Gathering seashells is a pastime that people have enjoyed for years and years. There’s nothing like bringing home treasures from the sea. I have always wondered, however what are seashells made of and how do they end up on the beach.
Mollusks, which are clams, oysters, and snails are prevalent in the Old Orchard Beach area. These mollusks form a specialized layer of tissue that produces the shell. This specialized layer is a form of protection from the sea.
Mollusks absorb salts and chemicals from the seawater, including calcium and carbonate, which they then use to form calcium carbonate. This calcium carbonate is very strong and hard and grows layer by layer as the mollusk grows. Once they die the shells wash upon the shore and become part of the beach.
Seashells commonly found at Old Orchard Beach in Maine include various types of clams, mussels, and whelks, as well as less common finds like moon snails and oyster shells.
Seashells are a common sight on Old Orchard Beach and other coastal areas, primarily due to the presence of marine life and their natural shedding processes. The shells are usually the outer protective coverings of various mollusks like snails, clams, and oysters.
Factors that influence the abundance of shells are wind, weather, tides and erosion. The best time to look for seashells are usually low tide in the morning since most haven’t combed through them already. After storms is another good time to look for seashells and sand dollars too since most can be displaced. Over time, erosion may expose buried shells as well.
I think it’s pretty amazing these little creatures exist in our oceans. Some of them live as short as a few months all the way up to years.
While you visit Old Orchard Beach be sure to grab your bucket or mesh bag and search for the prettiest seashell and then come show them off to us, here at the Alouette Beach Resort!
