snails take over Miami Beach

Dozens of giant pink snails have invaded Miami Beach in what appears to be a bizarre cartoon migration along Florida's sun soaked coast, but is fact an art project to promote a clean environment.

The international REgeneration Art Project, which has already made its mark in Paris, Milan and Prague among other cities, will remain in this tourist-favored beach community until January 3, said organizers Cracking Art Group.

The 45 colorful mollusks, which are made of recycled plastic, are intended to "play with the city in order to rebuild it ideally and mentally," said the international artistic collective Cracking Art Group, which has joined forces with Italy's Galleria Ca d'Oro for the project.

Placed throughout the city, the huge pink snails are "designed to inspire a community-wide conversation about the importance of recycling and its environmental impact, while leaving a potent artistic trace on the Miami Beach community," said the organizers.