This is what sand looks like under a microscope

Macro photographer Harold Taylor has created a series of photographs showing what sand looks like under a microscope.

The photos, which feature sand from seven different beaches in the Indian Ocean, show travellers the stark differences between five of the Indian Ocean islands.

The project used sand samples from the Maldives, Mauritius, Sri Lanka, the Seychelles and La Réunion.

Images of the Maldives, Mauritius, and Seychelles tend to show white sand and turquoise waters which can mislead visitors, who might think the beaches are all the same.

Under the microscope, however, Taylor discovered coral fragments from La Réunion, a piece of sea urchin spine from the Maldives, and a grain of caramel feldspar from the Seychelles. The series includes colourful shots of individual grains of sand, as well as close up photographs of multiple grains.

Kate Clover, co-author of new book Secrets of Sand, said: “When viewed under the microscope, sands reveal their local geology and marine ecology".

Taylor teamed up with luxury travel company Kuoni for the project. For more information visit kuoni.co.uk.