Are sandy. Are there good sandy beaches in Madeira? The best remedies for sand flies

• Where to stay:With an eye on the "excursion" - of course, in numerous hotels and guesthouses, guest houses and hostels in the capital of Portugal, the many-sided Lisbon - here you can find an option for every taste and budget. Sun worshipers are invited to the resorts of the Lisbon Riviera - they are located just 15-30 minutes drive from the capital, so it's not far from historical monuments and nightclubs. Holidays in Sintra are relaxed and unhurried, surrounded by excellent beaches and ancient attractions. It is easier for surfers to stop right away in Nazar.
• What to see:In Lisbon - the historical center and the castle of St. George, the oldest district of Alfama, the facades of the houses in which are decorated with azulejos tiles, Cathedral, the Carmo Monastery, the port, the statue of Christ (a copy of the Brazilian one) and magnificent palaces. From the Lisbon Riviera, you should go on an excursion to Cape Roca, to the Catholic shrine of Fatima, old towns Obidos, Coimbra and Evora. Nazare is a must-see for surfers. Here it is worth climbing to the top of Cape Citiu - the views are breathtaking. Must-see of Sintra - Pena Royal Residence and Castle, private palaces, botanical garden, and several interesting museums and galleries.
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Croatia's architecture and beaches are the two main attractions of this country. And if the first "good" in Europe is enough, then with the rest by the sea problems often arise. While it is expensive in France and far away in Spain, the blue sea of \u200b\u200bCroatia attracts more and more tourists every year. Croatia is becoming more popular destination for a beach holiday, both among European tourists and travelers from the CIS.

The best time to travel to the Adriatic coast of Croatia is from mid-June to September. At this time, the sea heats up to + 24 ° C, there is practically no rain, the water is calm and transparent. Are there sandy beaches in Croatia and where are they located? Where to go on vacation with children and what do experienced tourists advise? Find out the answers in our top of the best beaches in Croatia.

Sandy beaches

It should be noted right away that there are not so many sandy beaches in Croatia and they are located mainly on the islands. But it is still possible to find them.

Find out the PRICES or book any accommodation using this form

The beaches of Croatia are places where tourists who like to combine sightseeing of historical sights and seascapes rest. Get inspired by the photos Adriatic Sea, choose the beach that suits you and set off to meet the warm waves. Have a nice trip!

More details about the beaches of Croatia are in this video.

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A beach holiday on the island of Hainan is a dream come true for many tourists, but there are small insects that can turn a holiday on one of the best beaches on this island into hell. We are talking about sand fleas, which tourists simply call "midges".
Sand flies in Hainan can be found not only in the area of \u200b\u200bSanya, but also in other places. In general, the problem of sand fleas is common to all South-East Asia, therefore, reports that someone was severely bitten by midges appear not only in Hainan, but also in Nha Trang, Boracay and other places in the region.
Note that not every person is allergic to a midge bite on the beaches of Hainan Island. For some, sand flea bites can cause acne that itches terribly, while others may not even notice the bites of these fleas.
People who have already experienced midge bites in Hainan know that they can be quite painful. If left untreated, they can cause a lot of suffering for several days or even weeks before disappearing on their own. While sand flea bites in the Sanya City area are generally not dangerous, these sand flies can carry disease and transmit viruses. So sometimes, in case of multiple bites of midges, you should see a doctor, especially if you have severe symptoms after the bites.
Although the gnats on the beaches in Hainan are quite small, they can cause serious skin problems. They tend to bite their feet because they are closest to the ground, and sand fleas can only jump 20-40 cm. However, if you decide to lie on the sand, then there is a possibility that midges will bite you everywhere. The same can happen if you lie on a sun lounger.
It is important to note that midges in Hainan most often bite in the evening, at night or at dawn. It is at this time of the day that sand fleas are most active. So when walking along the beach in the evening in shorts or a skirt, you should be prepared for the fact that you will be bitten. In the period from late morning until sunset hours, midges on the beaches of Hainan are not so active, but this does not mean that they do not bite at all at this time.

How sand fleas bite

There are two types of sand flea bites. The first one looks like a mosquito bite. That is, a flea jumps on a person and sucks blood, after which it goes in search of another victim. These sand flies are injected during feeding with saliva to prevent blood clotting, and it is this saliva that irritates the skin and can cause allergic reactions.
The second type of bite is slightly worse as it is part of the sand flea breeding process. With this bite, the flea lays eggs under the skin. If you see swollen areas on the skin with black spots in the center, you can be sure that this is where the sand flea laid its eggs.
Either way, both types of bite will cause symptoms such as itching, pain and discomfort.

What to do if bitten by midges in Hainan

If you were bitten by sand flies on one of the beaches near the city of Sanya, then we advise you to immediately start treatment. First of all, do not scratch the bite in any way, as this increases the chances of infection in the wound. Check the bite site for clutches of eggs, as sand flies can live under the skin and suck blood for several weeks.
How to save yourself with the bites of sand flies in Hainan? Many locals it is advised to first rinse the bite sites with cold water mixed with baking soda, and then immediately apply calamine lotion or hydrocortisone cream to ease pain and reduce swelling. All of these products can be bought at any pharmacy in Sanya. It is enough just to show the bite sites on your body, and the pharmacist will offer you the remedy you need.
Aloe Vera and lavender, eucalyptus, tea tree, and cedarwood essential oils also work well to soothe pain.

What to do to avoid being bitten by midges in Hainan

You will be 100% protected from midge bites in Hainan only if you walk on the beach in a wetsuit, high rubber boots, or in some other clothing that completely covers your skin. But you're hardly interested in spending time on the beach in anything other than your bathing suit. So you have to accept that sand flea attacks are still possible. However, if you follow some tips, you can significantly reduce the likelihood of midge bites on the beach in Hainan.
First, do not go to the beach when it is raining. Sand fleas are very aggressive when the air is cool and humid. For the same reason, we advise you to stay away from the beach in the early morning, evening and night.
Second, use insect repellent if you feel the midges are attacking.
Third, try to cover yourself when sitting or lying down to avoid being bitten on your body.

