Why do endless beaches fascinate us? These are among the longest in the world, so the walk along the coast never ends
If you like walking on the beach, a new challenge awaits you here: 226 kilometers of continuous sandy coastline. From Brazil to the Uruguay border, Praia do Cassino is the longest sea beach in the world. The coast runs uninterrupted from the historic port city of Río Grande to its mouth in the Chuí River at the southernmost point of Brazil.
Cassino Beach
Although the exact length varies depending on the source, the beach is generally believed to be around 230 kilometers long. This length is approximately the same as the distance between Bilbao and Oviedo (if there were an uninterrupted beach between these two cities).
The area is said to be popular for its water sports, wildlife (including seal and migratory bird watching trips) and of course sitting on the sand and soaking up the sun. However, because man does not miss the opportunity to push his body to the limit, Praia do Cassino is also home to the longest beach ultramarathon, proof that where there is will, there are waves.
At 226 kilometers, the Extreme Sul Ultramarathon is not for the faint of heart and participants have 54 hours to complete the distance. While that’s intimidating enough, even the most experienced runners can face serious challenges in the beach environment.
The stretch of coast is subject to the temperament of the South Atlantic, with strong winds (ideal for surfers and the nearby wind farm, but not so much for runners) and storm surges, one of which capsized a boat off the north shore of the beach in 1976.
Why long beaches are rare
The length of a beach is influenced by a variety of geological, oceanographic and climatic factors. On some coasts there are rather short beaches due to geographical features such as cliffs, mountains or estuaries. Erosive processes such as weathering caused by waves can limit the length of a beach. In many cases erosion is a process accelerated by human activity, but in other cases it is ocean currents or tides that can transport sand and other sediment, which can affect the shape and length of the beach.
Mangrove and wetland ecosystems often limit the formation of extensive beaches. In general, beaches like Praia do Cassino are exceptional and require a unique combination of favorable factors.
Other endless beaches and one very short
Although Brazil is the country with the longest beach, it is not the only country with extensive sandy beaches. Secondly, across the Pacific Ocean lies the 194 kilometer long beach of Coorong National Park on the southeast coast of Australia.
Coorong beach
In the south of the country there is also the unimaginatively named Ninety Mile Beach, which stretches over 145 kilometers (not to be confused with the Ninety Mile Beach in New Zealand, which is actually only 88 kilometers long).
Gulpiyuri Beach
For those who prefer the opposite of an ultramarathon, the shortest beach in the world measures just 40 meters and is strangely inland. Gulpiyuri Beach in Asturias, Spain, is only accessible on foot and although it does not have direct access to the sea, there are still tides thanks to a series of tunnels that connect it to the Bay of Biscay.
Quo Science Trips section sponsored by Hyundai