Beach

to think that the beach of your childhood was going to be how you remember it

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For decades, coastal architecture was built on such a simple idea as wrongas if the beach of our childhood, the same one we retain in our memories, were going to remain intact forever. Matalascanas is the most recent reminder of a failure of origin: beaches are not everlasting decorations, they are borders that sooner or later are eaten by the ocean. A poorly thought out coast. In Matalascanasthe sea no longer advances in the abstract or in technical reports: it is literally entering the courtyardsdemolishes beach bars and turns boardwalks into twisted rubble. What for decades was a wide, stable beach has lost its protective sand, leaving homes and infrastructure exposed to increasingly stormy weather. more frequent and intense. Built in the sixties and seventies in a high natural erosion zonewithout studies of coastal dynamics and dune systems that acted as a barrier, urbanization embodies the clash between an architecture designed for a fixed sea and a coast that was always in motion. The storms of 2026 have done nothing more than accelerate an announced process for years, generating a feeling of abandonment and urgency in neighbors who see how emergency solutions arrive late and are never definitive. Exception turned into routine. What happened after Storm Francis was not an isolated episode, but rather the start of a sequence. Just weeks later, a new storm has once again placed water at the doors of houses, sweeping away beach bars and reopening unclosed wounds. Erosion is no longer a future threat but has become in a permanent stateaggravated by the lack of coordination between administrations and by provisional actions that barely buy time. In Matalascañas it is no longer discussed whether the sea will advance, but rather how much and at what pacewhile the natural balance that allowed the beach to recover after storms has been broken for two decades. Matalascañas Plug Science takes on the unthinkable. What neighbors experience as a local tragedy, science has been formulating for some time as a global dilemma. Studies in the UK in 2022 now they had warned that hundreds of thousands of coastal homes could be exposed or directly abandoned in a few decades, because protecting them will be economically and technically unfeasible. The message is uncomfortable, but quite clear: there will be communities that must retreat inland. The sea not only rises, it also erodes the beaches and raises the point from which the waves break, multiplying the impact of each storm and rendering many traditional defenses useless. Map of the Earth with a sea level rise of six meters depicted in red Beaches and economies at risk. On a planetary scale, the erosion of sandy beaches is advancing rapidly. uneven but persistent. A significant part of the world’s sandbanks is already receding and projections point to severe losses before mid-century. Tourism, frontline urbanization, ports, dams and dune destruction have eliminated natural reservoirs of sand that allowed the beaches to adapt. In regions highly dependent on coastal tourism, such as the Spanish Mediterranean, the disappearance of the beach is not only an environmental problem, but a direct threat to the economic and social fabric built around it. Barceloneta And the north, the same. Of course, it is not just a problem for Spain. In Scotland, for example, Montrose beach loses meters of sand every year at a rate that even exceeds scientific forecasts. Collapsed promenades, weakened dunes and historic golf courses devoured by the sea show that the problem does not distinguish latitudes. The proposed solutions, such as artificial regeneration with sand, are expensive and recurringa structural expense that is difficult to assume for indebted administrations. The question, again, stops being how to stop erosion and becomes how long can it be buy before the defenses give way. Shrinking cities. In large urban areas such as the same New Yorkthe rising sea threatens tens of thousands of homes in a context of serious housing shortage. I remembered a few months ago the new york times that there the withdrawal is no longer just coastal, but urban: buying houses, demolishing them and returning the land to the water becomes an adaptation strategywhile large protection projects advance slowly and force us to rethink the classic housing model. The coast stops being a place to grow and becomes a mobile border that determines the future of the city. Save house or beach. In the United States, the advance of the sea is of such magnitude that it has reactivated a legal conflict inherited from centuries: the beaches as a public good against the right to protect private property. The walls and breakwaters that save a house condemn the beach by disappearing, causing the call “coastal choke”. The consequence is a waterfall of judicial conflictswhere each individual defense accelerates the erosion of the environment and forces neighbors to follow the same path, until there is no sand left to defend. A “national” problem that aims to be global. Adapt without going out of your way. Of course, all kinds of solutions are being tried. I remembered a few months ago the Guardian the case of the Pacific coast of Colombia, where communities like Juanchaco face erosion from a different logic. Without major works or resources for a total withdrawal, they opt to internal displacementscommunity tourism and progressive adaptation. The sea carries away streets and houses, but the community responds by moving a few meters inland, reinventing its economy and preserving its cultural identity. It is a form of resistance that assumes physical loss without giving up territory. A solution that seems impossible in depending on which enclaves. Houses fall, value sinks. A few months ago it went viral a series of snapshots. Images of homes collapsing on the beaches of North Carolina seemed absurd until you understand their logic. Many were built at a safe distance from the sea, when architecture never imagined that the beaches would change, building on dunes that no longer exist. Accelerated erosion has turned those investments in trapped assetsdifficult to … Read more

For years, foreigners who wanted sun and beach bought a house in Spain. Now they are looking for something else: luxury housing