Advice (and absolutely free) on how to live in Sanya for the entire course of treatment and not make any problems (everything is based on actual facts).

Everyone knows that we create all problems for ourselves and learn, unfortunately, from our mistakes, and not from others. We have been on treatment for 6 years and came to the clinic in Sanya for our doctors from Xingcheng city. I will not bore you with our diagnosis, but each of our children has their own diagnosis, and the only task we have with you is to help them overcome their illness, we at least make life easier and adapt to life in this society without us !!! (how sad it is, but we need to think about it now)

Since you are on this site and forum, it is already clear that the main task of your life is your children !!! So we are in Sanya, we are being treated and live for a long time. As a rule, we ourselves like to create problems for ourselves (and I, in particular, no matter how much I liked to be clever and give advice)

1. Do not forget - you are in a foreign country, with your culture, way of life and rules! Be adequate and respectful!

2. All Chinese have great respect for foreigners. If people on the street smile at you and try to say something, smile back. It will cost you nothing, but with facial expressions and gestures they will help you.

3. Strain your brain (in old age there will be no insanity) and learn at least a few words in Chinese: "nihao" - hello! "Budun" or "vo thi budun" - I don't understand anything, "se-se" - thank you! "To what" - how much is it? "Sanya van" or "Sanya Bay" and taxi drivers will take you to central beach Sanya, the trip from our house to the beach is 9-11 RMB. By the way, here I am guided by the distances calculated in yuan.

4. Ostorv Hainan is one of the most expensive resorts world and is considered the island of the rich Chinese - here you can buy everything, but very expensive! Clothes and shoes are expensive, equipment is expensive and often of poor quality (fakes). There is nothing here that cannot be bought from us in Russia (and even at times cheaper) Do not waste time on shopping!

5. It is better, if you can, relieve stress at sea, walk along the surf line, swim (I do this only from 9 to 10.30 am) while the sun is not active! Do not forget that we are next to the equator! In the tropics! On the sanjawan beach, do not sit and do not lie still - otherwise you will be bitten by the smallest midges, and cruelly (everyone manifests in different ways, but the itch from bites is uncontrollable with abscesses and scars. the same rake The most effective medicine from Russia - "beneneocine" helps from bites.

6. All the medicines that I use myself and give my child I take with me from Russia.

7. Wash your hands more often, both yourself and your child (I take hand sanitizer with me on the road).

8. Drink only bottled water.

9. Do not eat in street eateries, if you do not want to be hostage to the closet (toilet).

10. The supermarket in our residential Condo "Huatin" has everything, including the marketing rules that exist all over the world (I will not teach, all scientists, but see the expiration date).

11. In Sanya there is something to see and there is where to go and go. Take your free at the airport tourist card Sanya, and Tanya Karus will tell you everything, how and what is best.

12. When we listen to the advice of strangers, we always think that everything they tell happens to anyone, but not to me !!! But in vain !!!

One example: a family - mom, dad and a child - came to the clinic for treatment. The child is active, fidget, wants to go to Monkey Island. (Apparently someone in Russia advised) I tell them it's dangerous !!! Monkeys bite (there are already many examples of us among patients). They went to the park "Deer turned his head", it is within the city and is beautiful.

And what do you think. Wild monkeys live there (they are the local inhabitants of the jungle of Hainan) settled in the city. Dad decided to feed the monkeys ... The result is deplorable:

Dad's leg was bitten, the monkeys grabbed the child by the hair.

Child stress (they were attacked by a wild animal)

Dad (she herself did not see him after this incident anymore) was bitten and now has to go to the hospital. If only you read reviews on the Internet, listen to the advice of experienced patients at least a little bit before going on excursions, you would be more circumspect. Monkeys carry not only the rabies virus, but also many other terrible diseases (AIDS, hepatitis C, Ebola virus, various tropical viruses and hemorrhagic fevers).

photo in Nanmunan clinic - http://china-tcm.ru/

As my favorite TV presenter Andrey Malakhov says: “Take care of yourself and your loved ones”! If any of my tactless advice comes in handy, it's already a success! I wish you and your loved ones health - this is the greatest value of our life!

With respect and love for everyone,

timofey's grandmother.

clinic group VKontakte - https://vk.com/nanmunan8

And finally, after almost two weeks of wandering in the Middle Kingdom, having made a trip more than 3,000 kilometers long, tired and exhausted, we nevertheless flew to a paradise, the southernmost part of China, to the island of Hainan. Here we are promised long-awaited relaxes on the beach, rest after the work done and the opportunity to wash thousands of kilometers of the way in sea water, clear our heads before the final march through the Chinese megacities.

What does an ordinary guy like me know about Hainan?

Yes, in principle, almost nothing, except that the Hainan skeleton is:

• an island in the South China Sea, in a tropical climate;
• something like Crimea, only for yellow-bellied Chinese;
• the southernmost point of the PRC, except for the individual islands, for which it is fighting with other countries;
• pontovoy resting place of the rich and Russian tourists who are tired of Thailand.

And there is also a huge hotel in Hainan that looks like a jellyfish or a flower, in the city of Haikou the stage of the kite surfing world cup is taking place, it is hot and very humid here. That's all I can tell you about Hainan at the time of our arrival.

Before the trip, I very fluently studied the local sights and places to visit, but to be honest, the main purpose of the trip here is to have a bow on the beach and chew on some seafood and fruits, because this is the best thing to do for a tired traveler.

