View of Cuevas del Drach Imagine standing at the entrance of a dark, mysterious cave, its passages twisting deep underground. While the thought of sliding into the unknown might spook most, for thrill-seekers, it's just another day of exploration. The @ActionAdventureTwins captured this eerie experience by dropping a GoPro into one of the deepest pits in the US The video, posted by James and Edward, the @ActionAdventureTwins, has racked up 362,000 views and nearly a thousand comments. It also features guests Nate and Ben, identical twins from Pennsylvania who run their own adventure channel, @DeepFreedom Ellison's Cave is 12 miles long and 1,063 feet deep making it the 12th deepest cave in the United States Representative Image Source: Pexels | francesco ungaro and we're gonna see the deepest cave in America and we're gonna drop a GoPro down it." The duo stand at the rocky mouth of the pit The explorers drop the GoPro camera down the opening sending it deep into the dark belly of the pit Then the GoPro is dropped down another pit with a depth of about 586 feet The footage first depicts scenery of flying dust motes with the sounds of dripping water cascading between the jagged rocky structures and craggy walls Representative Image Source: Pexels | parfait fongang The camera rotates in circular motion revealing the precipitous cave walls with monstrous accumulation of limestone formations and fractured gypsum rocks The camera then flashes the bedrock of the cave mounded with stones and pebbles the GoPro is 714 feet below the Earth's surface they pull the rope upwards from the black abyss they almost seem to lose the camera as it gets entangled in the axle of the drill One of the twins says at the end of the footage “I don’t know what this footage looks like but I am just surprised we got the GoPro back.” Image Source: YouTube | @kennethprice5628 The footage of the shadowy chasm gave eerie vibes to several people. “I’m not going to lie, when it got to the bottom I was anxious for a second. I saw one of those white rocks and was like... omg is that a ghost,” commented @bombud1. @trilfiger448 added “The muffled descending sound was terrifying And the spinning...I was just waiting for something to jump-scare me.” Image Source: YouTube | @sk8ordie725 @waya420 said It would be fun to explore it with a drone if you could.” Image Source: YouTube | @paulmillard1973 The footage was also shared on Instagram where it has 371k views and over 10k likes the pair of cavers twins descended the pit a second time in November 2023 this time going all the way down themselves and narrated their experience in the caption “We can't believe we finally managed to drop down the pit after planning this for a long time We will be back to this cave to see where it goes down there!” Correction: The article originally stated that the Ellison's Cave was the deepest pit in America but it is the deepest unobstructed pit in the country This article originally appeared last year Wild beavers have been released for the first time in a Dorset nature reserve over 400 years after the semi-aquatic creatures went extinct in England Wild beavers have been released for the first time in a Dorset nature reserve, over 400 years after the semi-aquatic creatures went extinct in England the heritage and nature conservation charity called the move a "real watershed moment" of the species' history in the country Two pairs of Eurasian beavers were released at the 82-acre Little Sea lake within the Purbeck Heaths National Nature Reserve which is unrestricted by fenced enclosures The news arrives one week after a major policy announcement by government agencies DEFRA (Department for Environment allowing these animals to legally roam here for the first time since the 16th century In mainland Britain, beavers were hunted to extinction for their fur, meat, and scent glands. But now, according to The National Trust they will eventually play a vital role in restoring the ecosystem "creating wetland habitats that support countless other species." Wetlands will retain water during droughts and floods with dams filtering water to improve its quality downstream - YouTubewww.youtube.com touted the "watershed moment," saying they’d worked closely with Natural England "for the past seven years" to develop their approach “Our chosen site at Little Sea is highly suitable for these special creatures due to it being an expansive body of fresh water surrounded by dense willow woodland which will provide the beavers with plenty of food," she said in a statement but by creating glades within the willow woodland new areas of open wetlands will form to benefit many of the reserve’s rare species including water voles keeled skimmer dragonflies and tiny ‘bladderwort’ carnivorous plants." called the reintroduction a "historic moment for nature in England," saying "Beavers disappeared from our landscapes centuries ago and this release is the beginning of a new chance for these animals to thrive in the wild again." The also move draws on "high levels of public support," according to Dr. Roisin Campbell-Palmer, and the release cites a "detailed management plan" created by the Trust. However, as detailed in a report by Britain’s Channel 4 News "There’s just not a realistic option there for farmers to be able to manage the impact of beavers," said David Exwood Deputy President of the National Farmers’ Union "There will be cases where they need to remove beavers There will be places where our members will not want to see them and we just don’t think that is there in this current plan." That said Minister for Nature Mary Creagh noted that there will be capital grants available to deal with beaver impacts "including the ability to remove beaver dams within two weeks of their construction - YouTubewww.youtube.com In a real-life example of these useful rodents having a major impact on their environment and the people around them, a colony of beavers in the Czech Republic finished a $1.2 million dam project stuck in limbo by administrative red tape The endeavor had been held up for seven years due to permit issues but the beavers constructed their own two days—no money or documentation required Representative Image Source: Pexels | Anni Roenkae The discovered reservoir contains three times the volume of all Earth's oceans combined. It was surprising, because usually, the Earth’s mantle, 254 to 410 miles deep, is an efflux of scorching hot rocks covered with magma. According to New Scientist scientists have long believed that the mantle’s “transition zone,” the boundary between the upper and the lower mantle could contain water trapped in rare minerals via GIPHY “There is something very special about the crystal structure of ringwoodite that allows it to attract hydrogen and trap water This mineral can contain a lot of water under conditions of the deep mantle.” Representative Image Source: Pexels | Its MSVR The team discovered this ringwoodite around 430 miles underground in the mantle This gave a clue that the water on Earth could have simply seeped from within its core rather than coming from a comet or asteroid collision “It’s good evidence the Earth’s water came from within,” Jacobsen told New Scientist via GIPHY scientists employed 2,000 seismometers that helped them study the seismic waves generated by more than 500 earthquakes As these waves quiver through the Earth’s core scientists can examine them from the surface “They make the Earth ring like a bell for days afterward,” said Jacobsen Since the waves take longer to travel through wet rocks than dry rocks the speed