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Conch shell blowing contest takes place in Florida

Sunday, 06 March 2016 6:27 PM [ Last Update: Sunday, 06 March 2016 6:26 PM ]

We’ve all seen many musical contests taking place around the world, but have you ever heard of a conch shell blowing contest?

Nearly thirty participants took part in the age-old tradition in Key West, Florida to produce music with a giant seashell. Hundreds of spectators watched the contestants blow into the shell with all of their abilities to win the prize. The participants were judged on criteria such as loudness, duration and novelty of the sound they produced. The winner of the men's category blew his original composition.

Event organizers say the conch blowing tradition goes back to the 1800s in Florida, when the local economy was largely based on salvaging shipwreck cargoes. Sailors used the shells to call out for attention.

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