Plage de Nonza, Black pebble beach in Cap Corse, France
Plage de Nonza is a coastal stretch near Bastia, Corsica, extending roughly 1.5 kilometers and composed entirely of dark pebbles. Steep cliffs frame the shoreline, while an old fortified tower stands perched above.
The beach's dark color comes from mining waste transported by sea currents from a former asbestos quarry in nearby Canari. This industrial process fundamentally reshaped the coastline over decades.
Visitors create messages and drawings by arranging white pebbles on the black stones, forming a spontaneous gallery of personal expressions. This practice has become a quiet tradition where people leave traces of their presence for others to discover.
A designated path leads down to the beach from Nonza village, though the descent can be steep and requires careful footing. Swimmers should be cautious, as strong Mediterranean currents can make swimming risky.
The beach did not exist in its current form before mining operations – historical postcards show only cliffs meeting the sea directly. What visitors see today is an entirely human-made landscape created by industrial processes.
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