Venice Shark's Tooth Festival, April 8-10
By Bob Rountree on 04/04/2011 10:01 am
Beachcombers hunt shark's teeth on Casperson Beach in Venice (Photo by Lawrence G. Miller)
The shark's teeth are everywhere on Venice's beaches. You don't have to dig very deep or look very hard. Some use sifters, some use toy beach shovels, most just use their fingers or pick them out of the surf like sea shells. You'll find them. Nobody goes home without at least one.
So it's only fitting, in this state of festivals, to have a festival to celebrate shark's teeth.
The festival is being held this weekend over three days, April 8, 9 and 10 near the beach at the Airport Festival Grounds, just off the U.S. 41 Business Loop, at 120 E. Airport Avenue (AKA Beach Road).
The shark's teeth that wash up onto the beaches at the self-proclaimed "Shark Tooth Capital of the World" are prehistoric, some dating back millions of years when Florida was under water.
Sharks have 40 or more teeth in each jaw and continually shed their teeth and replace them. Over a period of 10 years, an average Tiger shark can produce as many as 24,000 teeth. Dead sharks (and their shedded teeth) sink to the ocean floor, where they are covered with silt and sand and decompose, leaving only the teeth.
The unique tides and Gulf currents that wash shells up on the beaches of Sanibel and Captiva also wash sharks teeth up on the beaches of Venice. (Venice also has its share of shells). Snorkelers and divers go deeper for the prize and often come up with the large teeth that don't always make it to the beach.
One of the more captivating opportunities at the festival is the viewing of the fossil displays, where you can buy sharks teeth and other marine fossils from the area. There is plenty of music, almost continuous throughout the weekend, and an art show.
See link below for more info:
http://floridarambler.com/florida-getaways/venice-shark-tooth-festival-april-8-10/
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