Sand Sculptures

• A sand sculpture featuring German-born physicist Albert Einstein was created during the Sand World Festival in Luebeck-Travemuende in northern Germany in September 2007. Sand carvers from all over the world presented their works, which were themed 'Time Travel through the History of Men.'
  
  
  

  Roland Magunia/AFP/Getty Images

• A number of sand sculpture festivals occur at various times throughout the year. With summer officially underway now that Memorial Day has passed, we thought we would highlight some of the best sand sculptures we've seen in years past in this gallery -- for inspiration in case you're heading to the beach this summer, as well as for pure viewing pleasure. This photo shows a sculpture on the site of the Sand Sculptures Festival of Blankenberge, in Belgium back in July 2004.
  
  
  

  Yves Boucau/AFP/Getty Images

• A meticulously crafted sand sculpture of the Pope and the Vatican from the Sand Sculptures Festival of Blankenberge, Belgium from July 2004.
  
  
  

  Yves Boucau/AFP/Getty Images

• One of the creations shown at the Sand Sculpture Festival in Blankenberge, Belgium in July 2006 centered on the enchanting theme of '1001 nights of Scheherazade.'
  
  
  

  Mark Renders /Getty Images

• Another photo from the Sand Sculpture Festival in Blankenberge, Belgium in 2006 on the theme of '1001 nights of Scheherazade.'
  
  
  

  Mark Renders /Getty Images

• In July 2004 at the Sand Sculptures Festival in Zeebrugge, Belgium -- one of the largest sand sculptures festivals in the world -- the year's theme was, 'Hollywood.'
  
  
  

  Mark Renders/Getty Images

• Another scene from the 2004 Sand Sculptures Festival in Belgium on the theme of 'Hollywood.'
  
  
  

  Mark Renders/Getty Images

• This intriguing display also is from the 2004 Sand Sculptures Festival in Belgium.
  
  
  

  Mark Renders/Getty Images

• In Melbourne, Australia, This fairytale character was part of the Fairytales & Fables Sand Sculpting Exhibition on the Frankston Waterfront in January 2008.
  
  
  

  Kristian Dowling/Getty Images

• More fairytale character sand sculptures from the Fairytales & Fables Sand Sculpting Exhibition on the Frankston Waterfront in January 2008 in Melbourne, Australia.
  
  
  

  Kristian Dowling/Getty Images