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The real estate market emits signals which show that foreigners have won a relevant weight in the sale and purchase of luxury homes, which leads us to think about changes in the profile of the international buyer. Spain is no longer just a destination for families or couples from other countries interested in getting a small apartment for their vacation in search of sun and beach. It also receives wealthy people who want settle herein the cities, and is able to pay for his house out of pocket. The data are certainly suggestive. “First level destination”. I warned him recently in an interview with Idealista Paloma Pérez Bravo, CEO of Residencial de Lucas Fox, a platform specialized in the premium market: “Spain has gone from being a sun and beach getaway to a top-level luxury destination.” From your experiencethe country “has stopped being the home of the sun and has become the home of investment. People want more first homes than second homes because they are moving to Spain.” It’s not the only change he appreciates. Upon your signature, Bravo explains to SERdigital nomads are now arriving, entrepreneurs from America, English and American, also businessmen and investors who used to invest in the US and now find themselves with problems there due to Trump’s immigration policy. Is there data? Yes, although they come mainly from companies, so they must be handled with some caution. In your report On market forecasts for 2026, Lucas Fox reveals for example that 62% of buyers Those who close transactions worth more than 2.5 million euros are foreigners, more than 60% of ultra-luxury sales are signed without the need for financing and a good part of the acquisitions are made in search of a “main residence”, not to convert the property into a vacation home or as an investment. Looking ahead to next year, the company also expects that activity in the segments prime and super prime grow 3-6% and 6-10% respectively and leaves behind a fundamental idea that tells us about the profile of those clients who purchase the most expensive houses: “The international buyer is already the majority.” Specifically, the weight of Europeans stands out, followed by Americans and British. Other percentage: 92%. Lucas Fox is not the first to warn of the frequency with which foreign accents are heard in real estate agencies specializing in the premium market. A few months ago Barnes claimed that 92% of buyers from the Spanish luxury market were already foreigners. Of them, around half (49%) were also investors from outside the EU, with a notable presence especially of Mexicans, Colombians, Venezuelans, Russians, Chinese and Arabs. The community members They accounted for 43% while the Spanish, according to the real estate agency, were left with a meager 8% of the total. Are there more clues? The answer is once again affirmative. Another company that shared data recently is LuxuryEstatea premium housing portal that confirms that searches by international buyers interested in the Spanish market already represent a substantial part of its traffic. Above all, the demand for information from european countries such as Germany, France, Italy, Belgium or the Netherlands and the interest aroused by the premium segment of Catalonia, the Balearic Islands, Madrid or the Valencian Community. Other regions, such as the Canary Islands and the Basque Country, also seem to be emerging. A consolidated destination. LuxuryEstate confirm in fact that ours “is no longer just an aspirational destination, but a highly competitive market.” The comment is in line with what it points out to Lucas Fox or even CaixaBank Research, which in a recent analysis Regarding the changes in the profile of the resident foreigner who acquires housing in Spain, he warns: “Spain has established itself as one of the most attractive destinations for luxury investment in Europe.” Different buyers. In the same reportCaixaBank recalls that the demand for housing by foreigners has grown in recent years, first after the pandemic and then thanks to the improvement in financing. It also clarifies that there are differences between resident foreigners and those who do not live here and are mainly looking for houses for their vacations or as an investment. On average, the former (residents) paid around €1,795/m2 in 2024 and the latter (non-residents) €3,063/m2. These are values ​​significantly higher than those recorded by national buyers, which moved at 1,713. However, the last balance of Property Registrars shows that foreign demand for housing has reduced in the third quarter of the year, representing 13.6% of the total. The percentage reflects the entire market, not just the luxury segment, although there are those who warn that the latter is not immune to the shortage of supply, which among other issues affects its prices. Images | DaYsO (Unsplash) In Xataka | After Catalonia, there is another autonomous community considering prohibiting buying a home to invest: Canary Islands

A beach bar in Malaga had the happy idea of ​​taking its ‘Sardinator’ robot for a walk. Until the police found out