of the waves told scientists which rocks could contain water the temperatures and other conditions were just perfect to squeeze the water out of the ringwoodite “It’s a rock with water along the boundaries between the grains almost as if they’re sweating,” explained Jacobsen Representative Image Source: Pexels | Lucian Photography The discovery of this huge ocean could provide some fascinating insights about Earth’s water cycle and how seas and oceans were initially formed on the planet “We should be grateful for this deep reservoir,” said Jacobsen and mountaintops would be the only land poking out.” “Geological processes on the Earth’s surface, such as earthquakes or erupting volcanoes, are an expression of what is going on inside the Earth, out of our sight,” added Jacobsen “I think we are finally seeing evidence for a whole-Earth water cycle which may help explain the vast amount of liquid water on the surface of our habitable planet Scientists have been looking for this missing deep water for decades.” where it’s generating buzz across social media “Suddenly I was confronted with this image of what at that time felt like a mythical creature,” shared Jordan Boersma, the expedition's leader, with the National Audubon Society the most surreal moment of my life.” The camera trap had captured an unmistakable image of the elusive pheasant pigeon John Mittermeier of the American Bird Conservancy echoed the wonder: “To find something that’s been gone for that long and then to figure out that it’s not extinct it feels like finding a unicorn or a Bigfoot The discovery of this chicken-sized floor-dwelling pigeon wouldn’t have been possible without the help of local villagers and hunters especially a hunter named Augustin Gregory Gregory guided the team through the village of Duda Ununa west of Mt recommending the most appropriate locations for setting camera traps had seen the pigeon somewhere along the ridgeline via GIPHY “It's like finding Waldo in the actual jungle.” “It's always fun seeing grown men giddy about wholesome things.” via GIPHY Representative Image Source: Pexels | Hugo Sykes “Analyzing thousands of seismic recordings from Antarctica, our high-definition imaging method found thin anomalous zones of material at the CMB (cosmic microwave background) everywhere we probed,” said Dr. Edward Garnero, co-author of the study, in a university press release “The material’s thickness varies from a few kilometers to 10’s of kilometers This suggests we are seeing mountains on the core in some places up to 5 times taller than Mt the co-authors of the paper included Mingming Li and Sang-Heon Shim from Arizona State University and Dr Sebastian Rost from the University of Leeds they unfolded these colossal mountains hidden deep beneath the Earth’s surface via GIPHY Deep inside the Earth’s surface, the boundary between its core and mantle has been an environment of curiosity for geologists worldwide. According to Insider about 2,000 miles under the Earth's surface and the material changes from solid rock in the mantle to a “gooey iron sludge” inside the core Geologists study seismic waves spreading from the epicenter of an earthquake to the inside of a planet to understand what lurks and happens in the planet’s innards seismic data is probably not that interesting to look at But that wiggly line contains an amazing amount of information!" Hansen told Insider Representative Image Source: Sectional view of the Earth showing central fire and underground canals linked to oceans From Mundus Subterraneous by Athanasius Kircher (Photo by Oxford Science Archive/Print Collector/Getty Images) This particular study suggested that there was a layer of “ancient ocean floor” squished between the core-mantle boundary It was subducted long ago as tectonic plates shifted They called this region the “ultra-low velocity zone (ULVZ).” This zone was denser than the rest of the mantle Scientists found this ancient ocean floor by scanning the seismic waves reverberating through it just the way a body is examined through an X-ray or medical scan provide the highest resolution imaging of the interior structure of our planet and we are finding that this structure is vastly more complicated than once thought,” Hansen said in the press release “Our research provides important connections between shallow and deep Earth structure and the overall processes driving our planet.” Representative Image Source: Pexels | NASA Using a system of sound wave echoes from the core-mantle boundary Hansen and her team identified unusual spurts of energy within several seconds of examination they compared the layer of this “pencil-thin” material to the thickness of Earth’s layers The ULVZ or mountains they found ranged from less than about 3 miles to more than 25 miles the discovery of these underground mountains can provide a potential explanation of how heat escapes from the magnetized core further study of these ancient ocean floor materials could provide insights into how volcanic eruptions happen when the mantle plumes or hot spots travel back to the surface A frustrated person tries to avoid single use plastics Emma Beddington, a writer for The Guardian had a challenge: Try to live one month without any single-use plastics and record her progress each day Her experience was more difficult than she could have imagined you could use reusable bags to carry groceries and buy fresh produce instead of packaged veggies but virtually everything else in the store had some form of plastic packaging and packed cuts of meat (luckily for the last one While she was able to achieve her shopping by inconveniently buying reusable paper or cloth bags then shopping from specialty shops and bakeries that don’t use plastic containers or bags she still fell short after nearly two weeks of mindfully running around and finding places and items that were plastic-free While she was shopping for supplies for a night of cocktails she blanked out and accidentally bought ice in a plastic bag single-use plastic is a part of nearly every consumer product or the packaging Even if you take away the food in the average grocery store there are several products that use non-reusable plastic packaging or containers such as laundry detergent Even paper products such as toilet paper and paper towels are sealed in plastic wrap Even if you do find a place in which you can purchase items with a reusable bottle it’s often a specialty store for specific items and you’d have to find other shops in your area or online that can refill your supplies with the containers you provide It’s nearly impossible to escape single-use plastics in the modern world Even non-fast food restaurants contribute to the single-use plastic problem.Photo credit: Canva It’s an ever-growing problem, too. According to the Smithsonian plastic waste in 2021 went to landfills instead of being incinerated or recycled Even recycling the very few types of single-use plastics that are able to be recycled don’t do much Those plastics are typically repurposed for other single-use plastic items like soda bottles that eventually end up in landfills anyway Even recycled plastic ends up in a landfill eventually.Photo credit: Canva So what can a person do about all of this? Well, there are small ways you can individually help by refilling and using metal water bottles, coffee tumblers, cloth grocery bags, and containers while also buying products and supporting businesses that use green alternatives to single-use plastics whether they come from farmer’s markets or online In terms of the bigger picture aside from voting