Mari+Carmen+Beaches+Report

INTRODUCTION The aim of this report is to describe a research carried out during the last two months about the state of Gran Canary’s beaches. Some conclusions will be given to whom it may concern. The objectives, the methodology, the results, the conclusions and some recommendations are shown in this paper. THE OBJECTIVES The objectives can be briefly summarised in the following items: a) Pointing out the different kinds of beaches selected in Gran Canary.  b) Describing the research type, the instruments used on it and the results c) Giving recommendations to improve the state of the beaches THE METHODOLOGY  The context  If we want to analyze and to give advice about the Gran Canary’s beaches, we should consider that in this island can be found sand or stone beaches, apart from the city ones. The characteristic of those in the south coast are clearly different from those in the north coast. Therefore, they have been selected from three different locations:  Two in Las Palmas GC city: The Canteras and The Alcaravaneras  Three in the Gran Canary’s south coast: Maspalomas, Puerto Rico and Carpinteras  Two in the north and in the north-western coast: Agaete and San Andrés  The research tools  - A qualitative survey, including a multiple choice questionnaire carried out to a representative sample of 50 people choosen at random, divided them up three groups, as they were founded at the beaches selected, as well as an ‘in situ’ observation studying the variables: the existence or not of litter bins, toilets, showers, the respect for the seaboard and a parking area. - A quantitative survey, analysing water samples in every selected beaches. THE RESULTS After gathering and contrast the information obtained our conclusions are: - The Canteras beach fulfills the requirements related to the variables studied as well as the good quality of its water. The Alcaravaneras’ water is not suitable for bathing because its high rate of oil and bacteria found in its analysis. - In Maspalomas beach the hotels and terraces which range from the pond to the lighthouse, are built over the sand, near the shore, invading the terrestrial maritime domain. Water is in good conditions and many public services are offered. - In Puerto Rico beach, the rate of apartments, sun loungers and beach furniture in general, are very high related to the beach surface; therefore people hardly can sit or bath there. The water phreatic surface in the gorge has descended due to the places where the houses have been built. In Carpinteras beach there is no toilet, no parking area, no showers and one litter bin only. Many caravans are parked wherever they can without any order. The water is in good conditions. Finally, in San Andrés, some drainage channels can be found in bad conditions. There is not a parking area, showers and toilets. In Agaete beach the parking area is very close to the beach. RECCOMENDATIONS a) To demolish some hotels and terraces as well as some private houses which are invading the terrestrial maritime domain.  b) To extend the pedestrian areas in the north beaches. c) To regulate the parking areas and the caravan parkings d) To place litter bins underground.
 * THE STATE OF **** GRAN **** CANARY’S BEACHES **