I was looking through my photos from my stint that I lived and traveled in Australia back in 1994-1995.
One of my favorite photos is of me on Shell Beach in Western Australia at Sunrise in January of 1995. Shell beach is a 110 km long stretch of beach along the L’Haridon Bight.
Shell Beach is 1 of 2 beaches in the world made entirely of shells, up to 10 m deep. The salinity of the water allowed Cardiid Cockles to multiply exponentially as their natural predators did not adapt well to the increased salinity of the water.
There is an unbelievable “fresh” feeling about this area, and what a sight to see only shells, no sand, on a beach! Wow! It is breathtaking. The water was so calm that morning that it was all so picturesque!
I have a handful of seemingly perfectly sun-bleached, white shells in my hands, which is comprised of Cockle shells.
Scientific Classification of Cockles Shells @ Shell Beach, WA:
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Bivalvia
Order: Veneroida
Superfamily: Cardioidea
Family: Cardiidae
Genera: Fragum
Photo Right: Example of a cockle shell
I can honestly say that I truly miss Western Australia! Absolutely Gorgeous…
I hope you enjoyed today’s installment of Exotic Animal Lover! Until next time…
Live Exotically,
Kimberly Edwards ;D
P.S. Check out this Gorgeous Book about Western Australia…The coast I fell in love with:
Technorati Tags: invertebrates, ocean animals, Australian animals, cockle shell, shells, mollusc, bivalve, Western Australia, Shell Beach, famous beaches, beaches
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I wish I knew you just a few years earlier. This would have been a very fun thing to do with you.
Hopefully one day someone special to you will send you or take you back there. I know how much you loved it…
Kenney
What an amazing place, I camped a night there (even tho your not ment too) and had sunrise there as well, Sitting on the beach the night before with my friend and a beer in my hand under the full moon is my fav memory from oz……
Brought a small bag full of shells home with me that sit in my bathroom now…always makes me smile when i look at them…
West is best
Hi Andy!!! Wow – camping out there would be an amazing experience…that full moon over the salty water must have been heaven!
Our tour bus arrived just before sunset at the beach for us…unfortunately, we didn’t camp there! If I go back, I might have to figure that one out!!! LOL
West IS Best!
Kimberly