with your wallet you can start or contribute to letter campaigns to companies saying that you would buy their products more often if they provided alternative ways to purchase or collect them without single-use plastics or disposables and federal representatives about this issue and with enough people they could introduce a bill to help bring more attention Using a reusable metal water bottle is one small yet impactful way to reduce plastic waste.Photo credit: Canva There has been an ongoing global debate about the quality of drinking water. While many people swear by filtered or packaged water, others vouch for tap water. There are various health and economic reasons attached to both and people have been stuck between figuring out which to pick. Years ago, The Story of Stuff shared a mind-boggling instance from the city of Cleveland that settled the debate for many The Fiji brand created an ad campaign proposing that they’re better than tap water any day the campaign didn’t have much effect as the city of Cleveland defended tap water with concrete evidence Representative Image Source: Pexels | Steve Johnson many people pointed out that they prefer tap water over bottled water any day Representative Image Source: Pexels | RDNE Stock Project The chairperson of the Investigations Subcommittee “Neither the public nor federal regulators know nearly enough about where bottled water comes from and what safeguards are in place to ensure its safety.” How is it safer than tap water The entire chaotic discussion also brought to light that bottled water companies are charging way more for a possibly lower-quality product The cost of bottled water was a whopping 2000 times higher and is simply being sold to feed the profit needs of various companies via GIPHY Apart from health-related and financial reasons tap water is also better than bottled water due to environmental reasons Bottled water does more harm to the environment than to people The massive demand has companies manufacturing bottles on a humongous scale The list of why tap water is comparatively better goes on Billions of people don’t have access to any clean water let alone the choice between tap and packaged water So instead of spending millions on packaging the money could be used to improve the water system for better distribution Representative Image Source: Pexels | Mali Maeder why do people continue to swear by packaged water Several ad campaigns have indirectly manipulated the idea that tap water is bad and not designed for drinking people's mindset is fixed on the idea that water used for washing dishes and clothing couldn’t possibly be the same as what they consume the study concluded that there isn’t much difference between tap and packaged water harm to the environment and manipulation of the human mindset is an unwanted scenario altogether tap water for the win is the new recommended mindset This article originally appeared 3 months ago Kentucky—is a majestic place with a disturbing name I have a theory that every person is constantly pulled—almost by some invisible magnetic force—to one particular place that feels safe and magical and misty with nostalgia. Maybe it’s thegazebo where you got married or the garage where you started your first band the white noise will gently dim and life will briefly make sense again For me, that place is the flat part of a nondescript boulder positioned opposite a 15-foot waterfall with a very disturbing name I first visited Dog Slaughter Falls as a middle-schooler and I was adamantly not stoked about the idea somewhat artsy kid searching for meaning in the conservative Bible Belt town of Williamsburg I was still a lump of unformed human clay—largely consumed by rock music and entirely disinterested in matters relating to the shoeboxchurch my parents drug me to each Sunday But I was also a Certified Strait-Laced Good Boy so I entertained my mom’s pitch: an afternoon of hiking with a group of older folks guided by the botanical knowledge of a nature-loving priest Turns out this was more of a demand than an invitation so I invited my friend Tyler along for this frolic from hell—at least I could suffer alongside a kindred spirit I wasn’t expecting to enjoy this foolishness let alone have it alter my brain chemistry in a real Dog Slaughter Falls is located within Daniel Boone National Forest which sprawls across 708,000 acres and 21 counties in Eastern Kentucky you still might be familiar with its star attraction: the massive and majestic Cumberland Falls one of the only places on Earth where you can regularly see a "lunar rainbow"—a phenomenon created by moonlight rather than sunlight Visiting the so-called "Niagara of the South" was a staple of my formative years Outside of buying scratch-off tickets and meandering around Wal Mart there really wasn’t much to do in Williamsburg so we frequently made the 20- or 30-minute trip up to Corbin cranking whatever new indie-rock album we were obsessed with I vividly remember road-testing Modest Mouse’s Good News for People Who Love Bad News as we navigated those windy roads late at night my senses heightened by the darkness and perpetual motion my friend Calep showed up with a burned copy of Brand New’s The Devil and God Are Raging Inside Me—hearing "Jesus Christ" in that setting felt legitimately cinematic having borrowed an unwieldy camcorder from a classmate trekked down to the Falls' beach area and staged a tragic suicide scene from our (still-unfinished) amateur film It’s Great to Be in Cincinnati I’ve always felt a restorative force at Cumberland Falls and I know a lot of people who feel similarly but living near the Falls was a badge of honor—something I could name-drop to a stranger in conversation and feel vaguely proud But…it was also a state park swarmed with tourists—it belonged to everyone - YouTubewww.youtube.com Let’s talk about the name—or, more specifically, how little we know about it. According to Kentucky State Parks, the origin of the grisly "Dog Slaughter" moniker "remains a mystery," despite regular questions from visitors.The Independent Herald is that "unwanted pets were once killed there." Yeah Another: "that hunting dogs were once slain by a beast unknown at this site—maybe a wolf maybe a bear … some even say Bigfoot." (This also calls to mind the local legend: the Mulberry Black Thing but we’ll save that one for another day.) they knew a deeper truth obscured from the general public parks program services supervisor (previously park naturalist) at Cumberland Falls State Resort Park since September 2023 (Dog Slaughter is technically not located on park property though there is a connecting trail.) "I’ve heard that [frontiersman] Daniel Boone wrote in his journal about how he brought his hunting dogs with him in the area and they chased a raccoon and the raccoon went under the lip of the Dog Slaughter Falls waterfall," she says "The hunting dogs didn’t see the cliff Daniel Boone supposedly named it Dog Slaughter Falls The other story is pretty broad: Basically there was a group of early settlers of Kentucky and they encountered a pack of wild dogs out there at the falls.