Latest news with #UniversityoftheBalearicIslands
Daily Mirror
03-05-2025
- Daily Mirror
Tiny European beach that could be in the Caribbean named among 10 best
According to a ranking by travel professionals, this tiny beach in Santanyi has been named one of Europe's best beaches of 2025 despite being the site of a major protest in 2024 A small cove with crystal blue waters, and only a small stretch of sand, has been named among the 50 best beaches in the world. A new report from The World's 50 Best Beaches has named Mallorcan beach Es Caló des Moro, the ninth best beach in Europe as part of its 2025 list of Europe's 50 Best Beaches. According to the company: 'The ranking was voted on by over 1,000 travel professionals, including our judges, Beach Ambassadors and our own World's 50 Beaches team.' Es Caló des Moro, dubbed a hidden gem, is just 3.7-miles from the town of Santanyi in the southeast corner of Mallorca. Despite its relatively small size - only 40 metres in length - it is regularly praised for its fine sands and turquoise waters. One of the reasons the beach is so beloved by British holidaymakers is because of its relative seclusion. Es Caló des Moro sits deep inside a bay with white cliffs creating a sense of privacy for sunbathers. That said, the beach's seclusion also makes it somewhat difficult to access. To get down to the water you will need to walk around 100m on foot. But, it is possible to drive all the way down to the beach, if accessibility is a concern. The beach is also a regular haunt for locals who are fiercely protective of it, having put up signs saying that the road is private. If you are able to take the flight of stairs down to the beach, you will pass the beach Cala s'Almunia on the way down. While Es Caló des Moro is considered the more picturesque of the two, Cala s'Alumunia offers a wonderful detour with its rocky outcroppings and pine tree surroundings. The water is just as clear as further below, though the shore is more gravel than sand at times. The beach's limited accessibility also means that modern conveniences like sunbed and parasol rental and beach bars and restaurants are not available. This is also likely because of its popularity with the locals, who wished to keep the beach under the radar for a while. There are also no water sport activities at Es Caló des Moro. However, crystal-clear and calm conditions of the water mean that the beach is ideal for snorkelling. The water is relatively shallow though, but that makes it well-suited for children. As Es Caló des Moro has gained greater attention and drawn the interest of foreign holidaymakers, locals have begun to increasingly avoid the area. Es Caló des Moro has become one of the four beaches most heavily avoided by locals, according to a recent research project. The research project was conducted by Sergio Obrador of the Demographic and Tourism Studies Group at the University of the Balearic Islands and was designed to determine the effects of overcrowding on the mobility of local residents. Of the random sample of 404 residents that participated in a survey, 85% said they had stopped visiting certain places on the island due to overcrowding in the summer. Mallorcan locals confirmed that the majority of the places they had begun to avoid due to overcrowding were beaches and coves. Four of these beaches locals named were: Es Caló des Moro, Es Trenc, Sa Calobra and Magaluf. Access in Es Caló des Moro became an increasingly heated issue. In fact, in the summer of 2024 the beach became the site of a major local-led protest against overcrowding. Around 300 residents gathered on Es Caló des Moro cove in Santanyi protesting overcrowding on the Spanish island on June 16, 2024. The police were called after protesters began shouting 'tourists go home' and officials called for the removal of protest banners from the beach. On The World's 50 Best Beaches list of Europe's best for 2025, six beaches are in Spain. Playa de Rodas came in fourth on the ranking while Cala Macarelleta also cracked the top 20, taking fourteenth place.
Euronews
27-03-2025
- Climate
- Euronews
Heavy rainfall fills empty reservoirs in Spain, bringing drought relief and floods
ADVERTISEMENT Drought relief in Spain has come at a price as flash floods and record rainfall forces hundreds to evacuate their homes, closes schools and sweeps cars away. Parts of the country suffered from a stubborn drought last year , but the weather has recently taken an abrupt turn. In the first 18 days of March, Spain received more than double the normal amount of monthly rainfall, according to Spanish national weather agency, AEMET. That included normally arid regions like Andalusia, where flooded rivers forced hundreds of people to evacuate. Madrid had more rainfall in the first three weeks of this month than any month since records began in 1893, said an AEMET meteorologist. Emergency teams rescue a dog from flooded areas after heavy rains in Malaga, Spain, Tuesday, March 18, 2025. Gregorio Marrero/Copyright 2025 The AP. All rights reserved. But volatile weather is a fact of life in Spain. 'The blessing and curse of the Spanish climate is exactly that,' said Daniel Argüeso, a climate scientist at Spain's University of the Balearic Islands. 'We have these periods of extended drought that usually end with these kinds of situations. Having said that, the rain we had in March has been quite exceptional.' For now, a drought that began in 2023 is over. The Sau reservoir that supplies water to Barcelona is now about 48% full, compared to less than 5% at the same time last year. Related Storm Martinho triggers flood warnings and widespread damage across Spain Dozens evacuated and roads closed after flooding in central and northern Spain How long Spanish water reserves remain at healthy levels will depend on factors like how much more springtime rain the country gets and the heat and dryness of the summer to come. However, climate scientists believe Spain will likely stay free of water restrictions at least through the summer. The recent floods took place only months after a deadly deluge in Valencia killed hundreds after some areas saw a year's worth of rain in just eight hours. A woman reacts after floods, in Picanya on the outskirts of Valencia, Spain, Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024. Alberto Saiz/Copyright 2024 The AP. All rights reserved Scientists say climate change is making swings between dryness and downpour more acute. Around the world, rising temperatures are speeding up the hydrological cycle in which water moves between the Earth and its atmosphere. That triggers extreme weather like prolonged droughts and intense rainfall.
