Date Published: 24/05/2024
Black Flag beaches in the Region of Murcia swimmers should avoid
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Two of the Region’s shorelines have been blacklisted due to poor environmental management or high levels of pollution
The beaches of Murcia are one of the greatest treasures of the Region: known for their natural, breathtaking beauty, they have become a paradise get-away for locals and tourists alike.
But while most of the area’s beaches are doubtlessly destinations of choice, some coastal spots have been marred by the sad environmental degradation caused by various human activities over the years.
Two points on the Murcian coast have received the dubious award of ‘Black Flags’ by environmental group Ecologists in Action, a distinction that advises people not to swim in the waters of some beaches due to high levels of pollution.
It’s worth remembering that the Black Flags are really only a symbol, and in no case is bathing actually prohibited, but the group has created the list in order to draw attention to the harm we are causing to our surroundings.
The Mar Menor
The Mar Menor could be considered, for good and bad, the greatest hallmark of the Region of Murcia: a natural jewel known for being the largest salt lagoon on the Spanish Mediterranean coast and which, at the same time, represents one of the biggest environmental catastrophes in Europe.
The granting of the Black Flag to the Mar Menor by Ecologists in Action, far from being a recognition to be proud of, points out the serious ecological crisis facing this area.
During the last eight years, the degradation of the Mar Menor has become more evident and agricultural, urban and mining activities have contributed to pollution, leading the lagoon to a state of environmental "shock".
Bahía de Portmán and Sierra Minera: the toxic legacy
Ecologists in Action have described the situation in Portmán as one of the biggest environmental catastrophes in Europe. The bay, filled with thousands of tonnes of polluting waste, continues to be affected by damaging spills even 30 years after the closure of mining activities. Decontamination attempts have been insufficient, and human health continues to be at risk due to exposure to these contaminants.
Image: Ecologists in Action
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