Latest news with #CatalanNews
The Sun
10 hours ago
- The Sun
Beaches at holiday hotspot visited by 7.9 million Brits per year at risk of disappearing
BEACHES in the popular Spanish city of Barcelona are at risk of disappearing. The swathes of sand are actually man-made, created some 30 years ago when the city hosted the 1992 Olympic Games, but they are now eroding at a faster rate than ever before. 5 5 Around 7.9 million British tourists visited Barcelona in 2024 to explore the city and bask on its beautiful beaches. But severe winter storms and rising sea levels have seen heavy coastal erosion and there are now fears these man-made beaches are receding at such a rate that they could go back to their original gravel strips. In February 2025, the Metropolitan Area of Barcelona (AMB) warned that the beaches north of Barcelona have lost about 30,100 square meters of sand in the last five years, according to Catalan News. One of the worst cases is Montgat, a 30minute drive up the coast from Barcelona, which has lost 70 per cent of its beach surface in four years. After major storms last year, parts of Montgat were left almost without a beach completely. Lines of rocks were then installed to serve as a breakwater, but there are fears this still won't be enough to protect the beach. One local, Ana García, told The Independent: 'Clearly, this is worrying because it's increasing more and more, and shows no signs of stopping. Our coexistence with the sea here is in danger.' One reason for the faster erosion rate is that the beaches are man-made rather than natural. Before their creation, the shoreline along Barcelona was gravelly, rocky and not very accessible. For the Olympics in 1992, city authorities used thousands of tonnes of sand to expand its beach front because it thought sandy beaches would appeal to tourists - and they would be proven right. The little-known Spanish beach town that's easy to get to 5 5 The beaches are thought to bring in around £52million each year in tourist income. Over the last 20 years, the rate of erosion along the east coast of Spain has done nothing but speed up. In an effort to maintain the coastline, the beaches have been topped up with fresh sand every spring imported from other areas. But due to the rate of erosion, enhancing beaches by replacing the sand in this way is not having a long-term impact. It is completely possible that without major intervention, the beaches in Barcelona and beyond could disappear. Solutions proposed include creating sand dunes to protect the precious beaches. But it's not just Spain that is facing a beach erosion crisis, it's happening right here in the UK. The Holderness Coast, where the Barmston Beach sits, is the fastest eroding coastline in Europe. Last year, the East Yorkshire coastline suffered up to 12 meters of coastal erosion which is a much higher rate than elsewhere in the world. Between Barmston and Fraisthorpe, erosion reached up to five meters in some parts of the coast last year. Barmston Beach has been directly affected and has lost its Blue Flag status because of impact of coastal erosion. Here are the world's 50 best beaches and where to find the two in England that made the cut. And one of England's oldest seaside towns that's at risk of losing its beach forever.