Nahar Net
26-03-2025
- Climate
- Nahar Net
A parched Spain has emerged from drought only to face floods
by Naharnet Newsdesk 26 March 2025, 14:36 As Spain choked on stubborn drought last year, a reservoir north of Barcelona emptied, revealing a medieval church. But in the last few weeks, rising waters have again covered the Sant Roma de Sau church as the country's weather took an abrupt turn. Drought relief came at a price, as flash floods forced hundreds of people to evacuate their homes, closed schools and highways and swept cars away. While it can be difficult to identify climate change as the cause of a single event, scientists say it is making such swings between dryness and downpour ever more extreme. The recent floods took place just months after a deadly deluge in Valencia. Here's a look at the volatile weather that led Spain out of a drought. How unusual were the recent storms? In the first 18 days of March, Spain received more than double the rainfall it normally gets in the month, according to Spain's national weather agency AEMET. That included in normally arid parts of the country such as the southern Andalusia region where rivers swollen from rainfall prompted authorities to evacuate hundreds of people from their homes. Madrid got more rain in the first three weeks of March than any month since records began in 1893, said Rubén del Campo, a meteorologist and spokesperson at AEMET. But weather swings are a fact of life in Spain. "The blessing and curse of the Spanish climate is exactly that," said Daniel Argüeso, a climate scientist at Spain's University of the Balearic Islands. "We have these periods of extended drought that usually end with these kinds of situations. Having said that, the rain we had in March has been quite exceptional." What does it mean for the drought? For now, the drought that began in 2023 is over. Reservoirs around the country are around 66% full on average, according to Spain's environment and ecological transition ministry. That's better than they have been in a decade, del Campo said. In Catalonia, the Sau reservoir that supplies water to Barcelona is now about 48% full, compared to less than 5% at the same time last year. That's good news for Jordi Galabardes and his wife Montse Bufils, who live in the nearby village of San Martin Sescorts, in Catalonia. Last year, they couldn't water their garden due to water restrictions. "In just three weeks, it's filled up a lot, which gives hope that we can recover all this," Galabardes said on Monday near the reservoir's edge. How long the country's water reserves remain at healthy levels depends on factors like how much more springtime rain the country gets and just how hot and dry the summer is. But climate scientists predict that Spain will likely stay free of water restrictions at least through the summer. "We've come out of drought, but it's not that there is a huge excess of water," del Campo said. "Spain is a country where water resources are never abundant." Is climate change causing Spain's volatile weather? Climate change is likely making Spain's fluctuations more intense, climate scientists say. Around the world, rising temperatures stoked by climate change are speeding up the hydrological cycle in which water moves between Earth and the atmosphere. That is triggering more extreme weather, such as prolonged droughts and intense rainfall, climate scientists say. A warmer atmosphere can also hold more water, about 7% more for every degree Celsius, scientists say. That means when it does rain, it's more likely to be heavy. "We can now go several months without a drop of rain, and then have a major storm again in the summer," said Jorge Olcina, a geography professor at the University of Alicante in Spain. "In other words, we're losing the regularity of the rains." But attributing a single event like the rainfall this month to climate change remains difficult, in part due to Spain's natural weather extremes, Argüeso said. "The fact that the variability is so large is an obstacle in measuring climate change," he said.
