Sea glass is valuable and created when glass objects are shattered and smoothed by waves. It comes in various colors and can be found on most coasts, especially former landfills. Caution should be exercised when searching for sea glass due to toxins and sharp objects. Once found, sea glass should be washed before use as decoration or educational tool.
Sea glass is a curious phenomenon, as it is essentially a highly valuable bedding. Sea glass is created when glass objects are dropped into the ocean, shattered, and rolled by the waves into smooth, lightly pitted shapes that wash ashore. Enthusiasts harvest sea glass to use it for decorations, jewelry, and garden accents, and some companies artificially produce it because the demand for sea glass is so high.
Sea glass comes in a variety of colors, though green, clear, and amber are the most common. Red, pink, blue, milky glass and other exotic colors can be found and are highly prized by collectors due to their rarity. In some cases, sea glass becomes entangled and embedded with other objects in the ocean, such as discarded scrap metal, and forms strange and fantastical natural sculptures from man-made artifacts.
Sea glass is found along most coasts, although some areas are better than others. The best places to look for sea glass are areas that were once used as landfills, because new sea glass is constantly springing up in exotic and interesting shapes and colors. Some beaches are known for their sea glass treasures, such as Glass Beach in Northern California and another beach of the same name on the Hawaiian island of Kauai. Areas heavily frequented by humans are also good sources of sea glass, as many careless people dump their waste into the ocean rather than dispose of it responsibly.
When searching for sea glass, caution should be exercised, especially if the site of a former ocean dump is being explored. Many landfills contain toxins that are dangerous for people of all ages, but especially for children. Also, jagged pieces of metal or glass can cut through clothing or shoes, so be sure to wear sturdy clothing and gear while scavenging for sea glass, along with gloves to sift through the things you find.
When you bring sea glass home, always wash it to remove surface buildup of dirt, bacteria, algae, and other things that could dull the color or make it smell bad before using it to decorate. Some sea glass hunters like to display sea glass organized by color or fill clear jars with a sea glass and water sample that will glow in the sunlight when placed in a window. The beauty of sea glass belies its humble origins, but it can also be used as an educational tool for young children to explain the value and delicacy of the global oceans.
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