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Ulrich Gall
Lima's Pebbly Surf Beach
This beach in Lima, Peru, known as Ciclovía Costa Verde, offers a striking combination of a city coastline and a unique surfing culture. What might immediately catch your eye is that the beach is almost entirely covered in smooth, round pebbles rather than sand. This rocky shoreline is characteristic of many beaches along the coast of Lima, and while it might not be ideal for building sandcastles, it provides a distinctive texture and atmosphere.
Despite the pebbly surface, this stretch of coastline is incredibly popular with surfers. If you look closely at the waves, you can spot several figures out in the water, waiting for or riding a break. Lima's Pacific coast is famous for its consistent waves, making it a year-round destination for surfers of all levels. The specific spot where this photo was taken is part of the larger Costa Verde, a series of beaches and cliffs that stretch along the city's waterfront, offering various surf breaks.
In the distance, you can see a pier extending into the ocean, with a structure that appears to be a restaurant or similar establishment. Piers like this are common along coastal cities, serving as focal points for recreation, fishing, and dining, often providing panoramic views of the ocean and the city. The presence of cars parked right alongside the beach also highlights the easy accessibility of these urban surf spots, allowing people to combine a quick surf session with their daily routines. Overall, this scene beautifully illustrates how the dynamic ocean environment and urban life intertwine in Lima.
Lima's Shingle Beaches and Surfing Culture
The beaches of Lima, like the one here, are distinctive for their cobblestone or shingle composition, rather than sand. This is due to the geological processes along the Peruvian coast, where erosion of the rocky cliffs and seafloor creates these smooth, rounded stones. While some find them less comfortable than sandy beaches, they prevent the perpetual issue of sand clinging to everything. This area is also popular for surfing, benefiting from consistent swells from the Pacific Ocean, often breaking over rocky seabed formations. The water temperature year-round is cooler than one might expect for a tropical latitude due to the Humboldt Current, bringing cold water from Antarctica.