Zeelandia Beach, Protected beach on Sint Eustatius, Netherlands
Zeelandia Beach is a black sand beach on the northeastern coast of Sint Eustatius, stretching roughly 1.5 kilometers along the shoreline. High cliffs border the inland side while the open Caribbean Sea faces the water's edge.
The black sand comes from volcanic processes that shaped Sint Eustatius millions of years ago. This geological past gives the beach its characteristic dark color and reveals the island's volcanic origins.
The beach serves as a protected nesting site where local conservation work focuses on sea turtles that come ashore to lay eggs each season. Visitors walking here often see tracks in the sand and understand why this shoreline matters so much to the island community.
Swimming is not safe due to strong ocean currents and should be avoided. A marked walking path connects this beach to nearby Venus Bay and takes about one hour to complete.
Red-billed tropicbirds nest in the cliffs above the beach and raise their young there. Brown pelicans and frigatebirds patrol the waters year-round, making this a rewarding spot for birdwatchers.
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