The President of the Alicante Provincial Council Luisa Pastor, presented yesterday at the Archaeological Museum the exhibition "Deltebre I A Shipwreck Story"in which the artefacts salvaged from a British navy shipsunk in the mouth of the Ebro in 1813 among which was found a bottle of Fondillón wine from the province which can be visited from today until 11 January 2015is the result of the joint work of the Museu d'Arqueologia -Centre d'Arqueologia Subaquàtica de Catalunya i Girona the MARQ and the Consejo Regulador de la Denominación de Origen Vinos de Alicante         The tour offers a complete overview of the salvaged remains of the English wreck with about a hundred of everyday objectsamong them which when it was found in 2008 remained intact and sealed will be exhibited during its stay at the MARQ as part of the exhibition "Wine in Alicante".with which the provincial institution and the PDO wanted to delve into the province's wine-making history and link the two exhibitions         The president of the Provincial Council inaugurated the exhibition Juan Bautista RosellóThe president of the PDO Antonio Miguel NavarroThe exhibition is sponsored by the Banco Sabadell Foundation Pastor stressed that "This is an exceptional exhibition as the Deltebre I is one of the few archaeological ships that has not been plundered which has made it possible to learn about a fascinating episode in history with objects that have been kept in a very good state of conservation this is the first time that a sample of underwater remains has been taken without concluding the excavation; there is still much to be discovered and the technical teams are still working on it."  The president also wished to highlight the intense line of collaboration between the Museum of Archaeology of Catalonia and the MARQ a relationship with a very good rapport that I hope will provide us with many more joint projects in the future the president of the Banco Sabadell Foundation insisted on the need to to join forces between public and private institutions to maintain the level of quality we begin a new journey with the MARQ that we hope will bear very good fruit         The history of wine in Alicante the siege that Tarragona suffered by sea during the 'French War' the type of cargo of a military transport ship or what life was like on board are some of the aspects that can be contemplated from today at the MARQ         The exhibition also includes various weapons that were used in that conflict -pumps,grenades belts,powder blocks or ammunition of different calibres- and objects of navigation found in the officers' quarters from sextant filters the captain's seal or compasses to clothing such as any of the crew's boots or shoes         Gustau Vivar emphasised the richness of the find as Deltebre I is one of the few ships found Until now in Catalonia that has not suffered any plunder This vessel was part of the convoy military officer who acted in the siege of Tarragona with the intention of preventing French supplies and dividing the peninsula in two this attack proved to be a failure and during the retreat of the ships five of them ran aground in the gorges of the Ebro The remains were found by a local fisherman two hundred years laterThe archaeological work to recover more artefacts is still ongoing         The exhibition which is complemented by the edition of a book by Carlota Pérez Reverte on the shipwreck comes to complete the offer MARQ offers this summer with the Chinese exhibition on the Han Dynasty and the "Wine in Alicante" exhibition >> CONTRACTOR'S PROFILE>> ELECTRONIC HEADQUARTERS         When a storm hits their village in northeastern Spain Marcela and Maria Cinta Otamendi rush to the coast to check on their restaurant and rice fields That fear has deepened in recent years as the Mediterranean has encroached upon the land their father bought in 1951 in the Ebro River Delta a 320 square km (124 square mile) UNESCO Biosphere Reserve rich in wetland wildlife such as flamingos "We don't know if we will make it through this winter," said Marcela who wants the government to preserve the land and opposes a plan to buy it out instead "It's our business but also our heritage," added her sister Maria Cinta With rising seas threatening to engulf low-lying shores the government aims to buy 832 hectares of private land in the Ebro Delta in what would be Europe's largest climate-related land buyouts to date and would include Otamendi's roughly 40 hectares According to a preliminary protection plan expected to be finalised before December such purchases would expand a publicly-owned buffer - by up to 560 metres inland - along the coast where nature would take its course The Environment Ministry told Reuters it had received 252 public comments about its plan and would take as many as possible into account The plan has prompted strong opposition from officials and farmers in the Ebro Delta - where 62,000 people live and lucrative rice fields account for 65% of the area - illustrating how governments are starting to face tough choices as they try to adapt to increasing environmental risks The Taula de Consens association representing local municipalities and businesses says the proposal amounts to capitulation It is gathering signatures for the European Ombudsman to investigate what it calls authorities' inaction Some areas of the delta form part of the EU's environmentally-protected-network Natura 2000 European Commission officials said they were not aware of Spain's plan The Taula wants six million cubic meters of sand brought in to guarantee the beaches' survival for 50 years at a cost of about 30 million euros ($35 million) who praised the Netherlands' use of sand for staving off the rising seas Residents have not been contacted by the government about the planned buyouts which would also affect 97 beach-side luxury homes according to the local neighbourhood council Spain's government predicts the sea will rise around 15 centimetres in the area by 2045 and up to 78 cm by 2081-2100 forecasting at least one beach could be gone by 2060 The Ebro Delta is