During our visit to Hainan Island, we managed to visit three beaches: Dadonghai (3 days), Yalong (2 days) and the city beach in Sanya (Sanya, 2 days). All three beaches are easily visited by taxi or shuttle buses, or are within walking distance from our place of residence. Of the three listed beaches, Yalong deserves special attention.

This is probably the cleanest and most comfortable beach on the coast near Sanya. Since mainly the most expensive hotels are located along the beach, there are relatively few people here. The beaches are accessible to anyone, they are clean, and there is practically no debris in the water.

Describe beach vacation, to be honest, she's still boring, so in this part of the report I will try to put together notes on certain moments of my stay on the island, with photographs characteristic of this note, or maybe not at all in the subject.

For example, a bunch of Chinese go swimming with large inflatable rings, and some do not hesitate to rod huge inflatable unicorns into the water!

I was surprised by this moment: that in Yalong, in Dadonghai, in Sanya, at exactly 20:00, several ATVs with flashing lights begin to ride along the coast. Local policemen are sitting in the quadrics in tandem with rescuers, blowing whistles, shining lanterns at the swimmers, forcing them to leave the sea. Somehow earlier on the seas I did not notice this, or did not pay attention.

It turns out that the remote control from the camera is without moisture protection, and after taking this frame, after a few hours it began to look like this:

If you go to Yalong, you may have food problems. there are almost no cafes in the area of \u200b\u200bexpensive hotels, and they are all concentrated in the central part of the village. From a financial point of view, everything is not cheap, prices are 10-15% higher than the average Chinese prices, both for food in cafes and juice and water in shops.

Speaking of food, it is worth mentioning that a dinner at a seafood restaurant on average costs about 150 RMB for two, and this is not particularly chic. If you cheat, you can easily miss the 200-250 RMB, and if you dumb and don't check the check, then it is possible that dishes that you did not buy will appear in it. They tried to sniff one of these for us, but the narrow-eyed woman did not manage to deceive us.

The cost of housing is average in China, a room costs 120-160 RMB per day, both in Sanya and on the beaches. In Dadonghai, we lived 100 meters from the water for this money, in an apartment converted into hotel room, and in Sanya in an apartment for the same money. Normal hotel rooms start at 450 RMB, but it's a complete family waste to spend so much money for a hotel.

Although Ruslan and Natasha did just that, settling in the Mariott, and they were terribly pleased with this circumstance. They even took a special bus to the beach, but I'm not talking about towels and slippers.

OVERNIGHT IN A TENT IN HAINAN.

Apparently in this part it is worth mentioning one case that happened to us somewhere on the third day of our stay on the island. While Ruslan and Natasha basked in the Mariott’e, and Valera and Almira were trampling white sand on one of the beaches of Sanya, Oksa and I decided to test the possibility of spending the night in a tent on this wonderful island.

The fact is that even in winter we read that there are 43 campgrounds in Hong Kong, where anyone can go with a tent. The most affordable campgrounds in the bulk are located near the city, have amenities, water, showers, etc. There are few people there - a lot of nature, which in turn bribed us with the opportunity to look differently at the metropolis, break away from the hustle and bustle of Chinese life and hammered into our heads a desire to feel all this on our own skin. Well, how can you feel something like that without training? So it was decided to train here in Sanya, having tried an overnight stay in the tropics, on the shore south China Sea, under palm trees and on white sand. Romance, blah!

Of course, for the sake of such an occasion, we prepared well: we took with us a small, thin tent for 999 RUB from a sports supermarket, bought somewhere in Changsha a foil blanket, brought a fleece blanket in a backpack halfway around the world in order not to freeze, took food in the store, beer, juice, all sorts of sweets, and went to best beach Sanya, in Yalong Bay. Since this beach is mostly inhabited by hotels, closer to sunset it was decided to go to its western part. According to the satellite, there is a section of the coastline where there are no buildings and it is possible to stay in a tent.

No sooner said than done, we waited for the sunset and we go to the place. From the very beginning, I somehow did not think about the reasons that this section of the beach is not built up. And there was only one reason - the coast by the sea was rocky, more precisely, it was a huge stone slab, on which the waves crashed. In appearance, the slab was of volcanic origin and resembled a piece of solidified lava. The stove itself was a little dirty, or maybe no one is cleaning it. no owners. This is probably why part of the beach was not very popular with tourists, and those vacationers who walked along it did not stop and walk by.

We found a plot more or less suitable for living and settled on a sandy five-meter cliff, with a beautiful view of the sea. Above us were large palms, forest on all sides, 200-300 meters to the nearest building. From the very beginning, even when the tents were being set up, I was surprised by a strong sound coming from everywhere - these were cicadas, ringing so strongly that sometimes it resembled an all-pervading ultrasound. It was a little unusual, but we did not attach much importance to it, especially since after about an hour the cicadas subsided.

You know, the Chinese love to wrap everything in bags, and these bags again in bags and so on ad infinitum, or rather to the singular. For example, you bought a pack of some cupcakes and each cupcake inside the pack will be wrapped in another individual package, and inside this package the cupcake will be wrapped in thin paper. Even when we were putting things into the tent from backpacks, I noticed that one bag of puffed rice seemed to burst, but knowing that we had already opened the main pack, I somehow did not attach much importance to this. Moreover, at exactly 19:00 a flock of some nasty, large, but not biting winged ants or midges flew into us. It was tough, we thought we would be devoured by these bastards or raped. We jumped into the tent, we are waiting. We barely breathe.

After about an hour, the midges disappeared. By this time, we had already managed to get wet from the heat and almost suffocated. The fact is that in our tent for 999 RUB there is only one layer and, in theory, its design suggests that it should save more from rain than from tropical heat. The tent coped perfectly with midges, but there were tremendous problems with access to fresh air. In search of a breath of fresh air, they opened a single window, but since it was essentially a piece of gauze cloth, the air did not pass through it much.

After an hour of imprisonment, we slowly began to open the entrance to the tent, trying to make up for the lack of oxygen. Along with oxygen starvation, I was tormented by another question: we are in the tropics, there may be snakes, scorpions, vampire bats, malaria mosquitoes and some other blood-sucking or poisonous shnya, after the bite of which we may not crawl to civilization ... Therefore, it would be logical not to open the entrance to the tent to the end and not to fiddle with fate.

Exactly an hour later, we were half-naked, lying with our heads on the street dying from the heat, not giving a damn about the living creatures, which theoretically just craves to bite us in the Sanyin palm forest. By this time, we already had a thought: "Shouldn't we evacuate somewhere to the hostel?" Time passed slowly, only three hours passed from the moment of settling in the tent, and the impressions received were already off scale. Then I remembered the poor fellow Americans, who in Vietnam crawled through the jungle for days on end after the Viet Cong - it was much harder for them. But it's hard for us too, because we lie with our head to the entrance, and this part is slightly lower, respectively, the blood inevitably rushes to the head.

After a while, my convulsive thoughts are interrupted by a super idea. Since at this moment we have already quite worn out with this "romance" and we seem to have absolutely nothing to lose in this life, and the thought of evacuation does not leave our tired brains alone, there was a proposal to try the most cardinal way of getting rid of us from the heat in the tent - make a hole in it! Yes, a huge hole on the side of the head, i.e. legs. In theory, then the air will have to pass through the tent, we can breathe and theoretically we will not die until morning on this fucking shore.

Even before leaving Sanya, I bought myself a cool folding knife in some shop, with the help of which, as it turned out, the fabric at the tent was cut perfectly. Made a hole about 50x50 centimeters. The air has gone! This is probably the most vivid impression of a trip to Hainan - what a pleasant air here!

Having turned a little, we still fell asleep and so would have slept until the morning, but this story is not destined to end quickly. At about two in the morning a new test awaited us - we were almost eaten by mosquitoes. They drank a liter from Oksa, a glass from me. Since we had foreseen a hole in the tent, and there were no mosquitoes, we had to completely wrap ourselves in a fleece blanket in order to somehow hide from them. It seems to have carried it this time. Well, come on morning, come!

Morning has not come. After some time, the mosquitoes disappeared, but the mosquitoes were not the main problem. At one point, I woke up from a strong rumble. No, this was not a war between the Americans and the Viet Cong. It was a banal thunder from a thunderstorm and lightning all over the sky around, above us, from all sides. It seemed to me the apotheosis of our history. Two tourists who have not slept enough in a tent, in a tropical forest, in a thunderstorm, embracing, look through the holes in the tent at the sparkling lightning, flocks of mosquitoes, snakes, and scorpions around ... and suddenly, somewhere along the edge of our cliff, about 3 meters from us a huge rat runs by! AAAA! Guard! Oksik screams! The rat is in a panic! And in the meantime, I seem to have guessed who opened the pack of puffed rice last night.

The rat ran away, not so huge, but expressive. Like in comics, when a huge rat silhouette is reflected in the reflection from lightning. Having calmed down a little, we began to wonder how to solve the problem if the rain did cover us, especially since dark clouds inevitably approached our tent. We decided to close the hole with a foam blanket, so as not to leak. We spread it out, tied it up, went to sleep, we think: but interestingly, we are lying in a tent, lightning flashes around, the tent is covered with a foil blanket ... won't lightning kill us?

At about 6 am, Oksa and I woke up. In their heads were about the same remnants of thoughts - it was a complete fuck! In life, we have not been caught in a similar series of stupid events and we no longer want to get into. Probably, it was the most memorable night that we spent in nature, having learned all the hardships of this business. Therefore, as soon as the things have been collected, I do not hesitate for a second to throw the tent in the first place I come across, so as not to repeat this feat a second time during the trip.

What a blah romance!

GENERAL IMPRESSIONS ABOUT THE ISLAND OF HAINAN.

What does an ordinary guy like me know about Hainan? Yes, in principle, almost nothing, except that the Hainan skeleton is:

• heat under +33 with humidity up to 95%;
• a warm sea, from which you do not want to leave for hours, with a temperature approximately similar to the ambient temperature, and even warmer in the evening;
• a huge number of Chinese in inflatable circles, swimming in fenced paddling pools;
• a great place to take a breath from your trip.
• a place where they love Russian champagne and sell it for 188 RMB (actually, almost 1,900 RUB in our opinion)

And also in Hainan there is a huge hotel that looks like a jellyfish or a flower and is perfectly visible from all sides.

One evening we sat on the shore, watching the changing picture - the hotel turned into a huge video wall, where beautiful and bright pictures were broadcast. Nice and unusual, and when you consider the scale of illumination - great!

Is it worth going to Hainan specifically to relax at the sea?

Probably not. If only passing or accidentally wandering here. At the current cost of the flight, at current prices for accommodation and food, if it is impossible for a Russian tourist to rent a motorbike (policemen arrest a motorbike, the fine is huge, although you may not get caught, as luck would have it), if there are no alternative forms of entertainment here such as surfing or kiting, I think to go here on purpose - expensive nonsense. Closer there are alternatives that are more interesting and cheaper.

On the other hand, if the main thing for you in your journey is changing the picture, the opportunity to experience something new, a beautiful vacation, delicious and unusual seafood food, seasoned with a Chinese style of cooking and Asian flavor, then you should definitely visit this place to collect and compose your own. own idea of \u200b\u200brest on the island of Hainan.

Agree, it's not very pleasant to go for a romantic walk along the beach somewhere in California or Thailand and be bitten by sand flies. These species live on the coast and bite vacationers, being carriers of various diseases. We will tell you how to get rid of annoying insects, what scientists advise, what to do if you decide to relax on the coast for a couple of days or your house is in an area where they multiply en masse, what means: repellents, traps and dog collars are better to use.

Sand flies Diptera insects are widespread on the coast, near canals, in tropical and subtropical climates. They settle in various plant debris - washed up on the shore or attacked from trees.

Sand flies breed in moist soils in intertidal zones. Also, midges can fly into a human dwelling if it is located on the coast, especially if there is a lot of greenery around. In windy weather you will hardly meet them, but on cloudy calm days they are right there.

In midges, like in mosquitoes, the female bites and eats blood, which provides the necessary substances for the development of eggs. After that, the larvae develop (they must live in a nutrient-rich near-water environment) and finally, adult insects. And so in a circle.

Their bites cause redness and swelling. If the bites are multiple, an allergic reaction may occur.

If you decide to relax on the coast for a couple of days, then it is obligatory:

1. Use repellents. We will tell you about the most effective ones below.
2. Walk directly on wet sand near the water - gnats live in algae thrown ashore, dead leaves and other plant debris that accumulates near the water. However, they do not fly to the water itself, so going a little further you will be safe.
3. If there are a lot of midges, do not stand still, move around - their wings are small and it is not easy for them to keep up with a person.
4. Swim every 5 minutes. Midges do not sit on wet skin. It dries up a little - they begin to attack.
5. Items 1-5 apply to people in swimwear, but if you want to completely protect yourself from midges and are not going to swim, then just put on pants and a long-sleeved shirt. They will not bite their clothes.
6. You can use fatty creams or cosmetic oils, they form a thin film on the skin that midges cannot bite through.

How to get rid of gnats if your home is in an area where they multiply en masse

If your home is located in places where they breed or nearby, then in order to prevent yourself from being bitten and ensure yourself a quiet life without gnats, follow the advice of scientists from the University of Florida:

1. Remove vegetation from the house, shrubs, trees, on the contrary, can be left. This will reduce the number of insect shelters and increase air flow. Mow lawns on time.
2. Install fine nets on all windows, and additionally hang a curtain made of light fabric on the door, and hang a canopy made of fine mesh above the bed.
3. Close the windows on the leeward side, midges are very light, so it is difficult for them to fly upwind.
4. Install ceiling fans in your home to reduce heat and keep gnats out. They rarely bite if there is even a small flow of air.
5. Do not leave hoses to drain after watering or washing the machine. Try not to engage in such activities late at night, when the midges are especially active.
6. Pay attention to how the midges in your area behave in relation to the lunar cycle, this species bites most actively several days after the full and new moon. With this in mind, plan barbecues on days when they are at their lowest.
7. In the early morning and late evening, wear light, long-sleeved clothing and use repellents.
8. Use electronic CO2 insect traps.

The best remedies for sand flies

According to scientists from the University of Florida, the main agents against sand flies are the same as for other midges and mosquitoes: DEET, Picaridin and Permithrin. We give you the English names of the active ingredient, so that you can buy such products when you are relaxing at sea abroad. We have selected the best for you: two for body and face, and one spray for clothes.

In the US, the most popular are DEET-based repellents (known in Russia as "DEET"). The best-selling brand on the American Amazon is Repel 100 Insect Repellent. It costs about $ 7.19.

The second most popular is picaridin repellent - Sawyer Products Premium Insect Repellent with 20% Picaridin. This inexpensive but effective $ 8.88 repellent is effective against mosquitoes and ticks for up to 12 hours and promises to provide up to 8 hours of protection from midge bites. It has been used all over the world since 1998 and is most popular in Europe. It is safe for the whole family and will not damage clothing, bags, watches or synthetic fabrics. It is completely safe and has a pleasant citrus scent. If you want to use it together with sunscreen, then first apply the cream and only after 10 minutes - the repellent.

Separately, there is a special repellent for clothes with permethrin - Sawyer Permethrin Clothing Insect Repellent. It costs about $ 14.71 and although it is more expensive than other repellents, it provides protection for up to 6 weeks. The repellent is versatile and will deal not only with midges, but also mosquitoes, ticks and 55 other species of biting insects - making it ideal for both hikes and long walks in nature.

Permethrin is approved by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), but keep the spray away from cats just in case - it can negatively affect their nervous system. And with the protection of people from midges, the spray has been successfully coping for many years: the uniform of the soldiers of the American army is treated with permethrin.

The repellent is applied directly to the clothes and continues to work even after washing (can be washed 6 times). Unlike DEET, which can damage some fabrics and materials, permethrin can even be used on fabrics such as silk, as well as synthetic and waterproof fabrics (does not affect plastics or trims). That is why it can be sprayed not only on clothes, but also on the outside of the tent, backpacks, hammocks, outdoor furniture and mosquito nets. For asthmatics indoors, use the product with caution.

How to protect yourself from midges while you sleep

Protecting yourself is often required not only on the street, but also indoors. In order not to splash sprays everywhere and not to smear with lotions, oils, protect yourself with special canopies on the bed. They start at $ 19. Unlike regular mosquito nets, it has a finer mesh (225 per square inch) and can even be wrapped under a mattress to keep it in place, even if you toss and turn heavily in your sleep.

Such a net will come in handy not only at home, but also when traveling, especially if you plan to visit an area rich in blood-sucking insects. If you use the canopy outdoors, shake it well after removing it from the mount - it may contain stuck gnats that tried to get through the net, but could not. There are special hiking options. Together with the net comes a cord that allows you to fix the canopy on a branch, so that you will have enough free space for a comfortable sleep. The net is made in such a way that the lower part overlaps the bottom under the sleeping mat or bag, which, just in case, will protect you from insects that might get in from below. Such a “physical barrier” is a great option for those who do not like to apply insect repellents to their skin during a night trip.

