Elafonisi

Elafonisi is a magical place that consists of a small islet full of white and pink sandy beaches. The island is a natura 2000 protected area and it is home to 110 plant species as well as being a protected area for Androcymbium rechingeri.

Pink sand is a result of tiny red organisms that grow on the dead coral reefs and pieces of shells which fall to the ocean floor and is washed onto shore. It is also made of natural formulation of calcium carbonate from very small marine invertebrates that mixed to corals and shells and other marine things which has Foraminifera, microscopic amoeba that has a red or bright pink body shell. All of these are what causes the sand to have a pink hue.