Groyne on sand beach to trap sediment, Playa Norte, Isla Mujeres, Caribbean Coast, Cancun, Quintana Roo, Mexico, North America

Commemorative plaque, guardhouse, sandbags and uniform caps, Checkpoint Charlie, Mitte, Berlin, Germany, Europe

Checkpoint Charlie, border control, West Berlin, Berlin, Germany, Europe

Sand bags placed by local residents of Lanikai, in an attempt to mitigate erosion affecting this East Oahu beach, Oahu, Hawaii, United States of America, Pacific

Sand bags placed by local residents of Lanikai, in an attempt to mitigate erosion affecting this East Oahu beach, Oahu, Hawaii, United States of America, Pacific

Unprecedented floods in 2007, Bentley, South Yorkshire, England, United Kingdom, Europe

A householder's attempt to hold bavk the flood waters near Cockermouth's Main street, after the water receded, Cumbria, England, United Kingdom, Europe

Floods of July 2007, Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire, England, United Kingdom, Europe

Unprecedented floods in 2007, Bentley, South Yorkshire, England, United Kingdom, Europe

A man sand bagging a house against rising flood waters at Rydal, Cumbria, England, United Kingdom, Europe

A house on the beach, St. Ives, Cornwall, England, United Kingdom, Europe

Denny und Paul boxing the sandbag, Fred Brophy's Boxing Troupe, Boulia, Simpson Desert, Australia

Aerial images of sadnbags on Figure Eight Island beach.

Germany, Berlin, Checkpoint Charlie, US Army checkpoint and guardhouse reconstruction at the former crossing point between East and West Berlin.

Sandbags in rows at the water's edge to prevent erosion of the beach

Sandbags in rows at the water's edge to prevent erosion of the beach

Sandbags in rows at the water's edge to prevent erosion of the beach