Klong Phrao Beach in Koh Chang Island, Thailand

Public Domain Photo: Klong Phrao Beach in Koh Chang Island, Thailand. Dimensions and size: 1746×1176 pixels, 121 KB

Klong Phrao Beach is in Ko Chang Island (or Koh Chang), the second largest island of Thailand located on the east coast, 310 km away from Bangkok, near the Cambodian border in the Gulf of Thailand. It is a mountainous island known for several waterfalls, coral reefs and rainforests. Ko Chang, surrounded by 51 other islands, has become a popular tourist destination in the last decade. About 85% of the island is part of the Mu Ko Chang Marine National Park. Besides its seafood, Ko Chang has plenty of spas comprising of various forms of massage, aromatherapy, herbal scrub, and reflexology. Koh Chang nightlife and bar scene have become popular tourist attractions.

There are plenty of white sandy beaches dotted with hotels and resorts. The island is also home to a wide range of wildlife, including a variety snakes, deer, stump-tailed macaque, the small Indian civet, the Javan mongoose, and over 60 birds species. The island and its vicinity are great places for snorkeling, kayaking/ canoeing, diving, jungle hiking, mountain biking, and elephant trekking. Hat Kai Bae, a sloping and long stretch of beach connecting with Klong Phrao Beach, is suitable for swimming.

Women at Miami making fun of sign on full bathing suits

PD Photo: Young women in swimsuits making fun of the sign at the beach requiring full bathing suits at Miami, Florida, photo by Gleason Waite Romer (1887-1971), from repository: State Library and Archives of Florida, USA; photo taken on July 4, 1934.

Stivan Beach on Island Cres, Croatia

PD Photo: Stivan Beach on Island Cres, Croatia, is located south of Lake Vrana at an altitude of 100-120 meters, photo by Thomas Musich.

Nudist Beaches in Donauinsel, Austria

PD photo: Nudist Beaches in Donauinsel, Austria, photo taken on June 2007

The Donauinsel (Danube Island), a long narrow island in central Vienna, Austria, between the Danube River and the parallel excavated channel Neue Donau (New Danube), has some popular nudist beaches. Danube Island is 21.1 km (13.1 miles) long but only 70 to 210 meters (230 to 690 feet) wide.

For most of the visitors, the Donauinsel is a recreational area with bars, restaurants and nightclubs, and sports events such as rollerblading, cycling, swimming and canoeing. There is one beach, nicknamed the ‘Copa Cagrana’ as a humoristic allusion to Rio de Janeiro's Copacabana, Kagran, a part of the 22nd District of Vienna next to that beach. In the southern and northern parts of the Donauinsel there are extensive and free nude beaches.

'On the Sand, Valencia Beach' by Joaquin Sorolla

PD Image: ‘On the Sand, Valencia Beach’ (1908), Oil on canvas painting by Spanish painter Joaquín Sorolla (1863-1923).

Sculpture by Kanai Kunhiraman at Shankumugham Beach, Thiruvananthapuram

Photo: Sculpture by Kanai Kunhiraman at Shankumugham Beach, Thiruvananthapuram

Shankumugham Beach is a beautiful beach on the western side of Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum) city, adjacent to Trivandrum International Airport, in Kerala, India. There is a vast stretch of white sand and the serene atmosphere away from the crowd in the city that attracts a lot of visitors, both local people and tourists, as it is one of the cleanest beaches in India.

Nu Sur La Plage: John William Godward

This is a scanned image of ‘Nu Sur La Plage’ (alternative name: Nude on the Beach), a 1922 oil on canvas painting by British painter John William Godward (1861-1922). CLICK on the photo for the enlarged image that shows the subtle brush strokes that brings out the sensuality in the composition and to see how the sea, the sand on the beach and the sky blend together to heighten the visual effect of this acclaimed oil painting.

The Wave by Guillaume Seignac

Image: The Wave (alternate names: ‘La Vague’ or ‘Fala’) oil painting by French painter Guillaume Seignac (1870-1924).

Woman on the beach by Guillaume Seignac

Woman on the beach (alternate names: ‘Nu sur la plage’ or ‘Naga na plaży’), oil painting by French painter Guillaume Seignac (1870-1924).

Praia da Marinha - Beach of the Navy

Photo: Praia da Marinha, an image of the Algarve region

Praia da Marinha, meaning ‘Beach of the Navy’ is a beach located on the Atlantic coast in the civil parish of Carvoeiro, in the municipality of Lagoa, Algarve, the southernmost region of mainland Portugal. It is one of the most beautiful and symbolic beaches of Portugal. This beach is quite famous for its cliffs and for the pristine quality of the water. In 1998, it was the distinguished with the ‘Golden Beach’ award by the Portuguese Ministry of the Environment because of its outstanding natural qualities. The pictures of the beach have been used in promotional material for ‘Guides to Portugal’ distributed around the world. Photos and visuals of Praia da Marinha have been used extensively by advertising agencies and by television producers in advertising campaigns.