Belfast Telegraph
14-07-2025
- Climate
- Belfast Telegraph
Spain earthquake: Everything we know about the tremor which rocked tourist hotspot
People in more than 50 towns, including tourist hotspot Malaga, could feel the quake. "I was sleeping, and the whole house shook for a few seconds," a tourist in Agua Amarga in Almeria told Spanish newspaper El País. "There was an incredible roar. It woke up my entire family and our neighbours in the complex." The earthquake follows a weekend of severe floods and thunderstorms in Spain. Footage shared on social media showed streets turned into rivers, with floodwater swamping shopfronts and restaurants. Health minister Olga Pané said to Catalan News: 'We have decided to evacuate and transfer the 71 patients to the hospitals of Sant Camil, Bellvitge, Igualada, Sant Boi, and Viladecans.' Weather warnings have been activated for 25 provinces, as the country prepares for severe storms in Huesca, Teruel and Zaragoza, Barcelona, Girona, Lleida and Tarragona, and Castellón. Here's everything we know about the earthquake so far: When was it recorded? The earthquake was recorded by Spain's National Geographic at 7.13am on Monday. Where did it hit? The earthquake struck off the coast of Almería, southeast Spain, almost two miles below sea level. The impact was felt in more than 50 towns across seven provinces, most intensely in 17 municipalities in Almeria and parts of North Africa, according to local reports. Malaga was hit the hardest, and areas such as Granada, Jaen, Murcia, Alicante and Albacete were also affected. How severe was the earthquake? The earthquake had a magnitude of 5.4, recorded as IV or V on the European Macroseismic Scale, which equates to "widely observed" to "strong", according to the IGN. It was more powerful than the one that hit Lorca in 2011, which resulted in nine deaths, including a pregnant woman. However, because this earthquake did not hit land, the destruction has been less severe. Earthquakes under 6.0 rarely cause serious damage to well-built structures. Andalusia emergency services received 25 calls from the public, according to El País. However, no injuries have been reported so far. Still, buildings have been damaged across the region. Almeria's airport ceiling collapsed, causing tiles to hang from the ceiling in a cafe in the departures lounge. A worker told local news: 'We heard some noises one after the other and then a loud bang and a great cloud of dust appeared. 'It was a real scare for us. 'There were airport workers having their first coffee of the day but luckily no one was injured.' Meanwhile, the ceiling of a Toyota showroom in Huercal de Almeria was also damaged by the earthquake. In Pictures - large amounts of rubbish left after Twelfth celebrations Is it safe to travel to Spain? The UK Foreign Office has not activated travel warnings for Spain following the floods or earthquake. However, it suggests that travellers should 'check weather warnings from Spain's meteorological office (AEMET) before travel and follow the advice of the local authorities.'
Daily Mirror
06-06-2025
- Daily Mirror
Warning as Spanish protestors 'armed with water-pistols' set new date for chaos
Overtourism campaigners in Barcelona have set a time, date and place for their next protest, which will see them revitalise tactics that captured headlines last year Anti-tourism activists are planning to arm themselves with water pistols and soak holidaymakers. On June 15 tourists in Spain may want to keep an eye out and dry towel in their tote bag. One of the city's leading anti-tourism organizations has announced a new protest encouraging the use of water pistols. The organization, which was behind last year's rally, has pledged to "disrupt the tourist normality". Daniel Pardo Rivacoba, a member of the Assembly of Neighborhoods for Tourism Degrowth, spoke about the power of the water pistol. He described it as "a popular symbol of resistance against the plundering of the tourism monoculture" before arguing that the tourism industry "is incompatible with life". His group is demanding rapid "tourism regrowth." On the same day protest will also take place in other parts of Spain, including Ibiza, San Sebastián, Palma de Mallorca, Granada, the Pyrenees, and in Portugal's capital, Lisbon, Catalan News reported. The only detail of the June 15 protest that has been confirmed so far is the date, its midday start time and starting location of Jardinets de Gràcia. It comes 11 months after protesters in the city stole headlines with a now iconic piece of campaigning. People marched down the streets and remonstrated with diners sitting outside restaurants. Some, judged to be on holiday, were blasted with water pistols. Guests were also prevented from leaving their hotels when campaigners taped up exits. Last July thousands of people took part in the day long rally against mass tourism. Clearly it is something people in the city care deeply about. The Catalan capital received more than 12 million tourists in 2023, with numbers expected to grow each year. There have been other cases of tourist squirting since the July rally. In April this year tourists aboard a sight-seeing bus in Barcelona were blocked and squirted with water by protesters. The organizers of many of the anti-tourism protests held in 2024 in Mallorca launched a protest in the Northern Spanish city. The Catalan Police were called when the campaigners blocked a bus packed with tourists close to the famous Sagrada Familia. Members of Més turisme, Menys vida (More Tourism, Less Life) launched the action after holding an international press conference. After stopping the bus in its tracks for several minutes, the protesters doused it with water pistols. According to OK Diario, police dispersed some of the activists and detained others. This tourism-phobic group from Mallorca carried out several pressure actions against tourists last year, both in Palma and on iconic beaches like Caló des Moro, as well as two demonstrations with thousands of people protesting against tourism in the streets of the Balearic capital.
