Check out this list of some of the most unusual beaches from around the world.

Glass Beach, California

This beautiful beach is actually the result of human pollution. Local residents used this site as a dump to discard glass, appliances and even vehicles. Until the California State Water Resources Control Board closed the area in 1967. Over time the glass and marble eventually shaped into smooth pieces.

Marieta, Mexico

The Marieta Islands were formed thousands of years ago by volcanic activity and are completely uninhabited. The islands are about an hour ride from Puerto Vallarta and are visited daily, yet no one can legally set food on the islands. In the early 1900s, the Mexican government began conducting military tests on the Islands. The beach is nicknamed “The Hidden Beach” and is only accessible when the tide is low. The island’s wildlife includes thousands of birds as well as sea turtles, manta rays and octopuses.

Vieques, Puerto Rico

Vieques is an island of Puerto Rico in the northeastern Caribbean. It’s home to the Bioluminescent Bay, also known as Mosquito Bay or “The Bio Bay”. The luminescence in the bay is caused by a micro-organism, dinoflagellate pyrodinium bahamense, which glows whenever the water is disturbed, leaving a neon blue trail. Spanish sailors believed that the bioluminescence was the work of the devil and tried to block the ocean water from entering the bay by dropping boulders in the channel. They only succeeded in preserving and increasing the luminescence.

Ribadeo, Spain

Catedrais beach translates as “Beach of Cathedrals”. The beach features natural arches and caves, which can only be seen in low tide. During high tide, the beach appears quite small. During low tide the sheer size of the cliffs and sea caves can be overwhelming. These rock formations are the result of crashing waves on the rock face over time.

Maho Beach, Saint Martin

Maho beach is on the Dutch side of the Caribbean island of Saint Martin. It is most famous for the Princess Juliana International airport adjacent to it. The beach is a popular destination for plane spotters.  Most of the local restaurants and bars show timetables or announce when planes are leaving or landing. The beach has white sand with no vegetation due to the blast from jet engines. Some parts closer to the runway are fenced off due to health and safety reasons.

Giant’s Causeway, Ireland

The Giant’s Causeway is made up of about 40,000 interlocked basalt columns. It’s the result of an ancient volcanic eruption. Located in County Atrim in Northern Ireland, the shore was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1986 and a national nature reserve in 1987. It was also named the fourth greatest natural wonder in the United Kingdom. The columns form stepping stones that lead from the cliff into the ocean. Most of the columns are hexagonal, the tallest is 12 metres (39 ft) high.

Punalu’u Beach

Also known as Black Sand Beach, Punalu’u is located on the island of Hawaii. The beach has black sand made of basalt created by lava flowing into the ocean. It is home to many endangered species, such as the Hawksbill turtle, the Green turtle and the Hawaiian Monk Seal.

Harbour Island, Bahamas

The pink sand get its colour from fractured shells mixing with the sand. Also home to an abundance of wildlife including species of crabs, fish, ants and reptiles.