sinking and shrinking in some sections due to coastal erosion triggered by a shortage of sediments accelerated by sea level rise and more frequent and intense storms caused by climate change The delta's tip shrank by 648 meters between 1986 and 2016 while the beach by the Vascos lost 141 meters a 2018 study by Catalonia's Polytechnic University said Researcher Carles Ibañez said that without adequate measures the delta will progressively flood affecting 70% of its surface by 2100 if the sea rises up to one meter from 1995-2014 as predicted by the UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change under its very high emissions scenario He believes that could be avoided if water pumping stations are expanded dykes are built and upriver damming modified to allow more silt to reach the Ebro's mouth "Sea level rise is accelerating and there is not much we can do to counteract it A responsible strategy is to move our activities further inland," said Javier Lloret a research scientist at the Marine Biological Laboratory in Massachusetts The fear of extreme weather wiping out the delta crystallized in January 2020 when storm Gloria flooded around 3,000 hectares of rice fields It temporarily submerged a thin strip connecting the mainland to the delta's southern peninsula which has a major salt plain dating back to the 1700s It was a wake-up call for its operator Infosa which is now seeking to build a ship-loading dock "Climate change is our biggest challenge and threat," said Infosa's chief executive Manel Salvado Before: The family home of Joan Ferrer stands in flood water after storm Gloria in February 2020.After: The family home of Joan Ferrer in October 2021 The storm also flooded Joan Ferrer's rice fields 3 km inland The 32-year-old takes pride in being a fourth-generation rice farmer and although he has discussed with his wife the possibility of moving inland he is participating in a local project to grow high salinity-resistant rice And while Marcela Otamendi increasingly feels like a stranger on her land she prefers not to think about leaving: "First (Photo editing Kezia Levitas; Text editing Gareth Jones; Layout Julia Dalrymple) Marcela and her sister Maria talk next to rocks painted with the word 'shame' in front of their restaurant 2021.With rising seas threatening to engulf low-lying shores the government aims to buy 832 hectares of private land in the Ebro Delta in what would be Europe's largest climate-related land buyouts to date Flamingos fly at the Ebro Delta Nature Reserve the Spanish government aims to buy 832 hectares of private land in the Ebro Delta in what would be Europe's largest climate-related land buyouts to date Local fishermen wait for a catch at Migjorn beach looks on as he shovels sand from the entrance of the beachside restaurant at Riumar beach chat before harvesting rice on their fields Ferrer talks with Jordi during harvesting on his family's fields A worker stands behind harvesting machinery in a rice field belonging to the family of Joan Ferrer a worker at the Institute for Agrifood Research and Technology Ferrer walks barefoot through his rice field collecting samples for the Institute for agri-food research and technology who will examine whether the humidity is optimal for the harvest A worker at the Institute for Agrifood Research and Technology Farmers eat breakfast before harvesting rice fields Rice fields are seen after being harvested Rice fields are seen after being harvesting in the Ebro Delta has already built a life immersed in dance a 15-day international dance festival held in the small town of Deltebre in Spain The renowned dance festival brings together performers from all corners of the world and encourages them to push the boundaries of their craft through a fortnight of intense workshops reflecting on the demanding two-week schedule After graduating from Unitec in 2023 with a degree in performing and screen arts majoring in contemporary dance the Cockle Bay resident was ready to take on the challenge in Spain A typical day began with a 20-minute walk to the festival site in scorching 35 degrees heat followed by classes that stretched both physical and creative limits “Dancing in that kind of weather was definitely the hardest part It was the height of their summer,” Charlotte recalls she says the experience was incredibly rewarding and helped to improve her craft as a dancer One particular class focusing on movement improvisation stuck with her focusing on breathing in and out through the nose to maintain our inner calmness.” has influenced her dancing since returning to New Zealand Charlotte says the community feel of Deltebre Dansa really stuck with her making it easy to bond with fellow dancers “Something about dancing brings communities together,” she says A highlight of the trip was watching football’s men’s Euro cup final in a local bar “The whole town was celebrating when Spain won Charlotte says she wouldn’t change a thing She’s now taking time to explore what’s next in her dance career and her dedication to improve her craft remains as strong as ever an independently-owned publishing company based in East Auckland Keep informed with the latest breaking news Our digital papers are emailed twice month on a Thursday You can see how this popup was set up in our step-by-step guide: https://wppopupmaker.com/guides/auto-opening-announcement-popups/ Please check entered address and try again or go to homepage After Storm Gloria devastated one of the Mediterranean’s largest wetlands an urgent search has begun for solutions to protect it from further floods and creeping water levels the extent of the devastation to the Ebro Delta is only now becoming clear Those whose livelihoods depend on the region are demanding solutions amid fears that rising seas will further threaten the fragile ecosystems of the Mediterranean’s most important wetland Storm Gloria brought rain, snow and flooding to most of Spain, but it was the east coast that was hardest hit, with high winds whipping the normally placid Mediterranean with such ferocity that plastic containers of products