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TOURISM
Laura Bautista
Las Palmas de Gran Canaria
11/15/2022 at 09:57h.
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In the Canary Islands they are called popcorn or donuts, and on the islands popcorn not only has its own name but also its own beach.
This is one of the many secrets and curiosities that the Canary Islands hide, which has been revitalized worldwide through social networks. The beach known as 'Popcorn beach' is located on the north coast of Fuerteventura, between the towns of Majanicho and Corralejo. It's a spot frequented primarily by surfers and, increasingly, by curious visitors seeking out these unique spaces.
The one of Fuerteventura It's the most popular, but it's not the only one. El Hierro beach and Bajo de la Burra beach, located in the municipality of La Oliva, and Punta Elena beach, in Corralejo, also in Fuerteventura, have the same carpet of "popcorn" instead of sand. Naturally, they're not popcorn, nor are they "rosillas" (a type of popcorn), but they're so similar to popped corn that they've become popular on Instagram under the hashtag #.popcornbeach.
Although they may seem so at first glance, this unusual beach is so because of a type of white coral, the result of the mixing and erosion of calcareous algae with the white sand. They are called rhodoliths. For them to take on such a unique shape, at least 50 years must pass before they end up on the shore.This coral grows underwater just a millimeter a year. This means that these beaches have taken centuries to acquire their current appearance. Historical descriptions already tell of this appearance when it was a pirate landing site, so rhodoliths have been present in these corners since the 17th century. Some of them are more than 4000 years old.
This natural treasure that has been forming the coveted landscape sought by 'instagrammers' for centuries is at the same time a usual place of plunder, because many are tempted to take them home. This plundering of nature is a very serious threat for the environment, as visitors carry off up to ten kilos of material from this beach every month. At this rate, soon there will be barely any remains of these rhodoliths left on the popcorn beaches, warns the Canary Islands Tourism Authority.
To safeguard this extraordinary heritage, public administrations have promoted awareness campaigns and legislation exists to protect this ancient natural curiosity. Anyone who takes rodolitos will be punished., just as it happens with sand or stones, as stated in the Coastal Law.
Tour operators, tour guides, and local residents also raise awareness of the importance of preserving these beaches in a collective effort that seeks to raise awareness about the need to care for and protect natural spaces.
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