Going to the beach is one of the nicest things to do during your vacation, as beach has so much to offer in terms of water-based activities and not only. During your childhood you have probably enjoyed making sandcastles on the beach, which have been washed away by a wave within hours. But who could imagine that some incredibly talented sculptors and amateurs work extremely hard while enjoying the sand, sun and surf.
The idea to write a post about the world’s most awe-inspiring sandcastles came to my mind when I was creating one of my beloved cross stitch works, the ‘Sandcastle Dreams.’ Read on to get acquainted with 5 of the finest examples of sand sculptures around the world, the creators of which have taken things to a whole new level.
Sandsation, Berlin Germany
Sandsation is a world-renowned International Sand Sculpture Festival in Berlin, welcoming famous ‘carvers’ from around the world and up to 120,000 fascinated guests each year, who came to enjoy some of the most fantastic and best sculptures in the world. This small ‘piece of heaven’ was created by the talented artist Martin Tulinius.
Jarrett’s Castle (Farmington, Connecticut)
Ed Jarrett, the Guiness World Record holder for the tallest sandcastle, recently topped his own record, constructing a 37-foot sandcastle with the help of 1,500 volunteers. 1.6 million pounds of sand has been used to create this wondrous structure, which took over 2,500 hours of work.
According to Laura Ward, public relations official for Jarrett’s Castle, the work was initially supposed to be even taller (at 38 feet and 75 inches), but after the meteorologists announced hostile weather conditions, the team hurried to get the castle certified before it got even shorter.
Rapunzel’s Castle (Fraser Valley)
Created for the annual sand sculpted competition at the Harrison Hot Springs Resort in the Fraser Valley of B.C. Canada, this stunning castles tells the story of the fairy tale ‘Rapunzel’s Castle,’ which was famed for keeping the princess captivated by an old witch till she was rescued by her Prince charming. This is really majestic.
Here is the Church (Fraser Valley)
This is another incredible construction built in the Fraser Valley on the shores of Harrison Lake that garnered 1855 votes to win the Silver Medal also at the World Championships of Sand Sculpture 2007 Harrison Hot Springs. The details in this magnificent piece of work are so astonishing that it hardly seems possible that they are made out of sand.
Boracay Island (Philippines)
Tucked away from fierce, easterly typhoons, the picturesque Boracay Island is a dreamscape getaway with elements of a tropical paradise that dazzles tenth of thousands of holidaymakers from all over the world with its sparkling blue waters, green swaying palms and powdery white sand, ideal for making unique and impressive sandcastles.
Feeling impressed already? To help you conceive something interesting while vacationing at the beach, check out the following tips or rules on how to build amazing sand castles.
1. Use Moist Sand: Squeeze a ball of sand in your hand for a few seconds and if it stays together without crumbling, then it is perfect sand for a castle.
2. Start with a densely packed mound of sand: after visualizing the structure you want to build, choose the approximate shape of the densely packed sand to ensure the sculpture holds steady as you work on it.
3. Carve out the sand in thin layers: This way, you will have more control when you are carving design details. It’s really easier to take away sand than it is to add it back, plus, adding sand will make the structure less stable.
4. Work it from top to bottom: After your base of mound sand is finished, make sure to start sculpting from top to bottom, to lessen the chance that falling sand will accidentally ruin your work.
Seems easy, doesn’t it? So, grab your pail and shovel and get started…