Updated 25 October 2026. Facts on this page come from minecraft.wiki, minecraft.net and the live Artemis PvP server; sources are listed at the bottom.
Rivers and Beaches in Minecraft: Clay, Turtles and Treasure
Rivers are long channels of water that cut through land and usually lead to the ocean; beaches are the strips of sand along coasts. Rivers are good for clay, sugar cane and boat travel, and beaches are where turtles nest and buried treasure is hidden. Frozen rivers and snowy beaches are their cold versions.
What is special about rivers?
- They run along the deepest part of valleys and often split two biomes, so following one is a quick way to explore.
- Their beds hold patches of clay, sand and gravel, and sugar cane grows on their banks; see sugar cane.
- Salmon and squid live in them, and drowned can spawn in them; see drowned.
- In cold climates they freeze over into frozen rivers, which make ready-made ice roads.
What is special about beaches?
- All sand with sandstone underneath, and no plants.
- Turtles spawn only on beaches and return there to lay eggs; see turtles.
- Buried treasure chests lie under the sand, found with treasure maps from shipwrecks; see buried treasure.
- Shipwrecks sometimes run aground on them.
What other coast biomes are there?
Stony shores replace beaches where the coast is steep and rocky, and snowy beaches appear in frozen climates. Deserts usually run straight into warm oceans with no beach at all. See oceans.
Are rivers good for travel?
Yes: following a river by boat is an easy way to explore, and rivers often end in swamps, mangrove swamps or the ocean.
Which worlds does ArtemisPvP have?
Frequently asked questions
Where do turtles spawn?
On beach biomes.
Where can you find clay?
On the beds of rivers, lakes and swamps, and in lush caves.
Sources
Every fact on this page was checked against these pages; the wording is ours.