# The sand at our beach house squeaks when you walk in it!! **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 20, 2014, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sand-at-our-beach-house-squeaks-when-you-walk-in-it/701927 "2014-10-20T16:24:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2014, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sand-at-our-beach-house-squeaks-when-you-walk-in-it/701927/1 "2014-10-20T16:24:07Z")
Seriously. We’re at the Outer Banks of NC this week(Frisco, if it matters.) We’ve been coming down for 25 years. First time we’ve stayed in Frisco. We always stay in a house on the beach with nothing between you and the ocean except a dune. We all noticed that when we walked over the dune on dry sand, it squeaks. The sand squeaks. I though it was my sneakers at first. Nope, bare feet–the sand squeaks. Why?? ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2014, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sand-at-our-beach-house-squeaks-when-you-walk-in-it/701927/2 "2014-10-20T16:32:30Z")
You’re hurting it. Poor sand. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![TroutMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troutman/32/6721_2.png) [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2014, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sand-at-our-beach-house-squeaks-when-you-walk-in-it/701927/3 "2014-10-20T16:39:43Z")
There’s an entire [Wiki article](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Singing_sand) about the phenomenon (ok, a short one). I’ve experienced it in Grand Haven, MI on the shore of Lake Michigan. The sand has to be fairly uniform, round, and contain silica. The squeak is thought to be caused by shear as one sand layer scrapes over another. ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2014, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sand-at-our-beach-house-squeaks-when-you-walk-in-it/701927/4 "2014-10-20T16:43:06Z")
> [@TroutMan](#): > > There’s an entire [Wiki article](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Singing_sand) about the phenomenon (ok, a short one). I’ve experienced it in Grand Haven, MI on the shore of Lake Michigan. > > The sand has to be fairly uniform, round, and contain silica. The squeak is thought to be caused by shear as one sand layer scrapes over another. Thanks. Great article. It helps. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2014, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sand-at-our-beach-house-squeaks-when-you-walk-in-it/701927/5 "2014-10-20T17:43:20Z")
It’s called “singing sand” around these parts, on the western shore of Lake Michigan south of Sheboygan. Music to my ears. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2014, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sand-at-our-beach-house-squeaks-when-you-walk-in-it/701927/6 "2014-10-20T19:09:02Z")
The sand at Singing Beach in Manchester-by-the-Sea Massachusetts does this, too. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2014, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sand-at-our-beach-house-squeaks-when-you-walk-in-it/701927/7 "2014-10-20T19:24:24Z")
I’m a little surprised no one has posted a .wav file. Seems appropriate. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2014, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sand-at-our-beach-house-squeaks-when-you-walk-in-it/701927/8 "2014-10-20T19:49:37Z")
Be sure to walk without rhythm, lest you attract the worm. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2014, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sand-at-our-beach-house-squeaks-when-you-walk-in-it/701927/9 "2014-10-20T19:53:07Z")
> [@lieu](#): > > I’m a little surprised no one has posted a .wav file. Seems appropriate. I don’t have a recording. but here’s a YouTube video shot there. I don’t have sound here, so I don’t know if it’s reproducing the “squeak” [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ta4fys2rFQ) ---
**Author:** ![GusNSpot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gusnspot/32/436_2.png) [@GusNSpot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GusNSpot)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2014, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sand-at-our-beach-house-squeaks-when-you-walk-in-it/701927/10 "2014-10-20T19:54:34Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > Be sure to walk without rhythm, lest you attract the worm. Wonder how many will get the reference. I really like Reba.😃 ---
**Author:** ![susanlinda823](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce7236/32.png) [@susanlinda823](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susanlinda823)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2014, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sand-at-our-beach-house-squeaks-when-you-walk-in-it/701927/11 "2014-10-20T19:57:43Z")
Id be dancing around on the sand. What a phenomenon! ---
**Author:** ![TroutMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troutman/32/6721_2.png) [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2014, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sand-at-our-beach-house-squeaks-when-you-walk-in-it/701927/12 "2014-10-20T20:01:08Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > I don’t have a recording. but here’s a YouTube video shot there. > > I don’t have sound here, so I don’t know if it’s reproducing the “squeak” > > [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ta4fys2rFQ](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ta4fys2rFQ) Nope, I don’t know what that video is, but there’s no squeaking. And a quick Youtube search didn’t turn up any that had a good example of the sound. **Samclem** , it’s up to you. ETA: found an OK one: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-UPvzmkK15c](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-UPvzmkK15c) ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2014, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sand-at-our-beach-house-squeaks-when-you-walk-in-it/701927/13 "2014-10-20T20:11:09Z")
> [@TroutMan](#): > > ETA: found an OK one: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-UPvzmkK15c](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-UPvzmkK15c) Yeah, that looks and sounds like the singing sand on my beach. Mine might be a bit higher pitched. ---
**Author:** ![Darryl\_Lict](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7cd45c/32.png) [@Darryl\_Lict](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darryl_Lict)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2014, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sand-at-our-beach-house-squeaks-when-you-walk-in-it/701927/14 "2014-10-20T20:12:48Z")
The fine sands at [Whitehaven Beach](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TOZ_RnHzZUg), Whitsundays in Australia are famous for squeaking. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2014, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sand-at-our-beach-house-squeaks-when-you-walk-in-it/701927/15 "2014-10-20T20:55:29Z")
Cornstarch does this, too. ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2014, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sand-at-our-beach-house-squeaks-when-you-walk-in-it/701927/16 "2014-10-20T21:16:27Z")
Some of the beaches on the Gulf coast used to squeak like this too, until they were oiled. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2014, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sand-at-our-beach-house-squeaks-when-you-walk-in-it/701927/17 "2014-10-20T21:26:34Z")
Near SF there’s a beach that sometimes does this. ---
**Author:** ![sisu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@sisu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sisu)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2014, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sand-at-our-beach-house-squeaks-when-you-walk-in-it/701927/18 "2014-10-20T22:48:48Z")
Squeaky Beach at Wilsons Promontory does it and as noted above it’s due to the uniform silica sand. ---
**Author:** ![GreedySmurf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a698b9/32.png) [@GreedySmurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreedySmurf)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2014, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sand-at-our-beach-house-squeaks-when-you-walk-in-it/701927/19 "2014-10-20T23:33:36Z")
I didn’t realise this was a strange thing. It’s fairly common on beaches on the Gold Coast in Queensland (Australia). ---
**Author:** ![Fubaya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c2a13f/32.png) [@Fubaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fubaya)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2014, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sand-at-our-beach-house-squeaks-when-you-walk-in-it/701927/20 "2014-10-20T23:42:20Z")
[Here](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bl7uf_445eo) and [here](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hc7Gt4yqHlg) are a couple videos. I’ve witnessed squeaking sand but I can’t remember where. It could have been at Cape Canaveral. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sand-at-our-beach-house-squeaks-when-you-walk-in-it/701927.md?page=2)