Spanish Authorities doused the Zahara de Los Atunes beach in Spain out of fear of COVID-19. Wikipedia Photo.
Bleach is great for disinfecting a lot of things, but not a whole sandy beach. Officials in Zahara de Los Atunes, near Cadiz Spain, didn’t read the label when they decided to load up tractors with the cleaning solution and spray down 1.2 miles of coastline. The stunt was an attempt to sterilize the sand to protect Spanish children from the Coronavirus. Instead of making the beach a safer place, the chemicals managed to kill every living thing on the ground. Environmentalists are describing the fiasco as "brutal damage" to the beaches’ ecosystem.
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This sandy shoreline plays a vital role in breeding and nesting places for migratory birds. One volunteer for the beach, María Dolores Iglesias, even found a nest full of eggs trampled by the tractors. Right now, the Andalusian regional government is toying with fining those who were responsible for the damage. If you’re concerned about COVID-19 when in doubt bleach your doorknobs and countertops—not mother earth.
About The Author
stash member Katie Lozancich
TGR Staff Writer and photographer. Fond of bikes, pow, and dogs. Originally from Northern CA, home for me has ranged from the PNW to a teepee in Grand Teton National Park.