How to protect your dog from sand flies

Not only people, but also pets suffer from annoying insects. Moreover, unlike a person, they cannot get dressed or hide. To protect your pet from mosquito bites, use special collars impregnated with repellents. The US Department of Defense recommends the use of deltamethrin collars in its guidelines.

First, Scalibor Protector Band for Dogs for $ 19.94, provides protection from ticks and fleas, for 6 months. It is well regulated and is suitable for adult dogs from 12 months old. But ticks and fleas are not all - it is the Scalibor Protector Band that is recommended for use in those regions where leishmaniasis vectors can bite your dog.

The second collar is a more budgetary analogue of the first one called Salvo Flea & Tick Collar for Dogs 2pk Large for $ 18.95. It is beneficial that the package contains not one, but two collars at once.

The active ingredient in both collars is Deltamethrin, which causes allergic reactions in many dogs. The owners who have already purchased such a collar for their pets are advised to wear the collar loosely and observe the dog for some time. If the dog becomes lethargic, it is best to remove the collar. Some advise, before putting on a collar on a dog, to ventilate it for 24 hours and only after that put it on.

Natural remedies for sand midge bites

It so happens that you went on vacation and were not ready to meet the midges or you are allergic to chemical repellents, and you do not want to experience insect bites. For allergy sufferers and young children, natural remedies are suitable.

Both yourself and your child can lubricate open areas of the skin with oily baby oil, this will reduce the number of biting insects, because they have a short mouth apparatus that cannot penetrate the oil film that forms on the skin.

The second option is a mixture of citronella or lavender oils. And, of course, try to avoid places where gnats accumulate. But here, without guarantees, many scientists are skeptical about natural remedies. But you can try, if it doesn't help, you will always have time to return to the proven DEET-based repellents.

Sand midge bites

What if the bite could not be avoided?

One of the most popular threads on FORUMHOUSE is the section on foundations, because our experts are always ready to answer any question. Many novice developers are interested in why a sand cushion is needed under the foundation, and whether it is needed at all. In this article we will look for the answer to this question.

Sand bedding is done all the time during most of the work with the base of the house. But some builders believe that it is mandatory in all cases, others - that only under certain conditions, and in other cases it is simply harmful.

To find out why you need a sand pillow and whether you need to add sand over the entire area, we turn to the practical experience of the experts of our website.

The main purpose of the foundation is to redistribute the load from the weight of the house to the underlying soil layers. Any negligence in preparing the foundation

under the house

It can lead to unpleasant consequences - the appearance of cracks in the walls due to subsidence of the base.

Do I need a pillow under the strip foundation

A sand pillow under the strip base of the house is made by almost everyone, since it seems to be a guarantee of its strength and durability. However, many people can fill up the sand in the dug trench, guided by the principle: "the more, the better, because everyone does this." Neither the geology of the site, nor the features of the soil and its bearing capacity, nor the level of groundwater are taken into account.

Denisminko FORUMHOUSE User

I read that a strip foundation must rest on an unbroken (untouched) layer of soil and does not require a sand cushion. But many of my friends did it before pouring it. To the question "why" they answer - "seen at the neighbors."

To clarify, you need to clearly define for yourself: what type of tape base at home we are talking about. Namely:

• shallow - MZFL;
• laid below the freezing depth;
• monolithic;
• prefabricated from FBS blocks.

Each of these four types requires an individual approach when preparing the foundation.

What is a sand pillow for a monolithic foundation?

RNikonov: FORUMHOUSE user

A pillow for a strip foundation may not be made when it comes to a monolithic foundation. But only if the following conditions are met:

• Non-porous soil;
• Sandy soil under the base;
• The tape is poured below the freezing depth, with concrete preparation under the sole;

For prefabricated base, from FBS blocks a sand pillow is a must because only sand can level out all the irregularities that remained after sampling (i.e. removing the loosened layer) of the soil. Only sand can be compacted almost to its natural density.

If this is not done, then the foundation block will lie unevenly on the ground (not the entire surface of the sole), and there may be voids under it. This will lead to uneven pressure of the base of the house on the ground. Accordingly, the probability of its uneven drawdown increases.

RNikonovFORUMHOUSE user

When constructing a prefabricated foundation, sand preparation is performed with a thickness of 10-15 cm.

Why do I need a pillow under the tape base

putnik 777User FORUMHOUSE

I once asked the chief engineer of a construction company why there is a sand cushion in the foundation. He said: to level the foundation to "0" and to save concrete.

If it suits monolithic tape base, then it is no longer necessary to achieve a "mirror" foundation, since due to plasticity, the poured concrete fills all the irregularities. Accordingly, the sole of the foundation will rest on the ground with its entire surface and redistribute the load on the ground.

When it comes to MZFL, then a sand cushion is necessary because with its help, heaving soil is replaced with non-heaving soil. Moreover, the MZFL requires a drainage system, insulated blind area and insulation of the foundation itself. These measures minimize the forces of frost heaving acting on it.

When constructing a sand cushion, it is important to understand what kind of soil is under the future foundation. If the soil with low water permeability (this primarily concerns loams and clays), then the sand, being less dense, will become a place where water will constantly accumulate. The result is that over time, the bearing capacity of the constantly waterlogged soil will decrease, which can lead to a subsidence of the foundation.

Conclusion - it is necessary to have a drainage and storm water system to drain surface and ground waters from the base of the house.

You can read articles about the correct cake of a warm blind area and the features of the drainage system of the foundation and site by clicking on the links.

The question of using a sand cushion should be considered based on the specific characteristics of the soil, the level of the ground water level, the weight and structure of the building, the depth of freezing. A sand cushion cannot be considered a universal tool suitable for the construction of any foundation, without linking it to the specific operating conditions of the building.

Backfill under the foundation: sand or crushed stone

• 20-30 cm is the minimum thickness of the sand cushion;
• To level the base, a thickness of 5-10 cm is enough;
• Coarse sand is best suited for backfilling.