“ former trails maintenance supervisor and volunteer coordinator at Cumberland Falls State Park calls Dog Slaughter a “local landmark”—but with a name that invites a lot of complaints "According to what the Park had written Dog Slaughter Falls was named for an incident that happened before the area was very populated,” she says the locals were out hunting [raccoons] in the area using dogs The dogs had the coons pinned in the creek when the raccoon got one of the dogs in the water Everyone knows dogs do not stand a chance with a raccoon in the water.” Connie Howard has been hiking there for over four decades and lives in a cabin near the trailhead she’s had “many hikers who have gotten lost knock on [her] door during the night.”) But she doesn’t think “anyone is sure” how Dog Slaughter got its name told me it was because of hunting dogs being killed by a mysterious beast that lived in the area,” she says The whole "slaughter" branding may intimidate some people from venturing out there—notably, on the horror front, it even inspired aCreepypasta involving a camping trip I’ve always been out there with at least one other person—or with a large group of people I mostly wanted to avoid Tyler and I jostled in my family’s minivan as it slowly rumbled roughly three miles down a gravel road I remember Shania Twain’s country-pop hit "Man I Feel Like a Woman" playing on the radio its signal shifting more to static with each bump—it felt like an omen We arrived at an unmarked pull-off area overseen by a huge rock and all of the churchgoers piled out of their cars and onto the trail somewhat frightening) 50-something man we’ll call Jerry decided to become our unofficial tour guide As the rest of the hikers moseyed along the shady our out-of-nowhere buddy countered that peacefulness with lots of antics he shouted caveman gibberish with a cavernous roar; at one point he frantically jumped on a downed tree that crossed along Dog Slaughter Creek in what remains the funniest thing I’ve ever seen his body soaring a Superman-like free-fall before smoothly skidding into fresh mud I was falling in love—even if I was embarrassed to admit it at the time I felt serene among the fizzy creek sounds and creeping moss and cold rocks a short swim away from the base of the falls and I was hypnotized by the unending rush of water "This is always just…out here," I thought And I’ve dusted off that disbelief every time I’ve returned over the following two-plus decades often joined by my wife (Jen) and our Brittany Spaniels (Tegan and the late Gabriel) depressive person by nature—I have trouble slowing down savoring the good moments before they slip through my fingers But I crave the zen-like tranquility I feel at Dog Slaughter I always leave feeling blissfully still—as if I’ve stopped the flood Millions of years ago, Earth was home to a supercontinent called Gondwana, which included present-day South America, Africa, Arabia, Madagascar, India, Australia, and Antarctica. Around 140 million years ago tectonic plate movements caused South America and Africa to begin drifting apart gradually creating the Atlantic Ocean that now separates the two continents Representative Image Source: Pexels | Kellie Churchman Representative Image Source: Footprints of a long-neck dinosaur (Diplodocus) The research was conducted by a team led by Southern Methodist University (SMU) paleontologist Louis L. Jacobs. “We determined that in terms of age, these footprints were similar,” Jacobs said in a SMU press release “In their geological and plate tectonic contexts Representative Image Source: Painting from a series by Ernest Untermann in the museum at Dinosaur National Monument The dinosaur footprints they found were pressed into mud and silt along the trails of ancient rivers and lakes Dinosaurs stamped these footprints on the ground nearly 120 million years ago while they were roaming the grounds of Gondwana even before it broke off from the larger supercontinent Pangea via GIPHY “One of the youngest and narrowest geological connections between Africa and South America was the elbow of northeastern Brazil nestled against what is now the coast of Cameroon along the Gulf of Guinea,” Jacobs explained “The two continents were continuous along that narrow stretch so that animals on either side of that connection could potentially move across it via GIPHY revealed that most of the dinosaur fossils were created by “three-toed theropod dinosaurs,” and a few were also likely made by sauropods or ornithischians were discovered in the Borborema region in the northeast part of Brazil and the Koum Basin in northern Cameroon the team also came across fossil pollen smudged in chalky sediment that was aged to around 120 million years ago Representative Image Source: VARIOUS DINOSAURS IN GOBI DESERT Armstrong Roberts/ClassicStock/Getty Images) Commenting on this, Jacobs said, “Muddy sediments left by the rivers and lakes contain dinosaur footprints, including those of meat-eaters, documenting that these river valleys could provide specific avenues for life to travel across the continents 120 million years ago.” via GIPHY Jacobs first discovered the dinosaur tracks in Cameroon in the 1980s, and he presented them at the First International Symposium on Dinosaur Tracks and Traces, convened by paleontologist Martin Lockley, in 1986, per CNN “One beauty of this Earth is that any of us can see that Africa and South America used to fit together like puzzle pieces,” he said “It is easy to conceive that in a connected world could and would be likely to move from place to place.” This article originally appeared 2 months ago At UKC/UKH we are all experienced internet users and as such we understand why some people want to use Ad Block to remove annoying and distracting advertising that proliferates on some web sites We don't feel that UKC/UKH should be considered as such a site We have developed a site that has subtle and appropriate advertising; we don't use pop-ups we don't force you to read adverts before you can see content and we don't use third party ad servers dishing up totally inappropriate advertising We have worked incredibly hard over the years to make sure that we keep a good balance between advertising and editorial content Please could you consider disabling Adblock when visiting UKC/UKH It's well known that Mallorca is the epicentre of the climbing world for deep-water soloing The North Face Climbing Festival in 2024 brought new eyes to this style of climbing those who have visited Mallorca would argue that there is no comparison between climbing on plastic above a cold river and experiencing the warmth and beauty of deep-water soloing in Mallorca Mallorca's coastline features numerous cliffs of varying heights (from 5 to about 18 meters) and softer landings (when the sea is favourable The jug-infested Spanish limestone offers something for climbers of all abilities; as long as you're a good swimmer then you can climb to whatever grade you prefer now is the time; it's certainly different from your average sport climbing holiday and may just be one of the best climbing holidays you will ever have Sixteen crags are featured in the new guidebook Rockfax - Mallorca Deep Water Soloing Each crag has its own characteristics; but the big three - Porto Cristo and Cala Sa Nau - are arguably the island's best-known and most-visited DWS venues Think twice before getting drawn in by the epic shots people often don't realise that the most popular climbs are not always the ones you see on the big screen the shorter climbs and traverses top the most climbed lists and it's because they are just as good as the climbs that give the kids street cred Mallorca DWS is included on Rockfax Digital, which offers additional and up to date coverage beyond that which is included in our printed guides If you wish to explore these areas free of charge Porto Cristo There is plenty to explore and inspire climbers of all abilities. The other side of Porto Cristo is The Tower of Falcons Cala Barques The tropical deep-water paradise, now