If you are a diving enthusiast, then pay close attention to what we are going to tell you next! We have just found out that the first artificial underwater reef in Spain has just been inaugurated. Yes! Yes! Just as you hear it! The aim is very clear: to become both an environmental and tourist attraction.
Do you want to know more details about this amazing project located on the Malvarrosa beach in Valencia? Well, don’t miss out on what we’re going to tell you next!
Visible from the beach
To build the reef, three concrete structures weighing between 18 and 20 tonnes were needed, which were placed 200 metres from the beach and four metres deep. As you can see from the pictures, this artificial reef is visible from the beach itself, as several large buoys have been placed, which also have blades to prevent boats from entering. For greater safety and comfort, the place is illuminated at night.
Objectives
The aim is that the concrete structures are colonised by algae, which in turn attract fish. In short, the aim is to create a complete artificial ecosystem. This not only boosts tourism, but also prevents the loss of sand from the beach. In reality, this is a pilot test. If the results are successful, a barrier reef could be built with the aim of protecting the beaches in the south of Valencia, which have problems of degradation and sediment loss.
Other examples of artificial reefs
This is not the first artificial reef we have seen on this website. A few weeks ago we told you about the beaches of Mount Maunganui, considered among the best in New Zealand, where a project of this type was also experimented with.
What do you think of this initiative?