Spanish Beach Resorts Swallowed By Warming

Global warming and rising sea levels are posing a threat to the livelihood of Southern Spain's bustling beach resorts. Some resort owners are already bringing in their own sand to counteract the receding beach space.

1 minute read

September 13, 2006, 7:00 AM PDT

By Nate Berg


A recent study by the Spanish environmental ministry reports significant future beach losses as global warming causes global sea levels to rise. Investors are taking the report very seriously and property sales are slowing in Spain's Mediterranean coastal region, where beaches are predicted to lose an average of 10 meters of beach by 2050.

"Global warming is melting the icecaps and raising sea levels around Spain by 2.5mm a year. By 2050 that will mean a 12cm-15cm rise, with northern Spain's Atlantic coast suffering most."

"The Mediterranean coast, where many resorts already have to truck in sand each spring, will lose an average of around 10 metres of beach by 2050."

Thanks to Michael Jelks

Monday, September 11, 2006 in The Guardian Unlimited

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