert

There is a distinct kind of magic that happens when you cross into the High…

3 weeks ago

I Scream, You Scream, We All Scream for ANNA CAMP

Queer people don’t just have one life story; we have two. There’s the usual fare…

1 month ago

Summer Guide to Broadway & Off-Broadway

Summer in New York City is its own kind of magic. The humidity is real,…

1 month ago

It’s Rainin’ Merman!

In a world of beige, be nuclear pink. Face the wrong way in an elevator,…

1 month ago

The Costa del Sol Has It All for the Gay Traveler

Ah, the Costa del Sol. Sunny, stunning, and sensational – and we’re not just talking…

2 months ago