By Alex
From Iceland’s black sand beaches to the blue glow of bioluminescent algae along the shores of the Maldives, these one-of-a-kind landscapes showcase the wonders of nature. But the planet’s incredible natural oddities go far beyond that. On Fuerteventura, one of Spain’s Canary Islands, in the northern town of Corralejo, there lies a shoreline that looks as though it’s paved with popcorn — and it may soon become a new paradise for travel enthusiasts.
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Locals have dubbed this bay Popcorn Bay or Popcorn Beach. From a distance, the beach doesn’t look much different from other scenic shores in the archipelago, but take a closer look and you’ll see that the sand resembles popcorn — the entire beach looks as if it’s been covered with millions of popped kernels.
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The “popcorn” on the beach is actually fragments of white coral that have been washed ashore by the waves. The “popcorn” mixes with the volcanic rocks and sand on the beach, creating a striking black-and-white contrast that makes it look like someone sprinkled black pepper on the popcorn — an oddly appetizing sight that might just make you want to take a bite.
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It’s reported that locals have long known about this beach, but it wasn’t until recently that Popcorn Beach gained attention from outsiders, thanks to indirect promotion by Instagram users. They’ve been taking photos on the beach and pretending to pop pieces of “popcorn” into their mouths. Some have even tried tasting the salty coral bits, which reportedly don’t taste very good.
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The Canary Islands are a Spanish territory, located across the sea from Morocco and the Sahara Desert, and are a popular holiday destination for Europeans. The archipelago consists of seven main islands and several smaller ones, all formed by volcanic activity. To reach the Canary Islands, travelers can fly via the UK or Spain, with each island having its own airport and cruise port, making transportation fairly convenient. The islands also have a certain level of fame among Chinese-speaking audiences, due to the late writer Sanmao and her Spanish husband José María Quero, who once lived there.
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Source: My Modern Met