Popcorn sand on Fuerteventura beach draws visitors; scientists explain rhodoliths' origin

A stretch of coastline on Spain's Canary Islands has become a tourist draw for its 'popcorn sand'—a bed of knobbly, white nodules formed by rhodoliths that resemble cinema snacks. Playa del Bajo de la Burra sits on the north coast of Fuerteventura near Corralejo in the La Oliva municipality. The beach is known for the unusual texture underfoot, a feature created by time, waves and sunlight as rhodoliths accumulate and interact with sand and volcanic grains.

Rhodoliths are calcareous algae that form small, rounded nodules underwater. Over millennia, currents and wave action sculpt them, lifting them into bulbous, popcorn-like shapes. On Playa del Bajo de la Burra they occur in white clusters that contrast with the darker black sand and volcanic rocks that are characteristic of the Canaries. The rocky backdrop and the shimmering white nodules give the coast a surreal, otherworldly feel that has helped propel the site into social media visibility, particularly on short-video platforms.

While the rocks and sand create a surreal landscape, the site is not a typical swimming beach. The Atlantic waters off Fuerteventura are often rough, and strong currents and surf can make bathing hazardous. As a result, the beach has become popular as a hiking or cycling stop and for its striking visuals rather than as a primary swimming destination. Visitors are drawn to the texture underfoot and the way the rhodoliths refract sunlight, creating a landscape that looks at once alien and ancient.

The broader Canary Islands sit off Africa’s northwest coast, and Fuerteventura — the second-largest island in the archipelago — is the oldest of the group, its terrain shaped by volcanic activity up to about 30 million years ago. Its climate is unusually mild for winter, with average winter temperatures perching around the low twenties Celsius, a product of its proximity to Africa rather than the European mainland. That tropical-adjacent climate helps explain why the islands have enjoyed a long history of tourism alongside their geologic and ecological distinctiveness. In addition to striking landscapes, the Canaries have served as filming backdrops for major productions, a facet of the region that has brought global attention to its remote coastlines.

Beyond its geology, the archipelago hosts a range of wildlife that attracts nature enthusiasts. Along the coast near Corralejo and other beaches along the same stretch, visitors can encounter birds and reptiles adapted to volcanic and sandy habitats. The watershed area around La Oliva and neighboring towns preserves a landscape where wind, sea, and mineral soils converge to produce a rugged, windswept coastline that stands in contrast to the more resort-oriented shores elsewhere on the islands. The juxtaposition of wild shoreline and modern tourism underscores a broader pattern across the Canaries: striking natural features drawing people in while requiring careful stewardship to preserve their scientific and aesthetic value.

For scientists, rhodolith beds represent more than a striking beach feature. They are living indicators of marine ecosystems, offering clues about historical ocean chemistry and current conditions in shallow coastal zones. Rhodoliths form a cradle for microhabitats, hosting a variety of small marine organisms that rely on the stable, calcareous surfaces the nodules provide. As researchers monitor changes in rhodolith distribution and growth, they gain insight into how coastal environments respond to shifting temperatures, waves, and nutrient cycles. The popcorn-like surface that has captivated tourists is a surface of scientific interest as well, a reminder that geology and biology often intersect in places that capture public imagination.

As the site gains attention on social media and among travelers seeking novel landscapes, observers emphasize the importance of preserving its integrity. The unusual sand and nodules are part of a living coastal system that can be vulnerable to trampling and disturbance if visitors treat the area as a typical beach. Local authorities and researchers alike have indicated that responsible visitation helps ensure that the rhodolith formations endure for study and for future generations of travelers who come to witness one of the Canary Islands' most unusual coastlines. The ongoing conversation about how best to balance access with conservation mirrors broader efforts to protect fragile coastal habitats worldwide, where curiosity and wonder meet the need for stewardship.

In the broader arc of science and space-inspired exploration, the Canary Islands continue to offer a tangible reminder of planetary processes that also play out on other worlds. The volcanic history that created Fuerteventura’s rugged terrain echoes the geologic narratives scientists study on planetary bodies beyond Earth. From volcanic rock formations to calcareous sand at rhodolith beds, these landscapes serve as accessible laboratories for understanding geology, oceanography, and ecological interactions in an environment that is both accessible to visitors and complex enough to challenge researchers. The popcorn beach, with its delicate balance of beauty and fragility, stands as a microcosm of the dynamic forces that shape planetary surfaces, whether on our own planet or on neighboring worlds that scientists study with telescopes, rovers, and remote sensors.