From quiet, empty shores to busy coastal areas filled with local life, the longest beaches in the world show nature at its most impressive.

There’s something really calming about standing on a long stretch of sand and watching the coastline slowly disappear into the distance. Beaches that seem to go on forever make you feel free and full of wonder, encouraging you to keep walking until the world feels bigger and your mind feels lighter. These wide beaches aren’t just beautiful spots; they’re natural places shaped by waves, wind, and time. From quiet, empty shores to busy coastal areas filled with local life, the longest beaches in the world show nature at its most impressive. Here are some of the most memorable ones.

Exploring The Longest Coastlines On The Planet

1. Praia do Cassino, Brazil

Often recognised as the longest continuous beach in the world, Praia do Cassino runs for roughly 254 kilometres along Brazil’s southern coast. Its impressive length stretches from the Rio Grande port to the border with Uruguay. The area is known for its wide sandy expanses, lively seaside towns, and the occasional presence of sea lions basking along the shore. This beach is a favourite among locals who enjoy long drives, coastal fishing, and windswept walks.

2. Ninety Mile Beach, Australia

Situated in Victoria, Australia, this beach extends for 151 kilometres and offers a peaceful escape from busy city life. Its seemingly endless shoreline is edged by dunes, lakes, and protected reserves. The waters are clear, making it a haven for swimmers and anglers, while its remote stretches feel wonderfully untouched. Despite the name, it is longer than ninety miles, but its charm lies in its peaceful isolation.

3. Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh

Cox’s Bazar is often celebrated as the longest natural sea beach in the world, stretching an extraordinary 120 kilometres along the Bay of Bengal. This coastline blends dramatic cliffs, soft sands, and a thriving local culture centred around fishing and tourism. As the sun dips into the water, the entire beach glows with warm colours, drawing visitors and photographers to its vibrant edge.

4. Padre Island National Seashore, United States

Running for about 112 kilometres off the coast of Texas, Padre Island is the world’s longest barrier island. It is a sanctuary for wildlife, including rare sea turtles and hundreds of bird species. The beach is cherished for its raw, windswept atmosphere and its sense of wildness. Visitors often come for camping, birdwatching, and long, uninterrupted walks along the gulf.

5. Ninety Mile Beach, New Zealand

New Zealand’s version of Ninety Mile Beach stretches for 88 kilometres, contradicting its name but captivating travellers with its dramatic scenery. Historically used as a roadway for buses and even horse teams, it remains a place of adventure. The powerful surf, towering dunes, and rolling skies give it an atmosphere both rugged and enchanting.

6. Long Beach, Canada

On Vancouver Island’s west coast, Long Beach spans 16 kilometres, making it shorter than the giants on this list but still one of the most notable in North America. Its name reflects its dramatic open views and expansive sandy plains. The beach is part of a protected national park, known for its storm-watching seasons, misty mornings, and surf culture.

These long, quiet shores remind us how peaceful and powerful nature can be.

Which country has the highest elephant population in the world? Learn about African elephants, top countries, types of elephants and interesting elephant facts.

Elephants are the largest land animals on Earth and are found mainly in Africa and Asia. They play a vital role in maintaining ecosystems and are known for their intelligence and strong social bonds. While several countries are home to elephants, one country stands out for having the largest population.

Which Country Has the Highest Elephant Population in the World?

Botswana has the highest elephant population in the world. The country is home to over 130,000 elephants, making it the leading nation for elephant population globally. Its vast protected areas and conservation efforts have helped elephant numbers grow.

Which Countries Have the Most Elephants in the World

Apart from Botswana, other countries with large elephant populations include Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Kenya and South Africa. These countries have extensive wildlife reserves and national parks that support large elephant populations.

Which Country Has the Most Elephants in Asia?

India has the highest elephant population in Asia. It is home to more than 30,000 Asian elephants, making it the most important country for Asian elephant conservation.

Why Does Botswana Have the Most Elephants?

Botswana has the largest elephant population because of its strong conservation policies and large protected areas like national parks and reserves. The country has also taken steps to reduce poaching, which has helped increase elephant numbers over time.

Where Are Elephants Mostly Found?

Elephants are mainly found in sub-Saharan Africa and parts of South and Southeast Asia. African elephants live in savannas and forests, while Asian elephants are mostly found in dense forests and grasslands.

Types of Elephants in the World

There are three main types of elephants: African savanna elephants, African forest elephants and Asian elephants. African elephants are generally larger, while Asian elephants are slightly smaller and found in fewer numbers.

Interesting Facts About Elephants

Botswana Has the Largest Elephant Population
Botswana is home to the highest number of elephants in the world due to strong conservation efforts and vast habitats.

