Beach Science · October 2026 · 3 min
Pink Sand Beaches: Why the Sand at Elafonisi Is Pink
The colour comes from the shells of microscopic sea creatures called foraminifera. Three sources explain it three ways, and you are not allowed to take any home.
The sand at Elafonisi, on Crete, is pink because it contains the crushed shells of foraminifera, microscopic sea organisms whose shells are reddish. The pink shows in some areas and in certain light. Most of the sand is white.
Three sources, three recipes
| Source | What it says makes the sand pink |
|---|---|
| A guide written on Crete | Crushed foraminifera shells |
| A travel guide to the beach | Fragments of red and pink coral, shells, and calcium carbonate from foraminifera |
| Wikipedia | Deposits of pigmented microorganisms that live with the local seaweed, laid down by tides and waves |
They agree on the main point. Something very small and pigmented lives in the water, and the sea grinds it up and delivers it to the beach. They differ on what else is in the mix.
How pink is pink
Less than the photographs. One guide describes fine white sand that takes on a pinkish hue in certain light, in some areas. Balos, on the north-west coast of the same island, is described the same way: white sand with hints of pink, in patches. Arrive expecting a pink beach and you will find a white one with pink in it.
The beach is white. The pink is a rumour that happens to be true in places.
You cannot take it with you
Elafonisi is a protected nature reserve in the Natura 2000 programme. Removing sand, shells, plants or animals is strictly prohibited, and so are camping and bonfires. Loggerhead sea turtles nest here, and parts of the beach are fenced off in the nesting season.
The numbers
We measured 412 metres of beach, 56 metres wide on average. Two sunbeds and a parasol cost €15.
Asked
- Why is the sand pink at Elafonisi?
- It contains crushed shells of foraminifera, microscopic sea organisms with reddish shells, mixed into white sand. The colour shows in some areas and in certain light.
- Can you take pink sand from Elafonisi?
- No. The beach is a protected reserve, and removing sand or shells is strictly prohibited.
- Where are the pink sand beaches in Greece?
- On Crete: Elafonisi in the south-west, and Balos in the north-west, where the pink appears in patches.