• Sand should be tamped in layers, no more than 15-20 cm per one filling - in the case of using a mechanical tamping, and add 10-15 cm if a manual tamping is used.

• The sand must be moistened before tamping. Because water, due to surface tension, "sticks" the sand particles and does not allow them to "run away" during ramming;
• It is best to wet the sand before laying it in the trench, not in it. This will avoid waterlogging and “dehydration” of the soil under the base;
• For additional compaction of sand and obtaining a better base, you can use coarse crushed stone (40-60). In this case, after compaction of the sand, crushed stone is poured onto it over the entire area in a layer of 5-10 cm, and once again it is passed over it by compaction. Due to the point load (impact), crushed stone is driven into the sand and, due to the wedging effect, the compaction depth increases from 15-20 to 30-40 cm.

• To avoid siltation of the sand cushion and mixing of sand with the surrounding soil, a material such as geotextile can be pre-laid in a dug trench over the entire area.

Backfilling of the foundation with sand and waterproofing.

An algorithm for designing a strip foundation for "dummies" is available here. This topic is about the Finnish version of a shallow strip foundation. Why insulate the foundation with foam, you will learn from this topic. Reinforcement of the foundation in the corners - we do it right after reading this topic. This video shows you how to build a foundation on swampy soil.

The foundation for any house performs a very important function, the duration of the structure's operation, as well as the quality of life in the house, depends on its reliability and strength. In order to make the foundation easier to fill and give it special reliability, you need to make a sand cushion before installing it. Its main function is to create a level and stable foundation surface even on swampy soil.

Definition and function of sand cushion

A sand cushion under the strip foundation is a filling of a certain layer under the future foundation. In order to understand why to equip it, you need to look at its functions:

• Smoothing the unevenness of the ground, thereby creating a flat surface, favorable for the installation of a reinforced concrete base.
• Uniform distribution of loads from the structure on the underlying soil and foundation.
• Separation of concrete from damp soil, which helps to avoid the adverse effects of heaving forces in frost.

Advice! If the site is distinguished by high groundwater or even represents a swamp on the surface, then before installing a sand cushion, geotextiles must be laid on the bottom of the trench, which will prevent siltation of the sand layer.

Materials for mounting the pillow

For the foundation cushion are used:

• River sand without any impurities.
• Pebbles.
• Crushed stone with sand.

If a cushion for a strip foundation is erected on swampy soil, then a mixture of sand with crushed stone or gravel is used for its construction in a ratio of 40% coarse sand and 60% crushed stone or gravel. These pillows will fit the base of a light one-story house. They usually require extra moisture and tamping. This mixture shrinks less than just a sand layer.

Important! For heavy structures, sand pad compaction is a must.

The foundation cushion should not be made of sand mixed with clay. This is due to the fact that water is retained under such a pillow and as a result of the action of low temperatures, swelling begins, which adversely affects the construction of the base and the whole house.

Cases where a pillow is optional

There are cases during construction in which the arrangement of a sand pillow is either completely useless, or it can even harm. It is impossible not to mention them:

• Backfilling in hard soils such as loam and clay can be a problem. This is due to the fact that the sand will not be as dense in structure as the soil and will begin to absorb all the water. There it will accumulate and make the base of the foundation less durable. To exclude such a turn of events, it is necessary to additionally equip a drainage system in loamy soils, which will remove excess moisture from the base.
• Due to the presence of steam in the soil, it can pass through the sand bed and settle on the foundation. To prevent the formation of condensation, moisture-resistant concrete is used and waterproofing is done.

It is obligatory to fill under those bases that are made of prefabricated blocks in order to eliminate unevenness in the soil, which can provoke the presence of voids under the foundation. Unevenness of the surface under the foundation may result in deformation or destruction.

Important! During the pouring of a monolithic slab, it is not necessary to install a sand cushion, since concrete fills all the voids and preliminary leveling is not necessary.

Arrangement of a sand cushion for a strip foundation

Strip foundation - this is a base that can withstand any loads, which is why its arrangement is so common. It is also possible to make a strip foundation on a sand cushion with your own hands, for this you just need to know the technology and choose the right material.

Pillow device

First, you need to mix sand and crushed stone or gravel in the proportions described above, and then you can start the main work:

1. Digging a trench or foundation pit, depending on the dimensions indicated in the project.
2. Leveling the bottom of the trench.
3. Backfilling of sand and gravel at the bottom of the trench with a layer not more than 20 cm.
4. Gradual moistening and tamping of the sand cushion using a vibrating plate.

   Advice! If there are no traces left on the sand cushion after a person, then the ramming is done with high quality.

5. The sand layer should be strictly horizontal, without distortions and slopes.

A vibrating plate or roller can be used to tamp the sand, but this is suitable for large volumes of work. For several trenches under the strip foundation, it is quite possible to use a homemade unit.

It is possible to water the sand with water only when the surrounding soil is not so moistened, but if the strip foundation settles in a swampy area, then the sand must be moistened before laying in a trench. Also, if you moisten the sand in advance, you can wash out those clay particles that are in it.

Installation of strip base

After arranging the sand cushion in the trench, you can proceed to the direct actions of installing the tape base. On top of a layer of sand, a waterproofing material is laid out, which can be used as roofing material or more modern materials that do not allow moisture to pass through.

During the installation of the reinforcing cage, a small layer of concrete base is made, equal in thickness to 6–7 mm.

Before pouring the cement mortar, it is necessary to provide holes in the foundation for utilities and ventilation, so that in the future you do not have to hollow them out in the finished base.

Be sure to install formwork for the foundation, which can be metal or wood. Reinforcing mesh is laid in it and concrete is poured. For uniform filling without voids and bubbles, the poured concrete solution is treated with a deep vibrator. The concrete must be poured in one go, so it will not be superfluous to order a concrete mixer of the required volume in advance.