that haven’t been on the market in decades washed up on Catalan beaches The low-lying Ebro Delta suffered most, as the storm sent waves crashing nearly 30 metres inland, inundating rice fields and irrigation channels with saltwater as far as 3km (2 miles) from the shore Mussel and oyster farms were badly damaged while pumping stations essential for maintaining the balance between fresh and saltwater were destroyed Houses in the town of Deltebre were flooded “You can just imagine the impact of waves as high as nine metres and winds up to 100km per hour hitting a region that is at sea level,” says Gerardo Bonet president of the Ebro Delta mussel farmers’ association who estimates the association’s losses at around €1.6 million (£1.3 million) “No one has ever seen a storm like this here.” The delta produces 4,000 tonnes of mussels and 800 tonnes of oysters a year but 11 of the platforms used to grow the creatures have been destroyed and many others damaged “We have to replace and reinforce the structures and also make them higher because the sea level has risen as a result of climate change,” Bonet says it’s estimated that around 20% of the crop will be lost the real danger is another storm coming before they can rebuild what Gloria washed away While Gloria represents the sharp end of the threat from the climate crisis for decades the delta’s fragile ecology has suffered from a combination of political neglect and over-exploitation of the river is the only major Spanish river that flows into the Mediterranean Its waters are much in demand for irrigation and hydro-electricity and there are 181 dams along its 930km course from Cantabria to the sea “the delta is a balance between the river and the sea and for some time now the sea has been winning” He says the river’s flow into the delta has fallen by half since the 1990s Not enough sediment or water is getting to the delta, says Joan Francesc Vidal, director of the Ebro Delta nature reserve, which is home to around 95 species of birds and a stopover for around 300 migrating species. Read moreVidal believes the solution lies in forcing the companies that generate electricity to release more sediment and redistributing the sand that storms shift northwards back to the southern beaches “There are a range of views on how to solve the problem from building underwater defences to simply letting nature take its course,” Vidal says I believe redistributing the sand is the least disruptive and cheapest.” Proposed solutions include redistributing sand moved by the storm. Photograph: Stephen BurgenMarta Subirà, the Catalan government environment minister, believes the political challenge is almost as great as the environmental one. “The European, Spanish and the Catalan governments haven’t always been on the same page in how to deal with this,” she says. Lluís Soler, the mayor of Deltebre, is more forthright. He accuses both regional and national governments of wilfully neglecting a vital part of Spain’s natural heritage. “The problem is there are only 80,000 people living in the delta, and that’s not many votes,” he says. “Neither the Catalan nor the Spanish government has committed itself to the measures needed to conserve the Ebro Delta. They do nothing, or at best carry out studies that result in nothing. They do the minimum to ensure there’s rice so they can have a paella at the weekend.” Media blamed at least 4 deaths on the storm Satellite images show storm surge swept 3km inland in Tarragona Province resulting in severe damage to rice paddies and the ecosystem named “Gloria” by the State Meteorological Agency of Spain produced waves of over 8 metres along the coastline of south-eastern Spain on 20 January AEMET reported wind gusts of 115 km/h in Oliva on 20 January and 106 km/h in Barcelona the next day with Barx in Valencia recording 190.4mm of rain in 24 hours to 20 January The following day Horta de Sant Joan in Tarragona Province Media reported damaging coastal floods in Valencia Images from Copernicus Emergency Management Service show storm surge on the east coast of Spain swept 3km inland devastating rice paddies in the Ebro river delta south of Barcelona estimated around 30 sq km of rice fields have been flooded by seawater and said “the delta is in emergency!” schools were suspended and several roads cut off The storm also forced the closure of Alicante airport leading to the cancellation of nearly 200 flights Unusually cold temperatures were also reported in the south-east and at least 2 people died as a result of hypothermia Strong winds and heavy snowfall affected central and northern parts of the country One person died as a result of strong winds in Avila Province and another in a vehicle accident on snowbound roads in the Asturias Region Cookies | Privacy | Contacts © Copyright 2025 FloodList Look out for your first newsletter in your inbox soon We help you navigate a myriad of possibilities Sign up for our newsletter for the best of the city By entering your email address you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and consent to receive emails from Time Out about news Sign up for our email to enjoy your city without spending a thing (as well as some options when you’re feeling flush) Our newsletter hand-delivers the best bits to your inbox Sign up to unlock our digital magazines and also receive the latest news By entering your email address you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and consent to receive emails from Time Out about news, events, offers and partner promotions. Barcelona one of the most unique natural wetlands in the world Thanks for subscribing! Look out for your first newsletter in your inbox soon! facebooktwitterspotifytiktokAbout us Contact us Time Out Worldwide It's a night to immerse yourself in the magical arts and get carried away by the enigmas of the future at the seaside Diada del Turisme (Les Cases d'Alcanar) (First Saturday in August) parades and diverse open-air activities are also on the programme here In recent years the festival has expanded and some of the events are also held in Deltebre and l'Ampolla