Although the island
of Roatan is known for its white sand beaches and easy access to the second
largest barrier reef system in the world, it also boasts flora, fauna and
geological characteristics that are rarely found anywhere else in the
world. One question that new visitors
often ask is, “What is the Iron Shore of Roatan?” To help describe this topographical anomaly
to new guests, we’ve come up with a short article.
IronShore
Composition
Simply speaking,
Iron Shore is a fossilized coral reef that was deposited over a million years
ago. It’s characterized by a blackened,
pitted and sponge-like surface of pinnacles and ridges that extends out from
the water and several yards onto the shore.
In many ways the Iron Shore looks like cooled lava along the water’s
edge that’s grown stalagmites.
IronShore Origins
The present day
appearance of the Iron Shore is the result of the limestone component of the
ancient coral reef being dissolved by microorganisms such as bacteria, algae
and fungi. What remains is known as
biokarst with its characteristic pitted, black surface and a greyish, white
interior that wasn’t reached by the hungry microbes.
Experiencing
Roatan’s IronShore
You’ll find
examples of the visually striking Iron Shore all around the island of Roatan,
including West Bay and West End and by us at L’Alize. Because it’s
actually the remnants of ancient coral beds, the Iron Shore can give you an
idea of how much the ocean has receded over the past million or so years.
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