ENVIRONMENTAL GROUP, 25th of April 2011

The Dunas de Maspalomas are sand dunes located in the very south of the island of Gran Canaria measuring 4 km² and at present being completely surrounded by urbanized areas. The dunes are situated at the east of the lagoon of “Charca de Maspalomas” and can be dated back to the beginning of the Holocene. The formation of the dunes can’t be dated precisely, however there is a series of scenarios regarding the initiation. The most accepted theory says that the sand was deposited by oceanic currents. Underneath the dunes some kind of paleodelta and lavaflows can be found. The dunes can be seen as a closed system. As a result of this long lasting equilibrium between different patterns of sediment transport the sand dunes evolved. The main driving force is a temporary variable wind circulation. In winter and autumn the prevailing winds come from S-W carrying sand towards the “Playa de Inglés” and in spring and summer the winds come from N-E carrying sand in the opposite direction towards the “Playa de Maspalomas”. Recent research at the “Punta de Maspalomas” shows that the system has a progressive sedimentary deficit. The dunes lose about 42.000 m³ per year. At the current rate the mobile sand dunes, traveling at an average pace of 8-10 m per year, will be gone within 90 years. As an attempt to reduce the losses a retention dyke has been built. For any further actions to protect the dunes it has to be considered that the system is inherently complex and many variables that have yet to be found out and quantified will play a vital role in how the dunes will react on those influences.