It Looks Like the Ocean Swallowed Up a Piece of Popham Beach in Maine

As the summertime vibes start to creep in and people begin making their plans to visit some of Maine's best destinations during the warmer months, Mother Nature always has a couple of surprises in store first. People who took a leisurely stroll at Popham Beach over the week were likely stunned by the sight they observed. It appears the ocean swallowed up a large portion of the beach, leaving behind an odd-looking beachfront.

Shared on Reddit by RealMainer, the photos tell the story of something Popham Beach has been struggling with for years. The popular beach has been battling major erosion for decades now, with the last 10-15 years seeing significant damage that has become more visible to visitors and locals alike.

So what is going on? There's two major factors that have led to the continued attack on Popham Beach and all of its wonderful sand. As a study by Bates College lays out, the slow but steady shift of the Morse River has wreaked havoc on Popham Beach for tens of years. The river has slowly been chipping away on the pristine beach front. The other significant factor has been the dunes at Popham. The dunes have not been protected with enough zest over the years, which has contributed the ocean taking back the beach inch by inch.

The beach will almost assuredly be repaired for the busiest months, and most visitors to Popham are unlikely to notice any difference from years past. But how many more years can Popham Beach withstand erosion?