Africa Has the Majority of Elephants
Most of the world’s elephants are found in Africa, especially in countries with large wildlife reserves.

India Leads in Asian Elephants
India has the largest population of Asian elephants, making it crucial for their survival.

Elephants Are Highly Intelligent
Elephants are known for their memory, problem-solving abilities and strong social structures.

They Play a Key Ecological Role
Elephants help maintain ecosystems by spreading seeds and creating pathways in forests.

Elephants Face Threats
Habitat loss and poaching are major threats to elephant populations worldwide.

Botswana has the highest elephant population in the world, followed by several other African countries. Keep reading for more such topics.

Hidden within the Atlantic, the Sargasso Sea is a rare water body that travellers cross without ever knowing it exists.

When travellers cross the Atlantic, whether by cruise ship or long‑haul flight, they expect hours of open ocean. What most do not realise is that many of these journeys pass through a sea that has no coastline at all. Far out in the North Atlantic lies a body of water that cannot be reached by road, does not appear on beach maps and has no visible borders. Known as the Sargasso Sea, it is the only sea on Earth that does not touch land. It is also the setting of Jean Rhys’s Wide Sargasso Sea, the celebrated feminist prequel to Jane Eyre, a reminder that this quiet stretch of ocean has long existed not just on travel routes, but in imagination too.

Sargasso: A Sea With No Shores

What makes the Sargasso Sea unique is the way it is defined. Unlike other seas, which are shaped by surrounding landmasses, the Sargasso Sea exists entirely within the Atlantic Ocean. Its boundaries are formed by a system of powerful currents that circle it on all sides.

These currents include:

• The Gulf Stream to the west
• The North Atlantic Current to the north
• The Canary Current to the east
• The North Atlantic Equatorial Current to the south

Together, they create a vast, slow‑moving region of water located roughly 590 miles east of Florida, with no shoreline to signal where it begins or ends.

What Travellers Experience Without Realising It

Sailors have crossed the Sargasso Sea for centuries, often without recognising it as a distinct place. The sea’s surface is known for being unusually calm, with long, gentle swells rather than rough waves. Early explorers found this unsettling. Christopher Columbus, sailing through the area in 1492, feared his ships would be trapped without wind.

Today, the same calm conditions contribute to smoother Atlantic crossings. Cruise passengers may notice steadier waters, while those flying overhead pass above a region that behaves differently from the surrounding ocean, even if nothing looks unusual from a window seat.

A Floating Landscape In The Middle Of The Ocean

One of the most distinctive features of the Sargasso Sea is the presence of Sargassum, a golden‑brown seaweed that floats freely on the water’s surface. Unlike most sea plants, this seaweed does not attach itself to the ocean floor. Instead, it drifts, forming loose mats that move slowly with the currents.

These floating mats create a unique environment:

• They provide shelter for small fish, shrimp and crabs
• Young sea turtles use them as protection during early life stages
• The mats act like floating islands in otherwise open water

The sea itself is named after this seaweed, which was noted by early Portuguese sailors who thought its air bladders resembled clusters of grapes.

A Sea That Is Known For Its Marine Journeys

Although it appears calm at the surface, the Sargasso Sea plays an important role in ocean life. It is known as a breeding and migration zone for several species that travel vast distances across the Atlantic.

Among them are:

• European and American eels, which begin life here before travelling to rivers thousands of miles away
• Migratory fish that pass through the region on spawning routes
• Marine species that rely on the floating Sargassum for shelter and food

For travellers, this means that some of the world’s longest animal migrations unfold beneath routes they cross by ship or plane.

The Closest You Can Get

There is no way to “arrive” at the Sargasso Sea in the conventional sense, but Bermuda lies near its western edge and serves as the closest land reference. Many visitors to Bermuda are unaware that they are near this unusual sea, even though it has influenced navigation in the region for centuries.

Historically, sailors travelling between Europe, Africa and the Americas passed through the Sargasso Sea as part of major trade and exploration routes, making it a quiet constant in Atlantic travel history.

A Place You Pass Through, Not Visit

The Sargasso Sea challenges the idea of what a destination looks like. It has no beaches, no ports and no landmarks, yet it remains one of the most distinctive seas on the planet. For travellers, knowing about it adds a layer of awareness to Atlantic journeys.

It is a reminder that some of the world’s most fascinating places are not meant to be reached, but simply crossed, quietly and without notice.

Geopolitical tensions, rising gas and jet fuel prices and regional unrest are introducing uncertainty for many international travellers in 2026.

The ongoing war in the Middle East has disrupted airspace and tourism across the region, with flights cancelled or rerouted and major hubs like Dubai affected.