with a slightly longer approach, is a long-time favourite of most DWS climbers. Classics like Strangers in Paradise (7b+), Hercules (6c), and Fortuna (6a+) offer but a taste of what's on offer The Barques Traverse (6b) and The Might of the Stalactite (6c+) are great examples of some good traverses, and who doesn't love the climb but not the name, Golden Shower (7a) Cala Sa Nau Boasting excellent traverse lines in the bay and super mini-ventures in the Virgin Area Cala San Nau offers more to those seeking grade 4s Though there are some amazing aspirational lines throughout the area (some are too big to mention) if operating in the 4's to the 6's which makes it a great stop-off point on the way back but not before checking out the next venue Cala Mitjana This venue has grown a lot over the years. The stunning wall of Illuminations (6b+) has now received the much-needed completion of old historical projects and the addition of new test pieces. Most head for the small cave, known as the 'Rich Bitch' cave and get stuck into the climb of the same name Rich Bitch (6c+) The crag curves rightward and increases in height the further you go Porto Colom If you're seeking thrilling low-down adventures, head to Porto Colom, traverse into the cove, and try I live in a cave (6b+). If that's your thing, then Princess of Transilvania (7a) should be high on your list Complete the full traverse, Drop Zone (6c+) Cala Marcal Arguably, this is the best venue for pushing limits at friendly grades. Mortal Kombat (6b+) is one of the best 6b+ routes and has the most leisurely low-level traverse on the island at 3a - it's definitely not as popular as it deserves to be Cala Brafia and Cala Estreta If you're seeking solitude, head to either of these crags - best described as not-so-secret spots - to enjoy good times and less-travelled lines. The waves to catch are As Good As It Gets (6b+) at Estret and Stigmata (6c+) at Brafia.  Cala Serena This is the largest crag for Deep Water Soloing in Mallorca it is essential to be well-prepared for accessing and exiting the routes Notable climbs include the The Tortilla Traverse (7a+) and Mi primera flinada (6b) don't overlook the somewhat isolated Sector of Brazil which is making its printed debut for the first time Santanyi (DWS) Renowned for its sport climbing, the bay of Santanyi features a fantastic beach and some enjoyable, beginner-friendly DWS spots. Outside the bay lies the Es Pontas (9a+) arch and the iconic climb of the same name Less-visited crags such as Porto Cristo Novo, Cova des Burador, and Cala Llombards cater to those seeking further exploration While they have fewer routes, they hide hidden gems and deserve attention. You can try Up the Anty (6c+) at Porto Cristo Novo, The Camp Jogger (6c+) at Cova des Burador, and the challenging yet impressive roof climb at Cala Llombards, Follam Balam (8a+)  Sa Calobra is the most picturesque and farthest destination to reach. With traverses and great exhibitionist climbs available, Wax (7a) and The Fulcher (6b+) are notable options Finally, whether you arrive straight from the plane or before heading home, make sure to visit Porto Pi It features a conveniently located car park and some playful lines to w(h)et your appetite Mallorca has established itself as Europe’s finest and most popular deep water soloing destination with many climbers coming here just for this The island’s famous big golden pockets on steep overhanging walls of perfect rock are both enticing and intimidating followed by sangria and tapas at one of the island’s many bars and restaurants make the place all the more memorable The height of the routes varies from a bouldery 5m to a terrifying 20m and grades from 3+ to 9a+ means that there is something here for everyone Mike Robertson's award winning Deep Water guide With workshops and a climbing wall stretching more than fifty feet above the docks of Canary.. Rockfax is pleased to announce a new grading system launching on its Rockfax Digital guidebook app platform as of today... a fatal collision between a luxury yacht and a fishing boat on Mallorca makes headlines The preliminary investigation report now reveals new details At the end of August, a young man died in a collision between a German-flagged luxury yacht and a fishing boat on Mallorca The more than 20-metre-long motor yacht "La Luna" steered by the millionaire's son Dennis V.* simply sailed on off Cala Bona after the collision with the fishing boat New details about the case have now come to light: According to a preliminary investigation report by the Guardia Civil, which is available to the newspaper "Gaceta Náutica" the crew of the "La Luna" displayed questionable behavior the crew of the fishing boat on which the victim was traveling with his uncle and cousin were also found to have acted improperly #LoMásVistoHoy Un fallecido al chocar dos embarcaciones en Cala Bona (Mallorca)🔗 https://t.co/KBXAgXfPiU pic.twitter.com/OBMS5fwPvC The "La Luna" crew is said to have caused a stir even before the accident the group had rammed another boat with a dinghy According to testimony from the skipper involved the young men appeared to be heavily intoxicated and possibly on drugs The two survivors on the fishing boat testified that the luxury yacht had approached them at high speed The man who later died had positioned himself in the middle of the boat and tried to signal to the yacht crew to give way This was necessary because the fishing boat was completely inadequately lit for a trip at night Although the "La Luna" only grazed the small boat was unable to hold on and was thrown from the boat there were numerous small boats in the area The yacht should therefore never have come so close to the coast in that area Son Servera guarda un minuto de silencio en señal de duelo por la muerte de un joven en Cala Bona https://t.co/zJOuXrqamv The report also describes the chronology of the accident according to which the party party around Dennis V went to Cala Ratjada after the accident to continue partying at the "Bolero" club the Guardia Civil had already inspected the ship which was back at its berth in the port of Porto Cristo and found large quantities of alcohol in a cabin and in the steering area of the yacht There is another explosive fact: around 24 hours after the accident the cameras at the port of Porto Cristo recorded V entering the yacht sealed by the Guardia Civil together with two other people and leaving again with several bags The case had already been made public in the media at this point is said to have flown back to Germany in his own plane without speaking to the police first Apparently he even managed to bring forward the take-off by two hours traveled back to the island accompanied by the Mallorcan star lawyer Fernando Mateas and refused to make a statement during police questioning He is being investigated for involuntary manslaughter Published: Invalid Date boat cruises and highs of 31C – this "enchanting" Spanish resort makes the perfect last minute getaway The picturesque resort of Porto Cristo is located on the east coast of Mallorca It makes an affordable getaway with Ryanair flights from Dublin to Palma de Mallorca from €27.99 and hotels starting from €24 The laid back fishing village has a long bay with a blue flag sandy beach Spend the day lazing in the sun or hire a pedaloe to explore the turquoise sea Jump aboard a boat cruise travelling between the surrounding areas including Cala de Mallorca, Cala Romantica, Cala Millor, Cala Bona and Canyamel. The historic town has lots to see including the Roman Basilica on Avinguda