After the entire volume of concrete has been poured, you need to cover the finished foundation with a film so that debris and precipitation do not get into it. Every day the surface of the base is moistened with plain water. These actions are carried out until the concrete is half hard. It usually takes about 5 days in warm weather and up to 10 days in cool. Only after the base is completely strengthened can further work be carried out, or rather, the removal of the formwork, waterproofing and the construction of the walls of the structure.

It is very important to take into account when building a house to prevent moisture from entering the sand cushion under the foundation. For this, measures are taken such as installing gutters on the roof to divert water to the side, as well as installing a blind area around the perimeter of the house so that melt water in the spring cannot fall under the base of the foundation through the ground.

Features of the strip foundation

In this topic, one cannot fail to mention the advantages of a strip foundation on sand. By itself, it represents a structure in the form of a tape that fits under the load-bearing and inner walls houses. Thanks to this arrangement, the foundation distributes the load from the structure evenly throughout its entire structure.

The strip foundation can be of three types:

• Precast is a structure of concrete blocks connected with cement mortar, installed inside the trench.
• Monolithic is created by pouring mortar into a previously prepared formwork with reinforcement inside.
• Combined is a combination of these two types of foundation in one structure.

So, about the advantages of a tape-type base:

• Affordable cost of work with high quality of the final result.
• Subject to the construction technology, such a foundation will serve its owners for a very long time.
• The ability to do all the work yourself, which gives significant savings.
• The ability to withstand both a light frame house and a heavy multi-storey one.
• Under the house, you can equip a basement or basement without wasting time and money on installing walls there, since the foundation itself serves as the walls.
• In addition to all the listed positive aspects, the tape base also has its drawbacks:
• The need for a long waiting time for concrete hardening.
• The need to carry out accurate calculations that include the depth of the foundation, the thickness of the sand cushion and other characteristics.

Be sure to check the strength of the reinforcing belt and its equivalence on all sides before installing the strip base, since in the case of weak reinforcement, the foundation can be divided into several parts.

If there is dense soil on the site, then the trench for the tape must be expanded by the figure that will allow the formwork to be mounted. But if a strip foundation is mounted on clay soil, then it will be necessary to leave room for further filling it with sand. This all-round cushion will act as a shock absorber for ground movements.

Conclusion

The strip foundation is very popular in private housing construction and this is not surprising, because the foundation has many advantages over other types. But to be sure of long-term operation, you need to arrange it correctly. In most cases, a sand cushion is laid under this base, the device of which also has a lot of nuances and subtleties, which are fully reflected in the article.

• Bored foundation for the house
• The foundation for a brick bath
• The depth of the strip foundation
• Strip foundation for a two-story brick house

Many people know that there is a sand cushion under the foundation, but not everyone can say for sure why it is needed and how it is created. As a result, novices in the construction business often pour sand into the trench without any understanding and in the end only harm the entire structure.

The cushion under the foot of the foundation can serve three functions:

• Leveling. If the soil is not heaving and not mobile, then the only task of the sand is to level the bottom of the trench or foundation pit for even placement of the solution or the correct distribution of the load from the FBS.

Compensating. Loose soils under the support of a house in winter can greatly affect the distribution of loads, leading in difficult cases to the destruction of the concrete tape or slab.

In this case, the task of the sand is to compensate for deformations, to reduce them to an acceptable level for a given foundation.

Substitute If there is organic-mineral or organic soil under the house (for example, peat), then you have to put up with the ongoing decomposition processes.

In this case, the soil will necessarily be mobile, heaving and characterized by a low bearing capacity. It has to be removed for great depth, until the end of the organic layer and fill the trench with sand.

What thickness is needed under the foundation depends on what function it performs in this particular case.

Pillow device

The easiest way is to create a bedding that performs a leveling role. As a rule, its thickness in this case does not exceed 15-20 cm. It is enough to fill up the sand once, carefully level it, spill it with a small amount of water - moisten it and then tamp it.

But such a minimum can be dispensed with either on non-porous soils, or in the case of a deep foundation, below the freezing level and relying on non-deformable soil layers. In other cases, it is necessary to lay a compensating pillow. Its dimensions depend on the width of the foundation sole. The exact data can be calculated from the table.

50-70	2.4 * b	1.2 * b
70-100	2 * b	1.15 * b
100-120	1.8 * b	1.1 * b

For example, if a foundation is laid with a base width of 60 cm, then the width of the pillow will be 60 * 2.4 \u003d 144 cm, and the height 60 * 1.2 \u003d 72 cm. A strip foundation with a tape width over 120 cm does not need a compensating pillow ...

The compensating sand cushion is laid as follows:

1. The dug trench is freed from bulk materials and leveled.
2. If the site is characterized by a high level of groundwater, measures are taken to prevent sand siltation - geotextiles are laid or other methods are used.
3. Sand is laid in the trench - in layers, no more than 20 cm per layer. After each layer, the material must be carefully tamped.
4. After reaching the required height, a material should be laid on top, which will prevent the penetration of cement laitance from the solution into the pillow. If FBS is supposed to be laid, then a protective film is not needed, you can lay the blocks directly on the pillow.

Sand is considered a non-heaving material; also, due to its structure, it prevents the capillary rise of moisture from the underlying layers to the concrete. But this is all typical only for sand not filled with water.

If a lot of moisture gets under the foundation, then it can radically change the properties of the pillow.

Therefore, in areas with a high level of groundwater or where there is a likelihood of sediment water getting under the concrete, it is imperative to provide for a moisture removal system - drainage.

The process of laying a replacement pillow under the foundation does not fundamentally differ from the compensating one. The role of geotextiles and water drainage systems only increases. In any case, the correct ramming is essential. It is worth considering in more detail.

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