Time of India
01-05-2025
- Science
- Time of India
Barcelona's old fish market reveals a 15th-century shipwreck, which might hold secrets
History that got lost to time and remains buried under the land has always made humankind curious. May it be the sunken cities of ancient civilizations or the forgotten relics lying beneath our feet, archaeological discoveries give a rare window into lives and worlds long gone. In coastal cities like Barcelona, where the past and present intertwine along cobbled streets and historic harbors, the ground olds centuries of untold stories about shipwrecks, boats and how life might have been in the older times. Every excavation has the potential to find fragments of the city's evolution from Roman foundations to medieval maritime power. The discovery of long-lost ships not only propels research but also sparks a deep poetic curiosity in all of us. This time, with the discovery of a medieval ship beneath the old Mercat del Peix, Barcelona has once again offered a piece of its hidden past. The wooden hull of a centuries-old ship has been found in Barcelona, beneath the Mercat del Peix that was the old fish market in the city. The ship has been tentatively dated to the 15th or 16th century and has been named 'Ciutadella I' after the nearby park. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like People Aged 50-85 With No Life Insurance Could Get This Reassured Get Quote Undo What does the hull look like? Measuring more than 30 feet in length and about 10 feet wide, the vessel was found in good condition because of the damp, waterlogged soil that preserved the wooden structure. 'It's not every day we come across a ship of these dimensions,' said Santi Palacios, lead archaeologist on the project from the heritage group Arqueò during a press conference, according to Catalan News. He described the discovery as 'exceptional' and said that it has the potential to provide important information into the 'context of Barcelona's old port.' Where was the ship discovered? The ship was found more than 18 feet below sea level and is classified as 'derelict,' a marine archaeology term for vessels abandoned and later buried by sediment. Excavation teams believe the ship was likely a cargo vessel used in regional trade along the Mediterranean coast. The wooden structure, made up of about 30 ribs held together by a mix of iron and wooden nails, remains extremely delicate. To prevent deterioration, archaeologists have decided to leave it in situ for now, covering it with its original soil and applying wet sponges to retain moisture. 'The wood has to be kept constantly damp so as to keep it in a good state,' said Delia Eguiluz, a restorer on the project, in an interview with The Guardian. 'When we move it, we'll have to dismantle it piece by piece so we can continue our research.' The conservation team will begin by noting the structure using 3D imaging. Once disassembled, the individual parts will be transported in water-filled containers to maintain their condition. Specialists will then inject a hydro-soluble wax into the wood to strengthen its internal fibers, ensuring the ship can eventually be reassembled for study or display. What are the other similar discoveries? This isn't the first medieval vessel discovered in Barcelona. In 2008, archaeologists found a similar ship called 'Barceloneta I' near the Estació de França. That ship originated from Spain's Cantabrian coast, representing Barcelona's position as a trade hub between regions. How is the recent discovery different from the previous ones? 'Ciutadella I,' by contrast, is believed to have come from the Mediterranean coast. Further studies, including radiocarbon dating and resin analysis, are expected to confirm its origins. 'We'd thought some archaeological boat remains might turn up on this site,' Palacios, a Spanish archaeologist, told The Guardian, 'which is near the port and the artificial stone quay that protected the port, and which was a working zone in the 15th and 16th centuries. Two years later, we were lucky enough to find a boat.' Since excavations began in March 2023, the site has also found other historical layers, including remnants of an 18th-century citadel and a Spanish Civil War air raid shelter. With only 85% of the site excavated so far, archaeologists are hopeful that even more discoveries may lie ahead. 'This is a very important discovery,' Palacios said. 'It's not just about finding one boat because we now have two examples of perfectly documented naval construction in the city of Barcelona.'
