Magical Pebble Paths That Flow Like Rivers

**Kazimiera** · 10-20-2014, 04:17 PM

Magical Pebble Paths That Flow Like Rivers

Have you ever walked along a pathway so magical it felt like you were transported to a fairytale world? Disneyland is one of the first places that come to mind, but what if you had your very own magical pathway in your backyard?

Both public and residential gardens include stone pebble pathways with the power to transport you to other worlds. The pathways are not the only incredible part; pebbles themselves are full of secrets and ancient history. Here are some of the greatest examples of pebble stone pathways you have to see to believe.

River stones and pebbles are popular choices when creating paths like the ones featured in this post, and they sure do look amazing!

Pebble stones are a type of rock with a particle size that measures somewhere between 2 and 64 millimeters. Pebbles are larger than granules but smaller than cobbles. Pebbles were used to craft some of the oldest man-made artifacts we have found, as far back as the palaeolitchic period humans were using pebbles.

Some beaches, known as ‘shingle beaches’ are full of pebbles. Pebbles are actually formed due to the movement of water, and wave erosion. As the waves pound over the rocks they are formed into their smooth, round shape.

Pebbles come in a wide range of colors, styles and textures, which means your pebble walkway can look anyway you want it to. Some pebbles contain quartz or other stunning sedimentary rocks, bringing out even more color options and diversity.

Pebbles are typically very smooth rocks, although pebbles that are exposed to the sea tend to have marks and other dings that take away some of their smooth qualities. This is because other rocks and materials are pushing around with the pebbles, causing pieces to break off and chip.

If pebbles are above the high water mark, they are likely to contain lichen on them, or other living organisms. Lichen is a type of fungus that can infect many different surfaces, and can survive in some of the harshest climates. In fact, it is estimated that 6% of the planet is covered by lichens.

So where can you find pebbles? Since the force of water creates pebbles, they can be found along beaches, streams, or in inland areas where seawater once flowed.

Beach pebbles are typically brown, green, red, or yellow. Beaches along the Pacific Ocean coastline contain some of the most pebbles compared to anywhere else in the world. Other pebble beaches are located in Europe, especially near the Norwegian Sea, Ireland, Indonesia, Australia, and Japan.

Inland pebbles are located on the bottom of large rivers or lakes. These pebbles form from the motion of the water constantly washing over them. The color and smooth quality of an inland pebble will depend on the chemical makeup of the water, speed of the current, as well as the soil composite.

Pebble rocks have also been found on Mars, yes the planet Mars. These pebbles signify that water once flowed through the red planet. And as they say, if there is water, there is life–meaning there was a time when living creatures roamed Mars.

Curiosity, the NASA rover that frequents planet Mars was the first to identify the pebbles. Careful research conducted on these smooth rocks shows that water flowed at a moderate (walking) pace and reached about ankle to hip-deep in height.

None of the pebbles used to create these pathways came from Mars, but can you imagine how cool it would be if they did?!

Pebbles are an incredible creation of mother nature used in many different outdoor and indoor designs. These amazing pathways make use of the ancient material in the most beautiful of ways!

Source: http://www.earthporm.com/15-magical-...w-like-rivers/