A mere 30-minute drive from the east naval port of Vladivostok, is where Mother Nature’s waves have meticulously smoothed every edge in crafting the awe-inspiring sight, known as Glass Beach.

Mother Nature Transforms The Polluted Ussuri Bay into a Beautiful Glass Beach

Once the national dumping ground for used glass bottles and porcelain items, the Russian shorelines of Ussuri Bay, have since transformed into one of the nation’s hottest tourist destinations.

Shaded by high cliffs, the beach is a stunning sight all year round, featuring a kaleidoscope of vibrant colors which emanate from the sand’s enormous trails of gleaming glass jewels and pebbles. No longer dangerous due to each item’s gradual erosion, an overwhelming mass of tourists have since flocked to the beach, basking in the sun and pocketing irresistible souvenirs along the way.

Despite its popularity, the distinct and colourful qualities of Glass Beach many adore, may not be around for long – thanks to Mother Nature’s never-ending work of polishing the broken glass into oblivion. Barely measuring 10 centimetres, experts and academics predict that the miraculous pebbles may not survive another 20 years, as unrelenting waves continue to break down each eroded particle.

With an inevitable potential of regressing back to the ordinary – the Ussuri Bay Glass Beach is a once-in-a-lifetime venture worth taking, while it still exists.

By Julia Roxan