A 500‑meter stretch of beach east of the Jamneńsk Canal in Mielno turned purple, baffling visitors who feared toxic waste, but experts say minerals caused the hue.
Purple Beach in Mielno
The 500‑meter stretch of Mielno beach, east of the Jamneńsk Canal, turned purple, startling tourists who feared toxic waste.
Mr. Tomasz first thought someone had dumped poison, but after examining the sand layers washed by a storm, he saw the natural purple layers and was convinced the phenomenon was natural.
Reasons Behind the Unusual Beach Phenomenon
Ewa Wieczorek, spokesperson for the Maritime Office in Szczecin, explained that the purple streaks result from silicate minerals, especially visible on the central coast.
Professor Leszek Łęczyński of the University of Gdańsk clarified that the effect is due to the buildup and selective processes of these minerals.