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An establishment in La Malagueta decided to innovate when it came to attracting new customers with an advertising robot that wandered along the seafront, advertising mojitos, caipirinhas and espetos for four euros. Although the idea was striking and made heads turn among the local residents, the Malaga City Council has stopped the initiative. ‘Sardinator’ does not comply with municipal regulations and the Local Police have already reported the beach bar. The beach bar play. The robot, named Sardinator, walked along the La Malagueta promenade inviting people around to follow its voice to the beach bar. It wasn’t a waiter robot of those that serve inside the premises, but an autonomous device designed to advertise in the middle of a public street. It advertised drinks and food as it moved, although according to MálagaHoyhis ability to avoid obstacles left a lot to be desired: “he avoids trash cans, but he is not so skilled with people”, even tripping over a pedestrian. Why did the police intervene? Just like has shared The medium, Elisa Pérez de Siles, Councilor for Public Roads of the Malaga City Council, assured that this type of robots “are not authorizable” in the city. The use of the device on the promenade violates the municipal ordinance, which is why the Local Police were ordered to draw up a report and report the establishment. Although in other cities they are quite popular devices, in Malaga “there is an ordinance that must be complied with,” said the councilor. The political reaction. The municipal group Con Málaga has also focused on the issue. Its councilor, Toni Morillas, submitted a letter to the mayor asking about the robot after receiving complaints from neighbors who observed the advertising device “with astonishment.” Morillas even described the situation as “Málaga, the lawless city” on his social networks, according to inform MálagaHoy, highlighting the concern over the lack of control over this type of initiatives on public roads. The legal loophole of advertising robots. The case of Sardinator is something very specific and Spanish legislation does not yet specifically contemplate autonomous advertising robots on a public road. Municipal ordinances regulate outdoor advertising through urban planning licenses, but these regulations are designed for static elements such as fences, signs or posters. Many ordinances expressly prohibit the distribution or delivery of brochures and advertising on public roads, and even advertising in circulating or parked vehicles except for very specific exceptions. The boom of robots in hospitality. Sardinator does not seem to have had the same luck as other robots that have had growing popularity, such as those who work inside serving at the tables. In Spain, waiter robots are being introduced mainly in fast food restaurants, chains and some fine dining restaurants. Cities such as Madrid, Barcelona, ​​Valencia or Seville have already seen the introduction of these robots in several establishments. The fundamental difference here is that these robots move in controlled private spaces, not on public roads, which avoids conflicts of this type. Without going any further, in Malaga, there are several establishments that have incorporated this type of robots, although never outside the premises, as is the case of Sardinator. How they work. Waiter robots are designed to take orders from the kitchen to the customer’s table, following already marked routes and avoiding obstacles. The manufacturers are mostly of Chinese origin, including PUDU Robotics with its Bellabot and Kettybot models, Orion Star with Lucky, and Keenon, although there are also Spanish companies such as DAX Robotics with its Delibot and Slimbot model. The prices of waiter robots range between 6,000 and 15,000 euros, and they can support up to 60 kilos of load. They are equipped with LIDAR laser sensors and 3D cameras to move autonomously and safely. Robots as an alternative to labor shortages. The labor shortage in the Spanish hospitality industry, which affects more than 60% of businessesaccording to the Bank of Spain, means that this type of device could end up being an effective alternative. This is not about replacing staff, but about easing the burden due to the difficulty in finding waiters and qualified staff, which is why many establishments are turning to service robots as support. Although they are not yet a complete substitute for human interaction nor are they profitable for all establishments, these robots may end up representing a pragmatic response to a structural problem. And now what. The La Malagueta beach bar will have to return to traditional advertising methods or look for alternatives that respect the regulations. Meanwhile, ‘Sardinator’ has stopped touring the promenade and his catchy “mojito, caipirinha, daikiri” promotion is no longer heard in the area. Let’s give a minute of silence for our friendly friend. Cover image | Javier Albiñana In Xataka | The crazy story of the Galician woman who registered El Sol before a notary, sold plots online and then took eBay to court

Interior Spain has been dreaming of having a beach. Now you will have the largest private in Europe in … Guadalajara

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Much has rained since ‘The Refrescos’ sang that “there is no beach” in 1989. It is true that communities like Madrid either Castilla-La Mancha have several “beaches” in which they can cool off if parks in full heat wavebut by great, beautiful and refreshing that are those gaps, it seems that more water is needed. And, at a time when We are running out of beaches all over the planetGuadalajara has decided that it will open the largest interior beach in Europe. Alovera Beach. Alovera It is a town located in the Guadalajara countryside that has a population of about 13,500 inhabitants and will soon add to its tourist attractions the largest artificial beach in Europe. At least, They say so Those responsible for the project, the company Crystal Lagoons that has seen how the municipal plenary approved unanimously a transfer agreement for 40 years of land very close to the important Mahou beer factory on the outskirts of the municipality. The plot has about 105,000 square meters and the works are expected to begin at the end of this year to open their “doors” in spring of 2027. It is estimated that about 20 million euros will be invested and about 140 direct jobs will be created. It is a project that began to be developed in 2017, but that after the resource of environmental environment and reactivation after the COVID-19 Pandemiahe has seen green light a few days ago. The “Beach”. Within those more than ten hectares, the Chilean multinational Crystal Lagoons, That he has already built “beaches” of this type in other countries, he wants to create facilities that will consist of: An artificial lagoon of about 20,000 square meters with differentiated areas for bathroom and navigation. A white sand beach of 16,000 square meters. Complementary facilities such as a ‘club’ Ibizan style, aquatic attractions, sports activities and restoration. Parking with 1,000 places. In addition to private investment, the company will pay a fee of ten million euros throughout the 40 years of granting the land to the City Council. Crystal Lagoons technology. If we go around the company’s website, this “Lagoons” technology is mentioned several times. They mention that it is something “proprietary and ecological ”and what they detail is that their methodology is sustainable and profitable: Use 100 times less chemical than a conventional pool (thanks to a system of “”Disinfection pulses”), And 30 times less water than a golf course. It requires only 2% of the energy of traditional filtration systems by using pulses to group the largest particles in an area of ​​the lagoon, collecting them all at once. Minimum water consumption because it works with a closed circuit that is replenished only when there is evaporation. They affirmIn addition, that the cost of maintenance and construction is “very low, even lower than those of a park of the same size” and have a technology to capture rainwater and replace the pools and everything is monitored to maintain the parameters at the levels that they consider optimal. The land where the beach will be built Criticism. However, the project has generated controversies since its announcement in 2017, the environmental impact being the trigger. Ecologists in action critical The project by stating that it was a “nonsense and a waste of drinking water” to build something like that in a dry area that needs tank trucks in summer to satisfy the needs of the neighbors. The estimate is that it will consume more than 30 million liters of drinking water every year and that, to be viable, you will need water from the tributaries of the Tagus. They also have manifested political irregularities when carrying out the agreement. Look at 2027. Despite the voices against, Alovera Beach will begin to lift in the short term and the residents of the municipality will be able to access this artificial beach in the center of the Peninsula that will have direct connection with the A-2 and, therefore, with Madrid and all potential clients. As the multinational assures, Alovera’s will be the largest artificial lagoon of crystalline water in Europe, but it will not be the only one. In Spain they built the Alcazaba Lagoon in Malaga and Santa Rosalia in Murcia, in addition to having your eyes on Seville. There is also interest in expanding in Romania, France, Italy or Poland, thus adding these projects to those of the United States District One of Dubai. So, in the end, Madrid will have close -Otra- beach. Wow, go. In Xataka | Half the Canary Islands created an artificial beach to attract tourism. Without knowing it, he set up a sanctuary for angel sharks

