This Is How White Sand Is Formed (You May Not Want To Know)

Oh, Hawaiian beaches. Crystal clear water, white sand and coconut trees. What can possibly ruin this perfect scenery? Well, unfortunately, we can ruin it for you and if you continue reading, we will. Have you ever wondered how that wonderful white sand is made?

It’s time to find out.

The beautiful white sand beaches that you find in Hawaii are actually made up predominantly of fish poop, more specifically parrotfish poop. Larger parrotfishes produce as much as 840lbs (381 Kg) of white sand per year. (the article continues after the ad)

Photo: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Headquarters / Flickr

Parrotfishes don’t have stomachs, therefore their meals after passing through the long intestine, they explode in a cloud of sand out the… backdoor:

GIF: Huffington Post

The truth is that it’s not only the parrotfishes that create the white sands. Worms, sponges, and oysters also produce ocean sand, but no other animal is as sand factory as the parrotfishes. No wonder why their Hawaiian name is “loose bowels”.

If you like what you read, then you will definitely love this one: Why The Military Salute Is Made This Way? 

Main Article Photo: Filip Lachowski / Flickr
Photoshop: I’m A Useless Info Junkie
Sources: Parrot Fish Poop Makes Beautiful Beaches | Hawaii’s White Sand Beaches Are Made From Parrotfish Poop

F.D.C Willard, The Cat Who Co-Authored A Physics Paper

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