Shell Beach

Shell Beach, also known as Almond Beach, is located on Guyana's Essequibo Coast. Famous for one of the most beautiful historical sites in Guyana, it was included in the Tentative List in 1995 because of its ecological importance as a breeding site for sea turtles. Olive Ridley, Leatherback, Hawksbill, and Green Turtles establish their nests throughout a 90-mile stretch of shell-covered terrain.

Shell Beach becomes the nesting habitat for four of the world's eight endangered sea turtle species from March to August: leatherback, green, hawksbill, and olive ridley. The Protected Areas Act of 2011 and the Fisheries Act of 2002 safeguard all four species of sea turtles in Guyana. Only one or two species of sea turtle frequent most of the world's sea turtle nesting sites, adding to Shell Beach's uniqueness.

Shell Beach spans over 145 kilometers along Guyana's northwestern sea coast, from the mouth of the Waini River to the mouth of the Pomeroon River. It is a rare tract of unspoiled tropical coastland that has remained ecologically unharmed for millennia but is now threatened by flooding, coastal erosion, and human activity.

While the name Shell Beach may sound romantic, it is essentially a practical designation. Shell Beach is a beach made entirely of seashells, ranging in condition from totally intact to crushed sand-sized fragments.

Location: Barima-Waini, Guyana