Playa de Las Teresitas, one of the most well-known man-made beaches in the Canary Islands, was built in the 1970s using 270,000 tons of sand imported from the Western Sahara. Spain is a popular international tourist destination that attracts a large number of people each year.
Photo: Oleksandr Canary Islands
As previously stated, Playa de Las Teresitas is not a natural landscape. As a result, in order to have a spectacular view currently, the Santa Cruz City Council undertook a lengthy refurbishment in 1953. The beach used to look very different from how it looks now. Previously, it was simply a beach with black volcanic sand, rocks, and dangerously uneven water. It took roughly 12 years (including 8 years for design and 4 years for approval) for the Spanish Council to approve this project.
Because the waves were not always stable in the past, architects and engineers originally constructed a big breakwater and a barrier to protect the beach from severe waves. They were able to deliver and store sand more easily because the water was not washed away. Following that, 270,000 tons of white sand were transported from the Sahara Desert to build a 1.3km long and 80m wide beach.
It was opened to welcome tourists in 1973 and has since become a favorite destination for both locals and international tourists, providing them with not only a spectacular beach but also 1,000 free parking places.
Photo: Playa de Las Teresitas
The beach’s website advises visitors to swim only when the green flag is up. A red flag denotes a high level of danger, whereas a yellow flag indicates the existence of possible hazards such as offshore currents and jellyfish.
It is suggested that tourists use sunscreen when swimming to avoid exposure to greater levels of solar radiation. Furthermore, swimming parallel to the beach is safer. Aside from swimming, kayaking is a must-do activity in Playa de Las Teresitas.
Photo: Manawa
If you’re heading to the beach with your family and young children, bring some sand play equipment with you. If you’ve done aquatic activities and want to rest and unwind, you can make a variety of games with the sand play kit.
It is undeniable that beach games have a favorable impact on the pleasures and experiences of all guests. Playing in the sand on one of the world’s most famous beaches, in particular, will provide your loved ones with a memorable memories.
Today, you can find all of the services you need right on the beach, including showers, lifeguards, and disabled access. Notably, combining a refreshing dip with a bite at the beach bars might help you unwind.
From downtown Santa Cruz, it will take you around 20 minutes to reach there. You have two options for transportation: automobile or bus, both of which are extremely convenient. Because the accommodations are reasonably priced, you can readily select suitable rooms and suites.
Aside from Playa de Las Teresitas, the Canary Islands frequently import sand from Western Sahara to restore beaches and for other large building projects.
ENACT Africa, an African group that combats transnational crime, examines the effects of sand mining on residents of the Sahara Desert: “While Moroccan authorities and businesses benefit economically from this trade, such mining distorts the landscape and erodes sensitive ecosystems.”
Photo: Tenerife Beach Guide
As you may be aware, sand is a scarce resource that the world appears to be running out of. Humans use a significant amount of this material in construction. According to some estimates, people extract approximately 50 billion tons of sand per year, enough to build a wall 27 meters high and 27 meters wide around the earth.
Furthermore, the fact that many illegal miners steal sand from beaches and riverbeds rather than deserts makes sand mining more dangerous because desert sands are too fine to be utilized as a binder in concrete. Sand extraction from sensitive places reduces biodiversity and raises environmental concerns.
In recent years, an increasing number of activists and academics have called on the United Nations and the World Trade Organization (WTO) to take stronger measures to reduce the environmental damage caused by sand mining. It is a promising sign for preventing unlawful exploitation and preserving the scenery.
Finally, as a member of our lovely planet and a smart traveler, it is wonderful to work together to safeguard natural scenery and minimize the misuse of sand mining.
Address: Avenida Marítima de San Andrés, 38120 Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain