The Amazing Sand Dollar Beach Every Mainer Will Want To Visit
With more coastline than California, it’s not surprising that Maine has some epic and glorious beaches. Not all of them are feet-friendly (they don’t call it a rocky coastline for nothing,) but the ones you can walk on feature the whitest, softest sand in New England. Laying around on the beach is a great way to spend the day, but if you’re the more curious type we bet you’re going to want to do some exploring. If this sounds like you, head to Long Sands Beach. You’ll find seashells, but you also just might find one of nature’s coolest creations – a sand dollar! And this might be the best beach for sand dollars in Maine.
Despite looking quite different, they're related to spindly sea urchins. This is more apparent when they're alive and covered with spines.
Unlike the sea urchin, however, sand dollars have spines that are soft and furry. Sometimes they feel like velvet. These soft spines exist to help move food into the mouth of the sea creature, which is underneath its body.
Sand dollars primarily live in colonies of shallow ocean water, buried in the sandy bottom.
A great first step is to track storms - chances of finding a sand dollar are greater after a large storm blows through causing large waves to bring them to shore more easily.
If you see a round patch in the sand or any kind of depression, look beneath it as these are signs of sand dollars that have been covered with sand from the tide.
You'll probably find lots of other fun sea creatures as well, but always be careful not to disturb anything that's living - this is their home and touching them can disturb the living ecosystem.
Sea glass is another fun find on the coast of Maine. These 10 beaches are some of the absolute best for finding and collecting these colorful treasures.
Michelle has lived in many places, but counts Maine as one of the best. In addition to the smell of ocean water in the air on rainy days in Portland, she loves puppies, photography, funny people, the Maine Red Claws, traveling, fresh tomatoes, Cambodia and filling out forms. For questions, comments and inquiries please email: [email protected]
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