Latvia

On Latvia’s beaches, what looks like amber in the sand can be something else entirely.

Amber washes ashore and settles among sand and seaweed. People search for the small yellow-orange pieces along the waterline, especially after storms.

But the same sand can also hide white phosphorus left from the Second World War. When wet, it can look like amber.

The difference may only become clear later. As the phosphorus dries, it can ignite and cause severe burns.