de Joan Amer, Mare de Deu del Carme and the Roman port. Snap a selfie with the intriguing mermaid statue in Calle Ses San Jorge. Explore the 5.3 million years old Cuevas del Drach or Dragon Caves Enjoy classical music performance on one of the largest underground lakes in the world - Lake Martel Visitors took to Tripadvisor to rate their experience in Porto Cristo One person said: “Well worth a visit some lovely restaurants with shops and markets "Nice port you can get there easily taxis are cheap or buses.” Another said: “It's a great place to come where there are less tourists about relax and drink a beer and watch everyone passing by taking snaps "Rare treat as well to find Rafa Nadel's boat moored in the port if you are a tennis fan.” Boat trips available from the edge of the marina to various locations.” with lots of lovely local bars and restaurants and a great harbour for people watching while sipping on a cold beer.” Police arrest man on suspicion of assault for going to work and the gym despite signs he had the virus A Mallorca man who infected 22 people with Covid-19 has been arrested on suspicion of assault for going to work and the gym despite signs he had the virus Officers on the Spanish island began investigating at the end of January after an outbreak in the town of Manacor following reports an employee had “become infected but hidden his illness” he began to show symptoms causing his colleagues concern but did not want to go home he went for a PCR test but did not wait for the result returning the next day to his job and also going to his local gym both the manager and staff insisted he go home because he could be infecting everyone later telling police he had a temperature of over 40C (104F) But he ignored them and spent the day walking around his workplace deliberately lowering his mask when he coughed and taunting them by saying: “I’m going to infect you all with coronavirus,” police said When his PCR result came through at the end of the day causing alarm among his colleagues who were also tested and they in turn infected several of their family members three people who had been in direct contact with him were also infected and passed on the virus to family members Police said his actions resulted in a total of 22 infections The man has been arrested on suspicion of assault The 34-year-old international tennis star got recently delivered a 24m 80 powerful custom yacht from Sunreef Yachts. After selling the previous $3 Million yacht, the Spanish Grand Slam champ order the new one about a year ago. Sunreef Power catamaran boat was delivered this week after Nadal turned 34 on Wednesday. He couldn’t resist long and climbed aboard on Friday from Porto Cristo with his family and wife. Francis Lapp, the president and founder of Sunreef described the delivery of the yacht as "an unforgettable event". "My team in Gdańsk made every effort to create the yacht Rafa and his wife Maria dreamed of. I am convinced that they will have a great time with their friends and family onboard," he said. Born in the Balearic island, Rafael Nada definitely has special affection with the sea. He often goes by his luxurious yacht to relax in the middle of the ocean. The boat can accommodate 12 guests with 4 crew members and is designed for long cruises. There are four private cabins with a master cabin with amazing sea views. The main deck offers a dining area and there is a bar on the upper deck. Also, the boat includes a superyacht-style flybridge that holds a hot tub, a wet bar, and comes with a jet ski. Longtime yachtsman Nadal, will certainly have plenty of use from the stunning yacht. Notifications can be managed in browser preferences. I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Footage showed the impact the flooding had on the town of Porto Christo, where an onslaught of murky brown water is seen streaming down the street. At least nine people were killed, authorities said on Wednesday. A spokeswoman with the regional emergency service said two British nationals and a Dutch woman were among the victims, but she couldn’t confirm whether six more people were still missing, as local media reported. Some parts of the island received up to 23cm (9in) of rainfall in around four hours on Tuesday evening, national weather authorities reported. The weather agency, AEMET, said more heavy rainfall is expected on Wednesday in eastern and southern parts of the Iberian peninsula. Authorities said 80 soldiers and seven vehicles from the military’s emergency unit had joined more than 100 rescuers who had been working in the area overnight. Spain’s prime minister, Pedro Sanchez tweeted to say: “My solidarity and support goes out to the families and friends of victims and all those affected by these tragic floods.” His office said he would be flying to the area later on Wednesday. Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies Mission Statement: to assist the integration of foreign residents living in Spain and this is never more accurate than when you establish yourself as a foreign resident in a new country Being able to quickly familiarise yourself with the culture and customs can help ease the transition during a challenging time This is why Euro Weekly News makes it our mission to provide you with a free news resource in English that covers both regional and national Spanish news – anything that we feel you will benefit from knowing as you integrate into your new community and live your best life in Spain you can forget about translating articles from Spanish into awkward English that probably don’t make much sense Let us be your convenient and essential guide to all things that will likely affect you as a foreign resident living in Spain Subscribe to our Euro Weekly News alerts to get the latest stories into your inbox Euro Weekly News is the leading English language newspaper in Spain by delivering news with a social conscience we are proud to be the voice for the expat communities who now call Spain home With around half a million print readers a week and over 1.5 million web views per month EWN has the biggest readership of any English language newspaper in Spain The paper prints over 150 news stories a week with many hundreds more on the web – no one else even comes close Our publication has won numerous awards over the last 25 years including Best Free Newspaper of the Year (Premios AEEPP) Company of the Year (Costa del Sol Business Awards) and Collaboration with Foreigners honours (Mijas Town Hall) All of this comes at ZERO cost to our readers All our print and online content always has been and always will be FREE OF CHARGE Download our media pack in either English or Spanish Mallorca is the Spanish winter sun destination favoured by many Europeans It has been described in the past as Spain's answer to the Greek island of Kalymnos For a long time Mallorca was primarily focused on sport climbing with early cardboard topo sheets creeping into the British bookshops in the mid-90s and Chris Craggs' small but popular Mallorca guide expanding upon this but all were focused on the island's popular and stunning sport climbing the focus shifted slightly in 2005 when top American climber Chris Sharma made his groundbreaking first ascent of the Deep Water Solo (DWS) line of Es Pontas - rumoured to be 9a+ With this stunning line the spotlight shifted with magazines TV and many websites drawing fresh eyes back to the island Deep Water Soloing is one of the purest forms of climbing which is intended to catch you if or when you fall It's been practiced around the world since the