In case Spain did not have enough problems with sun and beach tourism, add a new business: wedding tourism

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There are those who travel to disconnect, to learn about new landscapes, cultures or traditions, to whom he guides his appetite or simply who wants to enjoy relaxing days on a distant beach with a soda in his hand. To all of them is now added a type of tourist difficult to classify and seeks something totally different: marry. Your trips feed the flourishing (and millionaire) Industry of Rinning Weddings And they are already The pillar of some balearic farms. The ‘yes I want’ as a new rising tourist asset. Two words: Rinning Weddings. The concept is not new, but a quick search on Google is enough to verify that little by little gains strength in Spain. The Rinning Weddings or ‘destination weddings’ are neither more nor less than what the term suggests: couples who, instead of getting married in the city in which they live or in which some of the bride and groom are sought, choose to give the ‘yes I want’ far away. In another city or region. It may even that in another country, including destinations as exotic as Las Vegas or some Greek island. The idea is very simple: that the wedding is more than a wedding for boyfriends and guests, that is also a getaway. A juicy business. It is not easy to provide precise (and updated) data on how many Spanish partners travel to other countries to marry and how many foreigners Spain choose as the scenario for their bodies. In any case something is clear: with Spanish tourism Breaking records and approaching the barrier of 100 million Of visitors, it is a juicy business. And clearly on the rise. In February, Future Marketin Sights consultant published A broad study that estimates that The global market The wedding tourism will be around 36,800 million dollars, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.4% throughout the next decade. They are high values, but above all they exceed those who handled only a few years ago. His Calculation for 2022for example, pointed to a business volume of ‘Solo’ 23,000 million. “The Rinning Weddings They are one of the most popular and most dynamic segments in the global wedding industry, in which couples opt for personalized experiences in exotic places around the world, ” The authors collect of the study. “More and more boyfriends choose to exchange their votes in picturesque and culturally rich places, often with a group of friends and family. The market covers a wide variety of services and destinations offers.” How does Spain affect? As Spain sits top of the world ranking of tourist destinations and even dreams of crowning it (something feasible already in 2040according to the estimates of Google and Deloitte), our country is also reinforced on the map of the Rinning Weddings. On the Internet they can be found A good number of websites in English dedicated to Organize weddings In Spain or what They promote the peninsula and the islands as “An ideal destination” so that the bride and groom exchange alliances. The Canary Islands, Malaga, Marbella or Mallorca usually appear on their list, although in reality the market is very wide. A few years ago Ciudad Rodrigo (Salamanca) launched a baptized initiative ‘Ciudad Rodrigo Wedding Friendly’ I was looking for precisely position the town on the map of wedding celebrations. As the main asset he used his rich historical heritage. A quick search in The Wedding Travel Company It shows in any case that couples determined to marry their city have an extensive list of alternatives in Spain, Greece, Cyprus, Italy, Portugal or the United States, to quote only some countries on their vast list. “We specialize”. To understand the phenomenon The confidential He has spoken With some representatives of the Mallorca sector, one of the hot points of national tourism. And their data and statements are striking. Finca is Cabàslocated just over 20 kilometers from the urban center of Palma, explains that practically 100% of the weddings they do are tourists. And the director of the farm They are brownlocated not much further from there, it agrees that about 98% of the links that host them also lead. “There is a lot of American, a lot of German, a lot of British,” Confirm Yesssi Morel, Wedding Plannerfor whom, beyond the attractiveness of Spain or the costs, the key of the island pull in the destination wedding market is the approach that the sector has adopted. “I think we put everything very easy to foreigners. We are specializing a lot. Every time weddings are perfected more.” As for costs, statista data Before the pandemic show that Spain is one of the countries where the most expensive weddings are celebrated ($ 23,400 on average in 2019), although in reality the data is not much higher than that of Italy and is below the $ 29,000 that were reached that same year in the US. “They seek to save and in Mallorca they have the same wedding with the same quality they could have in the US, but at a lower cost,” Morel clarifies. And how does Mallorquines affect? That is the other big question. In a market that looks at the foreign client and the American couples with a wide budget, what options do they have left? The topic is interesting because, as remember the Wedding Plannerforeigners who plan to marry their home usually follow certain patterns: they reserve well in advance and have no problem in celebrating their ceremonies any day of the week. That (of course) forces the locals to adapt. “The Mallorcan marries only on Saturday and usually prefer certain months, such as September. If they do not escape, they run out of dates,” Confirm The wedding organizer. “Farm owners believe they have a treasure in their hands. They have seen a reef.” Images | Carlo Buttinoni (UNSPLASH) and Camila Cordeiro (UNSPLASH) Via | The confidential In Xataka | The end of the open bar: how weddings are leaving behind their only ‘collective … Read more

