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Life's a Beach on the Island of Hawaii

Dateline: 07/12/97

The Island of Hawai'i is located in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. There are 266 miles of shoreline to explore and the active volcano, Kilauea is constantly adding more land and costline to the island. The Island of Hawaii is a perfect place to discover how beaches are formed, and how marine ecosystems work.

As the hot lava from the volcano pours into the ocean, the lava cools and small grains of volcanic glass and cinders are produced. This creates the black sand beaches on the island. The air and rain gradually turns the sand to brown or gray.

Some beaches actually have green sand! This comes from a green mineral found in volcanic rock called olivine. The iron from Hawai'i's red cinder and red clay soils gives some beaches a reddish color. The crumbled skeletons of marine animals such as coral causes a white sand. On the Island of Hawai'i you can make a sand castle in a rainbow of colors!

There are many types of marine life to be found among the beaches. In the tidepools it is fun to explore for shells, sea snails, crabs, urchins, and sea plants.

On a hot summer day it is great fun to snorkel just off shore among the coral reef. The water is alive with many colored fish and green sea turtles.

The island of Hawaii is very much alive, from the volcano creating the land to the many creatures which call Hawai'i home.

Here are some great places to learn about the wonderful creatures of Hawai'i!

Common Hazardous Beach & Ocean Conditions - Always be prepared for dangerous situations!

Green Sea Turtles - Green sea turtles are reptiles whose ancestors evolved on land and returned to the sea to live about 150 million years ago. They are one of the few species so ancient that they watched the dinosaurs evolve and become extinct.

Critter of the Month - Critters of the ocean. You might think that an Ectroproct might sound like a complicated creature. You're probably right!

Shark Facts - Meet the real sharks!

Sea Urchin Education - Everything high school students need to know about sea urchins.

Dive'n the Lava Flow - Join Dick the Diver on a red-hot adventure.

Sea Anemones - Learn about these strange looking creatures.

Marine Invertebrates of Hawai'i - Sponges, corals, clams, snails, and more.

Marine Plants of Hawai'i - The undersea gardens of Hawai'i.

Marine Fishes of Hawai'i - A rainbow of fishes to delight you.

Images from Designed To A Tee

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