beach by Saskia Staal

About "beach"

by Saskia Staal

About the artwork

Usually a beach consists mainly of sand (sandy beach), sometimes mainly pebbles (pebble beach) or shells (shell beach). Some beaches consist of volcanic sand and are black in colour. A beach is little or not overgrown, although on quiet beaches, such as on the island of Schiermonnikoog and near Nieuwvliet in Zeeuws-Vlaanderen, some salt-loving plants grow locally, as well as some marram grass. Sometimes dunes are also considered part of the beach. A coastal strip that consists of more solid material, such as rocks, or is overgrown, is often referred to as bank.
A beach along a sea or ocean runs (partly) under water at high tide. Usually a large part of the beach remains dry, but in exceptional circumstances (spring tide, onshore wind) the whole beach can be flooded. The upper limit of the beach (where the vegetation starts) also indicates how far the water can get.
On a beach along a sea or ocean, you will generally find seaweed, shells and jellyfish. Also many things wash ashore, such as wreckage, waste, things that have fallen off ships. Beachcombers are looking for valuable things that can be found on the beach. In the past (Middle Ages) beach law existed: the right of the lord or the locals to anything that washed ashore on the beach. Nowadays, in most western countries this remains what washed ashore of the rightful owner (usually the owner).

A shore or shoreline is the fringe of lan