How to make the perfect sand castle

to Unless you’re into reading or water sports, building sandcastles remains a “must-have” for seaside vacations. But how do you make your castle as majestic as it is durable? Fortunately, there is a scientific formula that may help you.

It all started in 2004, when a tour operator asked my team to investigate. As a sedimentologist, that is, a specialist in rock deposits left by water, wind and glaciers, I began to think about what kind of beach would be best suited for building sand castles.

I conducted the survey by comparing the sands of the ten most popular beaches in Britain (at the time). Although you can really build castles on any beach, Torquay tops my ranking with its stunning red sands, closely followed by Bridlington, while Bournemouth, Great Yarmouth and Tenby vie for third place.^H place. Rhyl Beach was at the bottom of the standings.

shell fragments

But once you choose the beach, you still have to find the perfect location. This question is more about individual preferences: some prefer to settle not far from the parking lot, so that they can go out in case of a shower, while others prefer to be near a coffee shop. Still others choose a secluded spot, perhaps better protected from the winds by a natural promontory.

If you want to build a real fortress, it is best if your building is standing. And for that you need solid sand! The hardness of sand depends on two factors: the properties of the grains that make it up and the water that allows them to bind together.

Read alsoLacanau: Facing the advance of the waves, move with 500 million eurosThe more angular the granules, the better symmetric they are. However, the more grains of sand the elements hold, the softer they will be. This is why microscopic shell fragments are a smart choice for building castles. Finally, the finer the grain, the better it retains water. And the issue of water is crucial in the matter at hand!

If there is too much water in the sand, your castle will fall, and if there is not enough water, it will collapse. So you must find the right proportions, so that your castle stands, and for a long time. Everything is a function of the water’s surface tension, or “hydro-meniscus,” the phenomenon that makes a glass of water placed on a soft, wet support that can seem difficult to move.

Bucket size

Our experience has allowed us to prove that to build a perfect sand castle it takes 1 bucket of water for 8 buckets of dry sand. Or if you prefer, this is the magic formula: water = 0.125 x sand. But if you don’t have science equipment, don’t panic! All you need to do is find a spot in the sandbar between the high tide line – easily spotted by a mound of seaweed and marine debris – and the low tide line. Keep in mind, however, that this area moves during the day, depending on the tides.

Read alsoWhat do you do if you are stuck in a stream? The next tip is related to the quality of the tools. In my experience, there is a direct relationship between the age of the build and the size of the bucket and how quickly boredom sets in. Adults find small rigs very frustrating, and kids would love to use larger rigs, but find them difficult to handle.

In order for the team atmosphere to remain harmonious, plan a wide range of tools. The size and shape of the bucket are also important. Prefer simple, round buckets to castle-shaped ones with leaning towers. The round bucket will allow you to produce a lot of turns and details to achieve your dream monument, by letting your imagination work.

Pebbles, driftwood and feathers

And as you build, keep thinking about the story, not only the fairytale of the castle and the anachronistic fairy tale set, but also the true story of the sandbox you’re dealing with. Each grain is actually a piece of rock that encapsulates a long history of vanished mountains, ancient rivers, swamps, and Of the dinosaurs infested seasClimates and Past Events: Many of the elements that tell the story of our planet.

Finally a word on the size of the castle. While you can get away with a humble castle with beautiful towers, ramparts, and moats, the castles that make a difference on the beach and are the most successful are also the most magnificent. Think larger! Pebbles, shells, driftwood, and feathers can decorate your works.

And then, let’s be honest: the sand castle is made to impress. And while there is a little bit of science behind the perfect castle, most importantly, have fun building it.

* Matthew Robert Bennett Professor of environmental sciences and geography at the University of Bournemouth (UK).