INTRODUCTION:

Benidorm is located on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea, in the Valencian Comunity in Spain.

It is one of the most important tourist destinations in Europe, It has 71,034 inhabitants.

It has 70,280 inhabitants (2007), but because a vast majority of for-eigners are not counted, it is estimated that 100,000 people live here during most of the year. However, 29.3% of the population according to the census in 2007 is of foreign nationality, especially the popula-tion of British people and from other European Union countries. Benidorm is an eminently tourist city thanks to the climate and aver-age temperatures throughout the year ranging between 10 degrees in winter and 36 º in summer.

On the other hand, Benidorm is a place with the biggest number of skyscrapers per capita in the world and second in the number of the high building per square meter, after Manhattan. What was once the tallest building in Spain, the Hotel Bali III, is located in Benidorm, be-ing the tallest hotel in Europe. There is also a building under construc-tion that is going to be the tallest residential building in Europe, called Intempo (200m).

OBJECTIVES:

-Encourage students to interact with the physical, geographical, his-torical, scientific, cultural and linguistic activities.-Contribute to the development of observation skills.- Highlight the importance of preservation of all natural and urban areas.

-Raise awareness of the fragility of ecosystems and consider the need to implement measures to conserve them.

-Approach to the indigenous biodiversity of the ecosystem.

ENVIRONMENTAL TRAILBENIDORM

-Appropriate use of public spaces.

CONTENTS:

-History of the city of Benidorm.

-Standards and uses of the city.

-Access to the disabled.

-Treatment, sorting and disposal of waste generated.

- Guidance in the middle.

-Use and distribution of water in the city.

-Basic knowledge of Sierra Gelada Natural Park.

- Influences of human-natural environment.

Point 1. Parque de Elche.

Point 2. History of Benidorm.

Point 3. Patron saint of Benidorm, "Mare de Deu of Sofratge"

Point 4. Animals and problems in the city.

4.1. Pigeons.

4.2. Dogs on beaches.

Point 5. Green transportation (bicycle renting).

Point 6. Accessible beaches.

ITINERARY

Point 7. Renewable energy .

Point 8. R.S.U. in the harbour.

Point 9. Eco-park vehicle.

Point 10. Sources of drinking water and foot-washers. Origin of water.

Point 11. Sun Clock Orientation.

Point 12. The Castle of Benidorm.

Point 13. Geyser.

Point 14. Containers R.S.U.

Point 15. Natural Park of "Sierra Gelada".

1. ELCHE PARK

It is a park next to the port, which contains a replica of the Lady of Elche and its palm could remember the palm groves of Elche.

In the main source there is a hidden tribute to Mayor Pedro Zaragoza Orts, who, in the early 50's, laid the foundation of the city of Benidorm at tourism development. On the 27th of February

, 1960 for the first time he sent water from Chirles (17 km) and pro-duced the first General Plan for Town Planning in 1956. It also left us a priceless legacy: He taught us to live with hope, that nothing is impos-sible if there is a conviction to get it. That is what is in the rock left in the source as a tribute to Pedro Zaragoza.

2. HISTORY OF BENIDORM.

A Bernardo de Sarria was granted the lands of the Charter Benidorm Pobla on the 8th of May, 1325. He marked the borders of Ben-idorm, creating the castle and the town of Benidorm. He suffered two attacks by Bar-bary pirates, was deserted and came to be-long to Polop. In the sixteenth centurythe castle. was expanded and repopulated, (2ª Carta Pobla in 1715) and returned to reestablish the fishery of Benidorm and to recreate the city’s independence. The most

common type of fishing was net fishing.

3. Virgin of the “SOFRATGE” .

On the 15th of March , 1740 a “londro” (a small boat rowing and sail-ing merchant that was used in the Middle Ages to the early seven-teenth century) arrived to the beaches of Benidorm unmanned. Au-thorities, for fear that his crew had died of the plague ordered to burn the vessel. When finished burning some children were looking for nails and irons from the ashes and found a bright image of the Virgin Mary with baby Jesus in her arms intact, The Benidorm people called "Mary's Shipwreck" but a bishop changed his name to "Verge of Sofratge"

4. ANIMALS AND PROBLEMS.

4.1 FORBIDDEN TO FEED THE PIGEONS SINGN

If we feed the strays, we are altering the natural environment and ecosystem that surrounds us. How do we alter it, if we are only feeding them some popcorn? So by feeding the pigeons, we make them get used to depending on human, it also increases its population, What is more, we litter the streets and monuments. It is also a case of sanitary problems , since they are carri-ers of diseases such as, West Nile fever, salmon-

ella, histoplasmosis, ectoparasiticide mites or allergies ...

4.2. DOGS ARE FORBIDDEN ON THE BEACH

Dogs are our pets, and we are used to living with them as if they were part of the family, but they can be a problem on the street. Dogs are carriers of parasites and their faeces are contaminated,

hence they pollute the sand on the beach that is dangerous for people who sit on it.

