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(Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)
Some people are content to tip buckets of sand over on the beach and call it a sand castle. Others spend days packing, shaping and painting stories-high piles of sand and they too would dub their products, "sand castle." In other words, not all sand castles are created equal.
Here, we’ve collected some of the most extraordinary sand castles ever produced. Many of them are the work of skilled artists and sculptors entered in competitions, who've devoted their lives to sculpting sand. So, kids, don't try this at home, if only because you'll be disappointed.
In the photo above, taken in June 2009, exactly five years ago, when World Cup excitement was palpable -- as it is today -- asand castle depicting Brazil's soccer starNeymarand Argentina's Lionel Messiwas built on CopacabanaBeach in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
to see more sand artistry.
(Photo by Graham Denholm/Getty Images)
Here, a sand sculpture titled "Enchanted Garden" wows with its fantastical carvings, etched by Meg Murray from Australia for the Creepy CrawliesSandsculpting Exhibition on the Frankston waterfront on Dec 26, 2010 in Melbourne, Australia. International sand sculpture artists from around the world joined their Australian counterparts to create the insect-themed exhibition that remained open to the public for four months.
(Photo by Graham Denholm/Getty Images)
"Flea Circus," sculpted by Susanne Ruseler from the Netherlands, is seen here at the Creepy Crawlies Sandsculpting Exhibition on the Frankston waterfront in Melbourne, Australia.
(Photo by Graham Denholm/Getty Images)
A sand sculpture also exhibited at theCreepyCrawliesSandsculptingExhibition, titled "Alice and the Caterpillar," features a cat that bears a striking resemblance to the Cheshire Cat.
(Photo by Graham Denholm/Getty Images)
Here, a sand sculpture called"Under The Sea" carved by Kevin Crawford, is seen at a more recent exhibition at Melbourne's Frankston Waterfront, theUnder the Sea Sand Sculpture Exhibition, on Jan. 5, 2013. The sand sculptures in the exhibition, produced by Australian and international artists alike, were on display through April 28, 2013.
Appropriately titled "Mermaids," the sand sculpture pictured here, is seen at the Under the Sea Sand Sculpture Exhibition at the Frankston Waterfront in Melbourne.
A sand castle dubbed "Atlantis," constructed bySandisKondisand SueMcGrew, stands tall and sturdy at the Under the Sea Sand Sculpture Exhibition at the Frankston Waterfront in Melbourne, Australia.
(Photo by Graham Denholm/Getty Images)
Another view of "Atlantis" byKondisand McGrewis seen here at the Under the Sea sand Sculpture Exhibition in Melbourne, Australia.
(Photo by Graham Denholm/Getty Images)
"20,000 Leagues Under The Sea," a sand sculpture carved byBaldrickBuckle, is another star at the Under the Sea Sand Sculpture Exhibition at the Frankston Waterfront in Melbourne, Australia.
(Photo by Graham Denholm/Getty Images)
"Octopus Garden," carved by Joris Kivits, is seen at the Under the Sea Sand Sculpture Exhibition at the Frankston Waterfront in Melbourne.
(Photo by Graham Denholm/Getty Images)
"The Bergs," carved by Michela Ciappini, is seen at the Under theSea Sand Sculpture Exhibition at the Frankston Waterfront in Melbourne.
(Photo by Graham Denholm/Getty Images)
A sand sculpture titled "Reef Builders," created by Kevin Crawford and Jim McCauley, is seen at the Under theSea Sand Sculpture Exhibition at the Frankston Waterfront in Melbourne.
(Photo by Graham Denholm/Getty Images)
Called "Seaport Village," this sand castle, carved by Jino van Bruinessen and Peter Redmond, is seen at the Under the Sea Sand Sculpture Exhibition at the Frankston Waterfront in Melbourne.
(Photo by Graham Denholm/Getty Images)
"Fish Tales," constructed by Fred Dobbs and Natasha Kamenskaia,is pictured here at the Under the Sea Sand Sculpture Exhibition at the Frankston Waterfront in Melbourne.
(Photo by Graham Denholm/Getty Images)
A sand sculpture titled "Poseidon," carved by Martijn Rijerse and Hanneke Supply, is featured here at theUnder the Sea Sand Sculpture Exhibition at the Frankston Waterfront in Melbourne.
(Photo by Mark Renders/Getty Images)
What look to be sand versions of C3PO and Hannibal Lecter arepictured on the site of the Sand Sculptures Festival inZeebrugge, Belgiumon July 15, 2004. The Sand Sculptures Festival inZeebruggeis one of the largest sand sculptures festivals in the world, and the theme of the year was Hollywood.
(Photo by Mark Renders/Getty Images)
Taking the shape of the New York City skyline, with King Kong sneaking up the right side of the Empire State Building, this sand sculpture isfeatured at the Sand Sculptures Festival inZeebrugge, Belgium.