The Independent
26-03-2025
- Climate
- The Independent
A parched Spain has emerged from drought only to face floods
As Spain choked on stubborn drought last year, a reservoir north of Barcelona emptied, revealing a medieval church. But in the last few weeks, rising waters have again covered the Sant Roma de Sau church as the country's weather took an abrupt turn. Drought relief came at a price, as flash floods forced hundreds of people to evacuate their homes, closed schools and highways and swept cars away. While it can be difficult to identify climate change as the cause of a single event, scientists say it is making such swings between dryness and downpour ever more extreme. The recent floods took place just months after a deadly deluge in Valencia. Here's a look at the volatile weather that led Spain out of a drought. How unusual were the recent storms? In the first 18 days of March, Spain received more than double the rainfall it normally gets in the month, according to Spain's national weather agency AEMET. That included in normally arid parts of the country such as the southern Andalusia region where rivers swollen from rainfall prompted authorities to evacuate hundreds of people from their homes. Madrid got more rain in the first three weeks of March than any month since records began in 1893, said Rubén del Campo, a meteorologist and spokesperson at AEMET. But weather swings are a fact of life in Spain. 'The blessing and curse of the Spanish climate is exactly that,' said Daniel Argüeso, a climate scientist at Spain's University of the Balearic Islands. "We have these periods of extended drought that usually end with these kinds of situations. Having said that, the rain we had in March has been quite exceptional.' What does it mean for the drought? For now, the drought that began in 2023 is over. Reservoirs around the country are around 66% full on average, according to Spain's environment and ecological transition ministry. That's better than they have been in a decade, del Campo said. In Catalonia, the Sau reservoir that supplies water to Barcelona is now about 48% full, compared to less than 5% at the same time last year. That's good news for Jordi Galabardes and his wife Montse Bufils, who live in the nearby village of San Martin Sescorts, in Catalonia. Last year, they couldn't water their garden due to water restrictions. 'In just three weeks, it's filled up a lot, which gives hope that we can recover all this," Galabardes said on Monday near the reservoir's edge. How long the country's water reserves remain at healthy levels depends on factors like how much more springtime rain the country gets and just how hot and dry the summer is. But climate scientists predict that Spain will likely stay free of water restrictions at least through the summer. 'We've come out of drought, but it's not that there is a huge excess of water,' del Campo said. 'Spain is a country where water resources are never abundant.' Is climate change causing Spain's volatile weather? Climate change is likely making Spain's fluctuations more intense, climate scientists say. Around the world, rising temperatures stoked by climate change are speeding up the hydrological cycle in which water moves between Earth and the atmosphere. That is triggering more extreme weather, such as prolonged droughts and intense rainfall, climate scientists say. A warmer atmosphere can also hold more water, about 7% more for every degree Celsius, scientists say. That means when it does rain, it's more likely to be heavy. 'We can now go several months without a drop of rain, and then have a major storm again in the summer," said Jorge Olcina, a geography professor at the University of Alicante in Spain. "In other words, we're losing the regularity of the rains.' But attributing a single event like the rainfall this month to climate change remains difficult, in part due to Spain's natural weather extremes, Argüeso said. 'The fact that the variability is so large is an obstacle in measuring climate change,' he said. ___ Naishadham reported from Madrid.
Yahoo
26-03-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
A parched Spain has emerged from drought only to face floods
VILANOVA DE SAU, Spain (AP) — As Spain choked on stubborn drought last year, a reservoir north of Barcelona emptied, revealing a medieval church. But in the last few weeks, rising waters have again covered the Sant Roma de Sau church as the country's weather took an abrupt turn. Drought relief came at a price, as flash floods forced hundreds of people to evacuate their homes, closed schools and highways and swept cars away. While it can be difficult to identify climate change as the cause of a single event, scientists say it is making such swings between dryness and downpour ever more extreme. The recent floods took place just months after a deadly deluge in Valencia. Here's a look at the volatile weather that led Spain out of a drought. How unusual were the recent storms? In the first 18 days of March, Spain received more than double the rainfall it normally gets in the month, according to Spain's national weather agency AEMET. That included in normally arid parts of the country such as the southern Andalusia region where rivers swollen from rainfall prompted authorities to evacuate hundreds of people from their homes. Madrid got more rain in the first three weeks of March than any month since records began in 1893, said Rubén del Campo, a meteorologist and spokesperson at AEMET. But weather swings are a fact of life in Spain. 'The blessing and curse of the Spanish climate is exactly that,' said Daniel Argüeso, a climate scientist at Spain's University of the Balearic Islands. "We have these periods of extended drought that usually end with these kinds of situations. Having said that, the rain we had in March has been quite exceptional.' What does it mean for the drought? For now, the drought that began in 2023 is over. Reservoirs around the country are around 66% full on average, according to Spain's environment and ecological transition ministry. That's better than they have been in a decade, del Campo said. In Catalonia, the Sau reservoir that supplies water to Barcelona is now about 48% full, compared to less than 5% at the same time last year. That's good news for Jordi Galabardes and his wife Montse Bufils, who live in the nearby village of San Martin Sescorts, in Catalonia. Last year, they couldn't water their garden due to water restrictions. 'In just three weeks, it's filled up a lot, which gives hope that we can recover all this," Galabardes said on Monday near the reservoir's edge. How long the country's water reserves remain at healthy levels depends on factors like how much more springtime rain the country gets and just how hot and dry the summer is. But climate scientists predict that Spain will likely stay free of water restrictions at least through the summer. 'We've come out of drought, but it's not that there is a huge excess of water,' del Campo said. 'Spain is a country where water resources are never abundant.' Is climate change causing Spain's volatile weather? Climate change is likely making Spain's fluctuations more intense, climate scientists say. Around the world, rising temperatures stoked by climate change are speeding up the hydrological cycle in which water moves between Earth and the atmosphere. That is triggering more extreme weather, such as prolonged droughts and intense rainfall, climate scientists say. A warmer atmosphere can also hold more water, about 7% more for every degree Celsius, scientists say. That means when it does rain, it's more likely to be heavy. 'We can now go several months without a drop of rain, and then have a major storm again in the summer," said Jorge Olcina, a geography professor at the University of Alicante in Spain. "In other words, we're losing the regularity of the rains.' But attributing a single event like the rainfall this month to climate change remains difficult, in part due to Spain's natural weather extremes, Argüeso said. 'The fact that the variability is so large is an obstacle in measuring climate change,' he said. ___ Naishadham reported from Madrid.