In Ibiza the luxury villas and ‘Beach Clubs’ have taken over the bathing areas. And the neighbors are saying enough

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Every year Ibiza receives hundreds of thousands of tourists that dream of the same: enjoy the Sun of the Mediterranean and take a dip in one of its paradisiacal coves. That has converted the sand of the Ibizan coast in the object of desire for locals and visitors, a coveted (and quoted) privilege that has long faces a serious threat: privatization covert of the beaches. A risk that materializes in the form of hammocks and sun loungers. What happened? That the summer of 2025 will perhaps go down in history by the forest firesthe Heat waves or the You alert of the hoteliers, who despite the record influx of tourists who are registering Spain perceive a fall in their turnover; But of course it won’t solve it One of the ‘hot potatoes’ of the Balearic coast: the private occupation of the sand. Eldiario.es remembered it yesterday An article in which he remembers some of the main controversies that Ibiz Beach Clubs. It is not really a problem that affects only the Pitiusa Islands. In Malaga the neighbors They have warned of the “privatization of the beach” for the expansion of several beach bars and in Menorca There have been criticism For the closure of roads, which prevents visitors (and neighbors) from practicing hiking in the area. Where does the controversy come from? Ibiza is close to 230 kilometers Costa and a good part of it are beaches and coves that, for decades, attract tourists from all over the planet. The result is that a portion of its sand, with its umbrella and sun lounger, has become (especially during the summer) into a precious good … and disputed. Residents know it. And also tourists and hoteliers. Hence it is not uncommon to find in the island press Complaints by Beach Clubs and restaurants that occupy sand with hammocks and umbrellas, hoarding more space than they allow them Your concessions. Or even news on villas and companies dedicated to the luxury holiday rental that colonize ‘the coves. In August Nou Diari He warned that the “undercover privatization” of the beaches is filling the patience of the neighbors of Ibiza and recalled that for years it is not strange to meet with auxiliary and yacht vessels that approach the coast to display hammocks that stay there in case their owners decide to use them. Sometimes it happens. Others do not simply occupy coast. Are there specific cases? Yes. In Ibiza there are at least three that have given to speak over the last months. Of all perhaps the most popular is that of Cala Molíin the municipality of Sant Josep. Fed of the ‘colonization’ of Arenal, Last month Someone withdrew the sun loungers in the cove and left a message in English attached to one of the chairs: “The beach is a public space and is not included in the house you have rented. If you want to put your hammock, come like everyone else and place it wherever you want. Eivissa free of pirates!”. In August Nou Diari public That the sun loungers, umbrellas and other Molí apparatus was installed by a company dedicated to the rental of luxury homes in the area. As needed, the business was dedicated to deploying the furniture in the morning, occupying part of the Ibizan coast, as if it were an exclusive service for its customers. eldiario.es Precise However, the hammocks actually installed operators hired by a family housed in a nearby villa. Are there more examples? Yes. Another sound case is that of Cala d´en Serrain Sant Joan. In June Amics de la Terra denounced that a business was installing more hammocks on the beach than allows its municipal concession. He denounced her accompanies her A photo in which 30 sun loungers can be seen in pairs who occupy practically the entire cove. His complaint motivated a police inspection, which, however, verified that the concessionaire was complying with the limits, at least at the time the agents came. Ibiza Diario Precise In any case that, although at the time of the inspection it was found that there were 18 hammocks, “amount that coincides with the maximum authorized according to the current concession”, in the image released by AMICs it is clearly appreciated that at the time when the photograph was taken there was almost double (30). “He has only started summer and hammocks already throw us from the beach”, regretted The environmental organization in its publication. Is it a new problem? Not quite. Nor exclusive to Ibiza. The occupation (or “privatization”) of the coasts has heating the debate For yearsboth by individuals that get up early to place their umbrellas and then leave, like business that monopolize large portions of sand. In the Balearic Islands it is usually a reason for recurring discussion. Last year the residents of Sant Agustí and Cala Major (Palmad de Mallorca) They denounced publicly That, according to their calculations, they only had 22% of the beach for their enjoyment. In Ibiza, Cala Spartin Santa Eulària, too It has generated controversy This summer for a similar reason: the appearance of private hammocks. Images | Fred Bigio (Flickr) and Amics de la Terra Eivissa (Flickr) Via | eldiario.es In Xataka | Cabo de Gata promised them happy with the tourist pull of its beaches. Until the dunes became parkings