(Photo by Mark Renders/Getty Images)
Here, a sandy Angelina Jolie and Buzz Lightyear steal the show at the 2004 Hollywood-themed Sand Sculptures Festival inZeebrugge, Belgium.
(Photo by Mark Renders/Getty Images)
A dragon with spindly wings at his sides lurks in front of an enormous sand castle in the mold of the Empire State Building at the Sand Sculptures Festival in Zeebrugge, Belgium.
(Photo by Mark Renders/Getty Images)
Shrek looms overhead while a knight stands at the ready, both on the site of the Sand Sculptures Festival inZeebrugge, Belgium.
(Photo by Mark Renders/Getty Images)
Also featured at the Hollywood-themed Sand Sculptures Festival in Zeebrugge, Belgium are sculptures of Dorothy and the Tin Man on the "Wizard of Oz"-famed Yellow Brick Road, followed closely behind by what seems to beGimlifrom Lord of the Rings.
(Photo by Mark Renders/Getty Images)
Here, Pinhead, from the Hellraiser series, gets special sandy treatment at theHollywood-themed Sand Sculptures Festival inZeebrugge, Belgium in 2004.
(Photo by Mark Renders/Getty Images)
Typical mania produced byHollywood Special Effects teams takes place in this piece featured at the Hollywood-themed Sand Sculptures Festival on July 15, 2004 in Zeebrugge, Belgium.
(Photo by Mark Renders/Getty Images)
More Hollywood magic happens in this sand sculpture also displayed at theHollywood-themed Sand Sculptures Festival hosted inZeebrugge, Belgium in 2004.
(Photo by Mark Renders/Getty Images)
A sneaky Gollum climbs over a sandy hill at theHollywood-themed Sand Sculptures Festival hosted in Zeebrugge, Belgium in 2004.
(Photo by Mark Renders/Getty Images)
WIth Hollywood icons Laurel and Hardy overlooking the scene, old film reels abound at the 2004 Sand Sculptures Festival inZeebrugge.
(Photo by Mark Renders/Getty Images)
Just behind the Addams Family, a sculptor puts his last touches on his sand castle, pictured on the site of the Hollywood-themed Sand Sculptures Festival in Zeebrugge, Belgium.
(Photo by Mark Renders/Getty Images)
The dinosaur-stars of "Jurassic Park" and a passionate couple are caught in action at 2004's Hollywood-themed Sand Sculptures Festival hosted inZeebrugge.
(Photo by Mark Renders/Getty Images)
The "Easy Rider" crew looks too cool to be made of dry, hot sand. But alas, the characters are, and they're pictured here at the Sand Sculptures Festival on July 15, 2004 in Zeebrugge, Belgium.
(Photo by VANDERLEI ALMEIDA/AFP/Getty Images)
Twenty-eight-year-old sand sculptor Rogean Rodriguesputs the finishing touches on his Olympic Rings masterpiece, set up on CopacabanaBeach in Rio de Janiero on Oct. 5, 2009. It had just been announced that Rio de Janeiro would be the host of the 2016 Olympic Games.
(Photo by Sanjay Kanojia/AFP/Getty Images)
A sand sculpture of Hindu god Lord Shiva, built by Allahabad University students, is pictured on the eve of Maha Shivaratri festival at Sangam in Allahabad on Feb. 26, 2014. Hindus mark the Maha Shivratri festival by offering special prayers and fasting to worship Lord Shiva, the lord of destruction.
(Photo by JOHANNES EISELE/AFP/Getty Images)
A woman passes by an elaborate sand sculpture, depicting a goalkeeper with a soccer ball, while visiting the fourth international sand sculpture festival "Sandsation" in Berlin on June 16, 2006. About 35 artists from all over the world took part in the competition, and ultimately, Gianni Schiumarini of Italy was awarded the Artist's Trophy for her sculpture, "Fighting the Ball."
(Photo credit should read STRDEL/AFP/Getty Images)
Indian sand artist Sudarsan Pattnaik built an ode to the Oscars-success of "Slumdog Millionaire" through his sand art on the golden beach of Puriin 2009. The movie won 8 Oscars at the Academy Awards that year.
(Photo by Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images)
Here, sand artists create a sculpture of a hand on the shore of the River Thames on July 24, 2008 in London.
(Photo by ASIT KUMAR/AFP/Getty Images)
A sand sculpture of the Hindu god, Lord RadhaKrishna, is prominently displayed inBhubaneswar ahead of the spring festival Holion March 15, 2014. Holi, the Hindu spring festival of colors, is observed in India at the end of the winter season on the last full moon of the lunar month.
(Photo by BERND WUSTNECK/AFP/Getty Images)
Russian artist Sergey Tselebrovsky works on his sand sculpture "The Vikings" as photographers take pictures at a public swimming area of the Baltic Sea in Warnemuende, Germany, on April 5, 2013. At the event, nine artists from six different countries compete with sand sculptures under the theme "Fairy Tales and Myths of the Sea."
