Hit the beach anywhere in Japan, and you are likely to see endless piles of tetrapods enormous four-legged concrete structures intended to prevent coastal erosion. By some estimates, more than 50% of Japans 35,000-kilometer (22,000-mi) coastline has been altered with tetrapods and other forms of concrete.

Critics, who blame the tetrapod invasion on decades of excessive government spending designed to bolster the construction industry, argue that in addition to posing a danger to swimmers, surfers and boaters, tetrapods actually accelerate beach erosion by disrupting the natural processes that shape the coastal environment.

Meanwhile, others have developed an aesthetic appreciation of the tetrapod landscape, as evidenced by a host of stunning Japanese tetrapod photos on Flickr.

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Tetrapod beaches of Japan – Amazing Pictures Gallery

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