The coast of Cádiz is crowded in summer. Except an inexplicable beach that has managed to flee from mass tourism

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Spain has a vast coastal strip of almost 8,000 km and much of it is formed by sand that every summer becomes Tourist boilersboth from other regions of Spain and abroad. Cádiz knows it well, although the Andalusian province can boast of conserving A (almost) virgin sand that has managed to avoid the traveler boom that saturates the country. His name: Castilnovo. A virgin beach? That’s how it is. That in summer you speak of the beaches and Cadiz coves is no novelty. After all, the Costa de la Luz and the Costa del Sol are two of the most busy destinations by tourists looking for sun and beach in the summer months. What is much less common is to find that one of those sandy sand is an almost virgin natural jewel, free of buildings, bars, hotels and hordes of veraneantes fighting for nailing its umbrellas. It is fair is what the Castilnovo Beach. Castilnovo Beach? His name may not be as known as that of the sands of Bologna, Burriana either Barrosaalso distributed along the Andalusian coast, but during the last weeks the beach of Castilnovo has activated the radar of the National Press and specialized media on trips. And it is logical. Located between the mouth of the salty and conilete rivers, this beach 3,000 meters It is a rare Avis of the Spanish coast, a haven of peace and tranquility that has managed to dodge the tourist boom of other points of the Spanish coast. And how is it? In words From the Conil Tourism Office it is an “extensive virgin beach ideal to enjoy long walks through a unique environment where nature is the protagonist”, a sand tongue of 3,000 kilometers That starts with Conil and ends near El Palmar, in the municipality of Vejer. “Beach of great landscape importance in which one of its most striking characteristics is the absence of constructions,” says the City Council before underline that the area includes dunes and salinas, in addition to cultivation fields, cattle and an “outstanding” variety of insects and birds, such as the SHATP SHAFT. No buildings? A look With Google Maps it shows that the landscape is quite different from that of the neighboring Costa de Sancti Petri. In Castilnovo, between the Palmar and Conil, a strip of fields is extended with hardly any constructions. In fact, the most emblematic is the tower that takes the name of the beach, an Almenara building that dating from the 16th century and is classified as a good of cultural interest (BIC). His aim It was to serve as a surveillance position to anticipate Berber attacks and identify the passage of Atunes. In 1755the same day Lisbon suffered An earthquakea tsamot destroyed part of the structure. Cádiz Diputación itself Highlight that “one of the most striking characteristics” of the beach is precisely that it lacks constructions. “The lonely Almenara Torre de Castilnovo rises on the horizon guarding the beach. A wide plain is extended around it where the crops, livestock land and the wet areas of the riverbank of the river are mixed on the wide surface, beyond the Las Marinas and old saline road dominate the land,” stands out. And how is it possible? Travel guides They usually emphasize that those who want to enjoy Castilnovo must keep in mind before what they will find there: a virgin space in which It is not strange See people practicing sports such as surfing, Windsurf or Kitesurf (even a nudist, although beach It is not cataloged as a naturist), but without the comfort of other sand. Usually The guides They point That has no beach bargain, bars, or nearby services. In some points there is not even coverage. And of course those who want to enjoy the landscape must walk and resign themselves to leave their car At a certain distance. The Diputación remember In addition, at least part of the space is protected by the City of Conil for its environmental importance. Images | Conil tourism, Roberto Vázquez González (Flickr)Google Earth and Diputación de Cádiz In Xataka | The beach of the crystals: Galicia has one of the most fascinating sands in Spain by chance

There are gentlemen getting up at 5:36 in the morning to plant its umbrella on the beach of Torrevieja. The law has things to say

