Palma – Mallorca not only stands for summer, sun and party, but also for the beautiful beaches. But many of these threaten to sink into the sea forever.
︎ According to the “Balearic Sea Report 2022”, 20 percent of the beaches on the Germans’ favorite island are disappearing. Half a meter of sand per beach disappears in the Mediterranean every year.
Particularly affected by the erosion are, for example: S’Arenal, Cala Millor and Cala Blanca. Es Trenc beach is an extreme example: between 1956 and 2015, it recorded an average drop of 5.7 meters.
The climate crisis is extremely fueling development in the entire Mediterranean region: the sea level is rising by four millimeters every year, and the violent storms have caused devastating damage in recent years.
Beaches are “complex, dynamic and very fragile systems,” the researchers write. Erosion and declining water quality are changing the playas permanently. On some beaches, especially on Cala Deià, stronger waves than decades ago have also contributed to the degradation.
▶︎ According to the report, another reason for the loss of beaches is that the dry leaves of seaweed are being removed “inefficiently” and sand is also being removed in the process. But tourism with more and more hotels, parking lots or beach bars is also damaging the dune landscapes.
An enlargement of the beach by pumps that transport the sand onto the beach is almost impossible. This solution would be expensive and, in the worst case, could cause ecological damage to the beach and the sea.