(Photo by BERND WUSTNECK/AFP/Getty Images)
Andrey Molokov, from the Chuvash Republic, works on his portion of the sand sculpture "The Vikings" near the Baltic Sea in Warnemuende, Germany.
(Photo by ANDREY SMIRNOV/AFP/Getty Images)
Sculptors work on the sand sculpture of an Orthodox cathedral during the Sand Sculptures Festival in Moscow on April 29, 2013.
(Photo by David Cannon/Getty Images)
Adam Scott of Australia tries a trick shot off the steeple of a sand castle to launch the 2006 Johnnie Walker Classic on Cottesloe Beach Feb. 7, 2006 in Perth, Australia.
(Photo by STR/AFP/Getty Images)
Indians walk past a sand sculpture of President Barack Obama when he was re-elected at Golden Sea beach in Puri on Nov. 7, 2012. U.S.
(Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images)
A larger than life sand sculpture is pictured at the annual Weston-super-Mare Sand Sculpture festival on May 28, 2012 in Weston-Super-Mare, England. The annual festival features sand sculptures from award-winning artists from across the globe. Using 4,000 tons of Weston beach sand, 2012's giant sand art display, created by 15 international artists on the theme "Fun and Games," ran throughout the summer.
(Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images)
Sculpture artists complete their sand castle pieces at the annual Weston-super-Mare Sand Sculpture festival in England.
(Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images)
Sand sculpture artist Jamie Wardley finishes a sporting greats themed sand sculpture he created at the annual Weston-super-Mare Sand Sculpture festival on May 28, 2012 in Weston-Super-Mare, England.
(Photo by ASIT KUMAR/AFP/Getty Images)
Indian sand artist Sudersan Pattnaikunveiled this sand sculpture on the eve of World Environment Day at PuriSea beach on June 4, 2013. India's cities have become steadily more polluted and unhealthy, according to a recent survey.
(Photo by RADEK MICA/AFP/Getty Images)
A girl takes a picture of a sand sculpture that resembles a Buddha at a sand sculpture festival near Bitov, Czech Republic on July 17, 2013. The sculptures' themes come from different continents.
(Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)
A sand sculpture of the Christ the Redeemer statue stands on Copacabana Beach before the start of opening ceremonies for World Youth Day celebrations on July 23, 2013 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
(Photo by TOSHIFUMI KITAMURA/AFP/Getty Images)
People look at a sand sculpture featuring "Attack on Titan" at Enoshima east beach in Fujisawa, Kanagawa prefecture, about 50 kilometers southwest of Tokyo on Aug. 10, 2013. A week-long exhibition of the sand art marked the sales of 23 million copies ofa Japanesemangaseries byHajimeIsayama.
(Photo by ANESH DEBIKY/AFP/Getty Images)
This picture, taken on December 11, 2013, features a sand sculpture in tribute to the late former South African President Nelson Mandela on Durban's beach. Mandela, the revered icon of the anti-apartheid struggle in South Africa and one of the towering political figures of the 20th century, died in Johannesburg at age 95, just 6 days before the photograph was taken.
(Photo by ASIT KUMAR/AFP/Getty Images)
Indian children dressed as Santa Claus play near a sand sculpture depicting a version of god with Jesus. Created by sand artist Sudarsan Pattnaik, at Golden Sea Beach in Puri, the elaborate sand castle shows that Christmas is celebrated with much fanfare and zeal throughout India despite the fact that Hinduism dominates religious practice in the country.
(Photo by YASSER AL-ZAYYAT/AFP/Getty Images)
Workers are seen at the site of a sand sculpture at Kuwait's sand village at Mishref Fairground in Kuwait City on Jan. 13, 2014. Sculptors from Kuwait -- and around the world -- took part in building the sculptures with the theme "One Thousand and One Nights" at the village.
(Photo by YASSER AL-ZAYYAT/AFP/Getty Images)
Here, a man is caught working on one of the sand sculptures at Kuwait's sand village at Mishref Fairground in January.
(Photo by ASIT KUMAR/AFP/Getty Images)
A sand sculpture featuring portraits of women including Queen Elizabeth II, made by sand artist Sudersan Pattnaik, is pictured at at PuriBeach on March 7, 2014 in advance of International Women's Day.
(Photo by Mark Renders/Getty Images)
A sand sculpture inspired by Eric and Ariel's love story from "The Little Mermaid" is seen at the Annual Sea Sculpture Festival on June 28, 2008 in Middelkerke, Belgium.
(Photo by JOHANNES EISELE/AFP/Getty Images)
An artist is seen working on his sculpture during the fourth international sand sculpture festival "Sandsation" in Berlin on June 16, 2006. About 35 artists from around the world took part in the competition.
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