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Saturday, 05.36 am Cura BeachTorrevieja. There is still a good time for dawn and groups of young people who take advantage of the last hours of a Farra night, but the cameras of Mastral projectan weather information platform, capture a curious phenomenon in this corner of the Alicante coast: a white t -shirt man advances through the sand loaded with his pertrechos beach, mounts a couple of sun loans and nailed an umbrella in the first line of beach, almost almost where the waves die. The recording shows nothing more, but since at that time there is not a miserable sun ray is not unreasonable to think that man returns home to continue sleeping until, tomorrow, he can claim his beach plot. Yes, 5.36 in the morning. The video Extended by mastral project has not taken long to go viral, with thousands of reproductions, for a very simple reason: although already We are accustomed To the bathers who go to the beaches at the top hour to reserve a hole and then leave, it is still surprising that there are people willing to do so at dawn. In the specific case of Torrevieja, the recording shows that the first ‘colone’ arrives at 05.36 and its umbrella is planted at 05.41, when it only served (at most) to protect itself from the moonlight. Click on the image to go to Tweet. The ‘War of the umbrellas’. The video reflects the escalation of the ‘War of the umbrellas’a phenomenon that has been cooking in the middle country, especially in the busiest years. Its logic is quite simple: the struggle to get the best holes in the sand, in the front line, leads some bathers to get up early to nail their umbrellas and other belongings. They often keep their place and then leave. The summer version of the Pica in Flanders. The practice is usual especially in Levante and has even encouraged his particular submerged economy. Just a year ago Malaga’s opinion He informed That, for the street sale of soft drinks, towels, glasses and massages, a new business on the beaches of the region had joined: the rental of umbrellas to tourists for 10 euros. In fact in just a week the Local Police came to withdraw about 30. Playeros landowners. Although tails/struggles/discussions to plant ultimate upset or scenes such as the one captured by mastral is curious, in the background there is a major problem: the use of public spaces as if it were farms. And that is not something exclusive to Levante. Nor is it done alone with umbrellas. In 2024 Vigo lived His particular controversy After several photos of bathers that bounded plots (in some cases of several meters) with rows of window. The objective: entrenched inside with towels, portable refrigerators, umbrellas, chairs and tables, as in a bungaló. Of beaches … and swimming pools. The phenomenon is not exclusive to the beaches. Community pools They have their own. In 2022 it circulated A video which showed the fierce competition of the guests of a hotel for giving the best sun loungers in the pool as the doors of the installation opened, at 7.59 h. Some even ran and threw their towels to occupy the free squares. A quick search arrives on Tiktok to find similar recordings. Or even stamps still more surreallike a towel tail in a hotel in Mallorca, a particular system for saving tail at the entrance of the pool. A problem: the law. The problem is that in his zeal for enjoying the sun, the swimmer Hypermadugador of Torrevieja or the landowners of Vigo They forget something: the law. The beaches are regulated by the Coast Law 2/1988that progresses that the sand “will not be of private use”, but some municipalities have gone further specifying that spaces cannot be reserved. It is in those cases in which vacationers must be more careful when planting their towels. In September 2015 without going any further, the Torrevieja Local Police put a 150 euros fine to a swimmer for installing his umbrella early in the day in a privileged place of the beach of the priest to reserve room. It was useless to resort to him and claim that he was taking a dip, the penalty It was ratified in 2016. “Dangerous practice”. “Those of us who live in Torrevieja know that there are people who at 5.30 places their umbrella on the beach and leaves,” explained to the newspaper The provinces Javier Manzanares, councilor, before pointing out that practices thus complicate the work of the operators that clean the sand. “It is a dangerous practice. It hinders a job that they carry out until six in the morning.” What does the law say? The most convenient thing is to consult the ordinances of each municipality. In the case of Torrevieja Your regulations It is very clear: the authorities will consider a mild infraction “to leave parasols installed (…), umbrellas, chairs, tables or any other complement, provided that its owners are not present, for the mere fact of having reserved a place on the beach.” It is not a unique case. In 2022 Cullera published A side in which he underlined the prohibition of installing “particular elements” before eight in the morning and warned that the City Council itself would be in charge of withdrawing them. The document includes Other indications On the use of sand and ends by warning that skipping their indications entails sanctions that can go from 750 to 3,000 euros. Are there more examples? Yes. A few. Leaving umbrellas and chairs to reserve a hole on the beaches is prohibited in Torrox, Vélez-Málaga, Gandía, Carob tree either Nerjawhich was responsible for warning of the veto at the beginning of the pandemic. And that to quote only a handful of examples. Those who skip the law risk more than a reprimand, as happened to the torrevieja’s swimmer of 2015. Of course, the sanctions They can range From one case to another. Algarrobo or … Read more

There are 90 dolphins stranded on a remote beach in Australia with a marked end. Wednesday will be sacrificed to shooting

