Photos from open sources of
Of course, from a scientific point of view, this place is not a real island however locals and travelers call it that way. It’s about a giant cluster of empty mollusk shells dumped into the ocean by fishermen for more than eight centuries.
A photo from open sources
Shell Island (such a name has long been fixed to it) located east of Anegada – the northernmost of the Virgin islands in the Caribbean, a dependent territory United Kingdom. Shell Island – Not Only Amazing tourist attraction, but also visual evidence how important the clam meat plays in the diet peoples living in the Caribbean.
A photo from open sources
Starting at least from the 13th century, local fishermen dive into shallow waters of the Caribbean, catching edible invertebrates at the bottom and throwing out unnecessary shells in the same place. As a result millions of shells have accumulated here, riveting attention numerous travelers.
A photo from open sources
Soft-bodied are mined today not only for meat, beautiful sinks are also used as souvenirs. It runs into logical question: why would buyers of such souvenirs simply Do not collect them on this unique “island”? It turns out not all so simple. To quickly extract meat, shells are spoiled by in each hole and taking out a mollusk with a special hook. However, to get a whole sink, it must be lowered into fresh water and wait until the invertebrate crawls out. Exactly shells are prepared for souvenirs.
A photo from open sources
Thus, near Shell Island does not look so far attractive, as from a distance, because it consists, in fact, of shell fragments. By the way, if you ever come in take a walk on this man-made “piece of sushi”, you will need shoes with thick soles, otherwise you risk injuring your feet.
Shell Island is clearly visible even in satellite imagery. Alas, this unique “mollusk remains cemetery” is also We remind you of the exorbitant appetites of man. If 800 years old back Arawak Indians prey on invertebrates in a very modest quantities, then today the local fishermen set the catch soft-bodied on a wide stream, and the area of the “island” increases markedly with every year. And that made, unfortunately, edible clams in The Caribbean is an endangered species of marine animals.
The islands