Rising oil prices tied to the conflict are already leading to higher ticket fares. Canadians in affected regions have been asked to leave at the earliest opportunity, and many are seeking help from the government to do so.

These challenges follow earlier disruptions closer to home. The American attack on Venezuela prompted the Canadian government to advise Canadians to avoid Cuba — a popular winter destination. This resulted in many returning early or cancelling trips.

In February, civil unrest in western Mexico, particularly in Puerto Vallarta, caused travellers to interrupt their vacations and others to cancel or reschedule flights.

With such disruptions causing anxiety for Canadian travellers, there are many uncertainties as to where it might be safe to travel, whether to cancel travel plans and what travellers should do to lower risks.

Disruptions reshape travel — but don’t stop it

Tourism researchers have long observed that global travel is highly sensitive to political, economic and environmental events. Tourism crises are disruptions that affect consumer confidence, travel demand, transportation networks and the reputation of destinations.

Yet when problems arise in one region of the world, travel does not stop; it often shifts to other destinations. Airlines adjust routes, tour operators move customers to alternative locations and travellers change their plans.

Recent patterns reflect this adjustment. As Canadians continue avoiding travelling to the U.S., industry travel experts have noted increased trips to France, Japan and Mexico.

While most international travel continues safely, Canadians should be aware of current disturbances and practical steps to mitigate risk and travel confidently.

1. Is flying safe?

Flying remains the safest mode of transportation. In times of conflict, countries collaborate with aviation authorities, airlines and air traffic controllers to define “safe corridors” for all civil aircraft to use.

These corridors around regions currently avoided (such as the Middle East and Ukraine) are easy to identify with websites such as Flight Radar. This site also provides an airport disruption map that identifies airports experiencing delays and cancelled flights.

2. Will the trip become more expensive?

Kerosene is one of airlines’ highest costs after labour, and fares have already become much more expensive for both domestic and international routes in the past few days.

Airline pricing depends on input costs, demand and network adjustments as airlines reallocate planes to alternative destinations. If travel demand decreases, airlines propose fewer flights to the destination.

It’s recommended to book refundable or exchangeable tickets as early as possible to get cheaper fares, with the flexibility to change them as needed.

3. Will travel cause more stress?

Travellers should prepare for possible longer flight times to avoid dangerous regions, missed connections or cancellations. Currently the Middle East war makes it difficult for Canadians to travel to (and from) the Indian subcontinent, Africa and the Asia-Pacific region.

Experienced travellers know that travel problems can lead to frustration, anxiety, fatigue and sometimes anger, all exacerbated by other passengers’ behaviours, long wait times at the gate and long customer service lines to rebook a cancelled flight.

Social and news media may magnify anxiety and stress, as travellers share concerns and read about others’ situations.

4. How should travellers adapt to avoid risk?

When disruptions affect a destination, travellers typically cancel plans and find substitutes. They shift to destinations that offer similar experiences with fewer risks.

For example, Canadians who might have chosen Cuba may instead opt for Mexico, the Dominican Republic or Jamaica. These destinations offer similar all-inclusive beach vacations and have strong airline connections with Canadian cities.

Travellers should pay attention to international news, especially in sensitive regions. The current situation in the Middle East remains unpredictable, and travel recovery progress can be promptly suspended.

Consumers react to crises by avoiding the destination and finding substitute destinations, sometimes domestically: risk avoidance and feeling safe remain essential conditions for people to travel.

Practical advice for travellers

1. Check official travel advisories. Before leaving Canada, consult the government’s travel advisory website for up-to-date information about risks, entry requirements and local conditions.
2. Book your trip with a travel advisor. Travel professionals can support you before, during and after your trip. They will act as your advocate in a crisis by helping to manage disruptions, rebooking plans and handling emergencies with access to 24/7 assistance.
3. Register with the Canadian government. Canadians travelling abroad should consider registering with the Registration of Canadians Abroad service. This allows the government to contact travellers during emergencies or major disruptions.
4. Choose flexible travel arrangements. Try to book flights and accommodations that allow changes or cancellations.
5. Purchase comprehensive travel insurance. A good policy should cover medical emergencies, trip cancellations and travel interruptions. However, read the fine print; not all policies cover war or political events.
6. Check airline policies. Airlines should offer flexibility during disruptions, including waiving change fees, providing full refunds if passengers choose not to fly and proactively contacting affected travellers. But previous crises have taught us that getting support or compensation from an airline is not easy.
7. Finally, plan for contingencies. Travellers should have backup payment methods, keep copies of important documents and allow extra time for flight connections. In destinations experiencing disruptions, bringing small essentials (such as medications or portable chargers) can also be helpful.