late 70s and has grown increasingly popular especially with the explosion of DWS on the sea cliffs of Mallorca having higher demands on the physical and mental side since it involves soloing even with the safety net of the sea Deep Water Solos are generally graded using the French sport climbing grading system with the addition of the S grade The S grade stands for 'solo' of which four levels are used (S0 S3) to determine items like how clear your water entrance is For an example of how this S grade may come into effect you could look at the UK DWS line of Freeborn Man a modern test piece for many aspiring UK climbers The S1/2 translates into: the slight possibility of hitting a ledge low down (a jump back would avoid this) and the crux is higher up the wall making the fall longer and more care is needed when bailing off and entering the water which needs to be done correctly from such a height With this knowledge a climber knows what to expect and can adapt accordingly to climb the line safely For more information on S grades, check out any Rockfax guide containing DWS such as Mike Robertson's world climbing guide to DWS 'Deep Water' - Mike Robertson was one of the people who helped define the S grade all those years ago Porto Pi although small became covered in gentle warm ups to powerful and bouldery 8bs It soon became a great evening venue for city climbers on a warm summer evenings You would probably think Miquel's explorations would have flooded the island with epic lines but sport climbing drew them away leaving the paradises of Mallorca a closely kept secret for years to come who emailed them a photo of him climbing at a then unknown crag in Porto Cristo armed themselves with hoards of climbing boots and chalk bags and set off to see for themselves what Diablo was all about In addition to this army was the Austrian strong man and vocally energised Klem Loskot They were escorted to what is now one of the most unique and spectacular DWS venues on earth and glistening warm Mediterranean sea had in the period of a week (under the watchful cameras and pens of the media) a total of twenty-six world class lines despatched The team's departure left behind a legacy of lines chief of which was Loskot's prize possession 'Loskot And Two Smoking Barrels' which became the most sought after 8a+ on the island which takes the steep and juggy terrain to half height where the line traverses left (not easily done) and leads to an easier exit 'Superwoman' takes in the entire cove at various levels and is no easy picking at 7a+ To the far right of the crag is Mike Robertson's popular right-to-left traverse 5+ (originally done left to right) into the cove known as 'White Noise' lead naturally into the jug-tastic 'Dogging Romp' 6a+ Neil Gresham apart from lines such as 'Ejector Seat' 7c and 'Iguanodon' 7b left the exhilarating DWS challenge of 'Calamares' 6b+ a grand line out of the right hand side of the 'Afroman Cave' Additionally on the other side of the bay of Porto Cristo lies the Tower of Falcons a mega cave that originally only saw traverses and easier lines (ish) put up to the left of the cave back in 2001 Now the cave is home to the notorious 'La Hostia' 8a+ thanks to Chris Sharma who ascended this line five years later in 2006 A year after the departure of the invasion force that took Diablo by storm Toni Lamprecht and Klem Loskot arrived on a beautiful sandy beach covered with naked people tanning themselves "What are we doing here?" they must have asked But a short walk onwards answered their question They where greeted by the astonishing DWS playground of Cala Barques (If Diablo is a bit on the high side then this is for you being a much lower venue in height that most people can easily get to grips with) So like excited children on Christmas day Toni and Klem deployed their lines upon this magnificent cave 'The Might of the Stalactite' 7a became the key to many of the trickier lines including Toni Lamprecht's 'Big XXL' a classic 7a which takes the dominant line through the cave Today the favourite of most visitors getting to grips with this area is the final part of the 'Barques Traverse' 6b that takes the right hand side of the roof on buckets to the upper section of 'Big XXL' Toni Lamprecht also added 'Golden Shower' 7a to the right of the cave area that is a fantastic mono crimp test on a slightly overhanging wall and also a lot of splashdowns when things get tough The real secret gems of Cala Barques are just over the hill from this cave Two additional caves can be found both of which lead to an amazing grotto Firstly the bucket-filled line of 'Bisexual' a great 7a that crosses the upper face of the cave via some outstanding moves which attacks the cave roof on its right side great for climbers wanting to push themselves not too high above the water Finally in the right hand cave is the magical 'Strangers in Paradise' 7b This all leads to the grand battlefield of the infamous Tarantino Wall Not a hugely popular area as the lines are quite intimidating but should not be ignored if you are the head strong along with Chris Sharma's mega roof problem 'Big Mamma' 8a+ people make themselves at home in the bay of Barques a beautiful beach and a blue ocean lapping at your feet But it needs to be said that camping here is not permitted especially with its popularity increasing year on year The government has been cracking down on campers and issuing warnings and fines so the best bet for you is to find alternative accommodation and fingers-crossed some local will open a camp site at some point Further south from Cala Barques is Cala Sa Nau which is dominated by a large and steep cave This steep and stunning roof climb also brought with it Chris Sharma's 'Weather man' 8a+ Although this cave is an inspiring challenge and draws many a climbers attention it's no longer the draw of the area The attention has moved to a smaller friendlier venue to the left of the cave 'The Virgin Area' as it's commonly known is a good beginner's area with lots of lower grades to enjoy (4+ - 6a+) This area also has a small number of impressive harder lines such as 'Captain Black' and 'The attack of the spindly jellyfish' If continuing south just over the hill and within easy walking distance from Cala Sa Nau you will find the bay of Cala Mitjana Its main wall is home to such classics as 'Illuminations' 6b+ and 'New Forms' at the same grade around the corner is another small but excellent cave hosting the line of 'Rich Bitch' 7a Many who enjoy The Virgin Area at Cala Sa Nau and who are looking for the next step up tend to enjoy visiting the roadside crag of Cala Marcal Although not as popular as its neighbouring Porto Colom it's a great venue to tick some very worthwhile lines 'Mortal Combat' 6b is a leaning tower of jugs and offers some 3 star climbing Additional lines in the lower grades such as 'Lady Boys' 5+ and 'Higher than the Sun' 6a give this place a good afternoons worth of climbing The Lighthouse Area is a deep water boulderer's paradise With its treasure trove of problems and micro lines (most of which finish half way up the cliff) this venue gives you the freedom to try the harder more boulder-esque problems closer to the water Headstrong climbers can continue to climb the upper walls of course but at a grade of 7a+ and not generally done by many It's a popular hang out and the steep lowdown roof problems and powerful finishes keep many entertained for many trips a juggy (ish) 6b with some fine climbing leading to the ledge Additionally is the 'Princess of Transylvania' Miquel Riera's classic 7a that tackles