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In recent years we have seen a lot of stories with dragged sea creatures by the sea until incompatible zones or habitatsoften because of the effects of temperatures changes in the oceans. However, few, or possibly none, such as the story that is taking place in a remote area of ​​Australia. Even there came more than a hundred dolphins, and most are still alive, but their end seems marked. Euthanasia. On a remote beach of the Australian island of Tasmania, 157 dolphins were stranded last week. However, environmental authorities have made the difficult decision of Start Euthanasia by shooting at 90 copies on Wednesday They still survived. The cause? Apparently, The impossibility of successfully returning them to the sea. The main reason for this decision is based on the fact that animals are increasingly stressed, severely affected by extreme environmental conditions, such as constant exposure to the sun and strong winds. Shelley Graham, in charge of managing the incident, has confirmed that, after exhaustive veterinary evaluations, Euthanasia is the only viable alternative to relieve the suffering of animals. A very difficult rescue. Experts have that the location in which the dolphins were trapped is particularly complicated for rescue work. Kris Carlyon, Marino Biologist, assured the media that it was one of the most complex sites with which it had been found In his 16 years working in Tasmania. The remote beach, located near the mouth of the Arthur River on the west coast of Tasmania, does not have easy access, which greatly complicates rescue efforts. Last week he tried repeatedly to refloat surviving animals, but without success. The physical characteristics of these dolphinsthat can weigh more than a ton and measure up to six meters in length, make it difficult to return them to the water, since it implies significant risks for both animals and rescuers. False calderones dolphins. The stranded dolphins have been identified as members of a little studied species popularly known as “false orcas” or “false calderones”named for the shape of their skulls that resemble those of the royal orcs. They are highly social marine mammals, accustomed to forming large groups that often exceed 50 copies. Not just that. This strong social bond implies that, when a single individual in the group is disoriented or trapped on the coast, it is capable of drag the rest of the group towards the same destination, causing massive variations Like the current one. These events are not unusual in Australia, but it is the first time in 50 years that such a significant one occurs in this specific area of ​​Tasmania. The science behind these cases. Although these incidents are relatively frequent in the region, scientists still do not know the exact causes that lead these creatures to vary in mass. According to the scientist Marina Vanessa Pirotta, from the moment a cetacean is caught on the beach, A critical countdown to its survival begins. Tasmania in particular is known as an area especially prone to variations, which could be due to its specific geographical location, complex for the natural navigation of these species. However, the ultimate cause of these incidents remains a mystery. Experts like Carlyon recognize that on many occasions The exact reason is never established whereby these animals reach the beach, and the explanation is usually reduced to collective behavior and group orientation. Ecological Impact. It is the last of the legs to be treated, the lack of deep knowledge about these dolphins makes the situation even more dramatic. According to information from the Australian government, There are no reliable estimates about the total number of specimens of this species in the wild. The species is classified in Australia as “almost threatened”, which underlines the ecological importance of this incident and the severity of losing so many specimens simultaneously. Plus: the death of large groups in incidents such as this has the potential of negatively impact the global population of the speciesespecially considering your relative shortage and the few data available on your state of conservation. Euthanasia in cetaceans. Finally, the euthanasia process in large specimens like these dolphins is not easy. In this regard, Kris Carlyon clarified that Mass euthanasias of large cetaceans are extremely complicated operationspractices that require precise and personal methods highly trained to minimize animal suffering. In fact, the choice of euthanasia through shots responds to a technical evaluation that considers the speed, effectiveness and lower stress in the execution. A procedure that in most cases It is usually a last resortapplied when there is no other reasonable alternative to save the life of animals. That said, the incident emphasizes the vulnerability of some marine species in the face of little understood natural and anthropogenic phenomena. Image | Handout/Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania In Xataka | The Burning Man rains made something amazing emerge: the “dinosaur gamba” and other strange animals In Xataka | Not only were the greatest animals that ever walked on earth. They repeated the play many times

Huntington Beach was declared “non-sanctuary” and its authorities will comply with federal policies

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The coastal city of Huntington Beachin Californiasharpened his confrontation with the state when The local government adopted a resolution declaring the city “a non-sanctuary city for illegal immigration in order to prevent crime.” Huntington Beach has an ongoing lawsuit against California sanctuary state lawwhich limits cooperation with federal immigration authorities, citing a high recidivism rate of illegal immigrants with active detentions by federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials that are supposed to result in transfers and deportations. In a statementMayor Pat Burns’ office confirmed that the city council voted unanimously to approve his initiative to declare the city a “Non-Sanctuary City” and that that provision took effect immediately. The resolution, according to Burns’ office, “deliberately circumvents the governor’s efforts to subvert the good work of federal immigration authorities and trumpet the city’s cooperation with the federal government, the Trump administration and the work of border czar Tom Homan ”according to the statement. “City officials have a duty to comply with all laws, including federal immigration laws, and neither the Governor nor the State will interfere with that.” Criticism of the Huntington Beach decision The Harbor Institute for Immigrant & Economic Justice published the following statement in response to the Huntington Beach City Council’s declaration of a “non-sanctuary city” and the lawsuit filed by the local government against the state’s sanctuary law, the California Securities Act (SB 54, 2017). “Federal and California courts have already ruled that the state’s sanctuary law is constitutional and that Huntington Beach must respect the rule of law. In 2020, the United States Supreme Court also refused to hear challenges against him. The Huntington Beach City Council’s challenge to state law is purely performative and will be defeated again. The hate circus led by Huntington Beach politicians does nothing to improve the quality of life or public safety in the city.” And he goes on to say that instead of confronting the day-to-day problems that city government must solve, “politicians are wasting their energy blaming immigrant and refugee neighbors, undermining sanctuary policies that have been shown to reduce crime, and attacking protections.” constitutional due process provisions in our sanctuary state law, which have withstood numerous legal challenges in recent years.” Keep reading:‘ Huntington Beach defines its position as a “non-sanctuary city”· David Chiu, San Francisco prosecutor, will confront Trump to defend the Sanctuary city· Councilors approve that Los Angeles be a Sanctuary City

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