the roof in fine style to an exciting and strength-zapping finish The magnificent Es Pontas arch stands alone amidst the waves like a petrified sea serpent The mighty line of Es Pontas (unrepeated to date) crosses the belly of the whale and tops out on the seaward side of the arch When the first topo of Es Pontas was released in 2007 additional unconfirmed lines were noted of which accuracy could not be determined Even with Miquel's guide that came out in the same year it did not give the game away as there were some inaccuracies on his topos and a lack of information to make anything clearer After Toni Lamprecht (who was a great help with DWS info with regards to the 2011 release of the Mallorca Rockfax guide book) and Chris Sharma's help a new and accurate picture of the arch formed But on the left side of the arch was a line that caught people's attention A 7b called 'Baby Sepia' which gives an arch challenge at a much more attainable grade Here's a section of the BigUp Productions film King Lines For further information on Mallorcas other DWS climbing area including Cala Serena and the west coast crags, then visit the Mallorca destination page over at DWSworld.com as we all know is a dangerous sport and although the addition of water as a safety net is there in the event of a fall Always make sure you have your exit plan covered before you start climbing or enter the water Sea conditions must be safe before you do anything Practise your water landings and try to pencil dive if falling from a height above 5m or so it's there for a reason and make sure the depth of the water is adequate it goes without saying you need to be a good swimmer and use your common sense for everything you do Login as Existing User to subscribe which will show the climbs you've already ticked The climbing season runs from late September to May During this time if you pick the orientation and elevation of crags carefully the air temperature is usually ideal although in the depths of winter the mountain crags can be cold and Santanyi and Cala Magraner will be unbelievably hot on sunny days Rainfall is not as low as on the mainland and at times can be persistent especially in the vicinity of the mountains to the north After heavy rains seepage will affect some lines although the rock itself dries very quickly Summer is very hot although the shady mountain crags will offer some possibilities Palma is the main airport on the island and is the third largest airport in Spain so it accommodates flights from all over the world The airport is home to a large number of car hire companies on site but it is always advisable to book ahead There are many options all over Mallorca that range from small apartments to huge Villas Palma itself is a very lively place and would suit those looking for a full night life Puerto Pollensa is a very nice small coastal resort that has bars and restaurants that are open out of season The resorts on the southeast coast are a long way from the bulk of the climbing areas and can be very quiet out of season For those only interested in single-pitch sport climbing a rack of 14 quickdraws and a 60m/70m rope is all that is needed For the multi-pitch sport climbs an abseil device will be required It can get very warm and on some crags little shade can be had so a sun hat and sunscreen are well worth packing as is a duvet for the occasional cold day in winter Food on Mallorca is very easily obtained from the numerous shops and supermarkets that are located in virtually all of the island's towns All tastes are catered for in the resorts although Mallorcan prices are generally higher than on mainland Spain Restaurants on the smaller villages are likely to be shut on Mondays The beaches on Mallorca are legendary and the mountains are brilliant for walking The city of Palma is a very interesting place to visit whilst Soller has some good cafes The main guidebook to the climbing on the island for the last 20 years has been published by Rockfax and this 2016 edition adds to this legacy with another blockbusting volume for the sun-seeking climber It covers the main sport climbing crags and deep water soloing venues across the island and is the only up-to-date book available. Sample chapter here The book is also availble in full (with a few extras) on the Rockfax App Find out more... Mike Robertson's award winning Deep Water guide, covering DWS on the English South Coast, Pembroke, Scotland and throughout the world. The Independent's journalism is supported by our readers When you purchase through links on our site Som Dona Hotel exclusively caters for women aged 14 years and above the four star establishment aims to offer “a new space for women who are looking to disconnect from the stress of daily life” “flexitarian gastronomy” and healthy and sustainable cuisine guests can also participate in excursions around the island and cultural activities Som Dona claims to welcome women of all sexual orientations It’s worth noting that the no-men policy also applies to visitors meaning that late-night gentleman callers are not welcome said surveys conducted by the group revealed that female customers liked the idea of a women-only hotel “One of our objectives is also to give a certain visibility to women doing traditionally masculine jobs,” Capellá told Lonely Planet While solo travel by women has grown year on year according to various travel industry studies female travellers often have more factors to take into account than men when planning a journey A British Airways study of almost 9,000 18 to 64-year-olds across the UK Brazil and China in 2018 found that more than 50 per cent of women have taken a holiday by themselves with 75 per cent of women planning a solo trip in the next few years Double rooms at Som Dona start at €72.50 (£64) per night, room only. Link Copied!Rafael Nadal likes to enjoy his break from tennis off the shore the Spaniard has special affection with the sea He often jumps on his luxurious yacht to relax in the middle of the ocean Rafael Nadal sold his $3.3 million yacht known as the Beethoven and bought a custom 80-foot luxury yacht for $5 million As the coronavirus lockdown eased in Spain Nadal stepped inside his brand new catamaran yacht to enjoy some time with his wife Xisca Perello and his family during the global health crisis the 80 Sunreef Power catamaran boat was delivered this week after Nadal turned 34 on Wednesday He couldn’t resist long and climbed aboard on Friday from Porto Cristo which can sleep 12 people at a time and is designed for long cruises There are many places to relax in the boat including a superyacht-style flybridge that holds a hot tub There is a dining area on the main deck and a bar on the upper deck there are four private cabins with a master cabin which offers sea views the master suite is also bathed with overhead skylight offering natural light It is certainly the best place to enjoy and relax with family The 19-time Grand Slam champion was ranked 27th in the Forbes world’s highest-paid athletes 2020 with total earnings of $40 million last year He earned $14 million in prize money and $26 million from endorsements Nadal can certainly afford these luxuries because of his deep pockets Read More: “It’s Not an Ideal Situation” – Rafael Nadal Unsure About US Open 2020 Inside view of Rafael Nadal’s stunning yacht – EssentiallySports is a digital-first sports media house that surfaces the best stories on America's favorite sports celebrities with a fan's perspective to 30+ M average monthly readers. 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