4.3 FISHING IS FORBIDDEN IN THE PORT

According to the law of costs it is prohibited to fish near the ports. Fishermen often leave rem-nants of their boxes, drinks, hooks, nets, in the place where they fish.

5. PUBLIC BIKES

A new green transport has arrived to Ben-idorm, bikes that can take you to different parts of the city.

There are 10 rent-a-bike points in Benidorm:

1-Levante promenade.

2-Local market.

3-Poniente promenade

4-Bus Station

5-Rincón de Loix.

6- TRAM Station.

7- Europe avenue

8- Foietes Sports center.

9-Torroja square.

10- L'Illa Esports palace.

ACTIVITY: Do you know other ways of eco-travelling?

6. BEACHES ACCESSIBLE.

Do you know what the accessible beaches are? The accessible beach is a service available to those who have problems or difficulty to enjoy staying at the beach. Thanks to this service, people with disabilities or limited mobility can enjoy a nice swim at the beach. In Benidorm there are 3 places where people can access to this service, one in the Levante beach, in the

port, and another one in the Cala of Benidorm. The opening hours: are 10:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Activity: If you were a disabled person, where would you access to the beach? How?

7. RENEWABLE ENERGY.

Renewable energy is the one that is obtained by virtually inexhaustible natural sources. It is used both, inside and outside the cities, and on this beach we can see a place where they are using it now. Can you see it?

8. WASTE IN THE PORT

In the port of Benidorm, very few people are devoted to fishing, and even those who do it, are not professionals. They usually produce waste.

Do you see any pollution in the water?

And outside of the bins? Record the waste you see.

WHAT TYPE OF WASTE?

WHERE WOULD YOU THROW IT?

The activities organised by the port of Benidorm are typically recre-ational, ex. short boat trips, sailing lessons, diving, kayaking, etc. This causes changes in the marine environment.

- Do you know the different bins for segregating waste?

Answer:

COLOR?HOW MANY HAVE YOU

SEEN?WHAT WASTE WOULD

YOU PUT INTO IT?CONTAINERSPAPERGLASSORGANICCLOTHESOIL

BATTERIES

Finally, in order to see the consequences caused by the construction of the port and see how much it altered the natural environment, we find the Playa del Mal Pas. The beach of Mal Pas was formed by chan-ging the ocean currents, because they were depositing the sand on the shore, forming the beach.

9. ECO-PARK VEHICLE.

The Eco-Park is the place where we carry out all the waste that we can not eliminate in container. Cities with more than 5 000 inhab-itants need to have one in the town. The eco-park of Benidorm is located close to Terra Natura Park. The residents have to travel to this place to eliminate their waste. But in the city there is also a vehicle passing through

different points one day a week at specific hours, where people can bring the waste in order to make a good use of them . For example: used cooking oil, cars, batteries, films, small electronics (phones, ra-dios, ...) small toxic containers (spray, paint cans, etc.).

10. WATER ON THE BEACH: SOURCES OF DRINKING WATER AND FOOT-WASHERS.

On the beach we have different types of taps from which water flows, but we can not drink from all of them, as the water comes from differ-ent places.

WHERE DOES THE WATER COME

FROM?CAN YOU DRINK IT?

DRINKING FOUNTAIN

FOOT-WASHERS

Therefore we should know that usually, all the foun-tains in our city contain drinking water, BEWARE! If it says " Non-drinking water " or there is a sign like this, you can not drink it.

Not drinking water sign

11. SUNDIAL.

We can find out the time with the help of the sun.

In this sundial, we make a distinction between summer and winter time, since we set the clock one hour ahead or back, depending on the season. This clock can also help us to locate ourselves in accord-ance with the four cardinal points. The sun rises Eastward and sets Westward. In the top, between the East and West, is the North and in the bottom the South.

Write what time it is now: _ _: _ _ .

ACTIVITY: Stand up and stretch your arms. Put the left hand forward where the sun rises. In front of you is the South and at your back is the North.

Now write down where the following places are located:

PLACE LOCATION PLACE LOCATIONSANT JAUME

CHURCHPUIG

CAMPANA MOUNTAIN

PORT LEVANTE BEACH

BENIDORM ISLAND

PONIENTE BEACH

12. CASTILLO DE BENIDORM.

There is a castle in Benidorm, called Moorish Castle, mentioned in chronicles of the time. There are also city walls, whose remains have been destroyed completely by urban development.

Can you see the remains of the castle from the Playa del Mal Pas?

13. GEISER.

The geyser was an attraction for many years in the city of Benidorm, but after some studies about the several environmental impacts on the sea, it was shut down. It was built without considering the con-sequences in the environment, in this case the geyser was destroying the seabed, its biodiversity, mainly the ocean poseidónea where many fish lives and grows.

14. WASTE CONTAINER

There are different types of waste containers with different shapes and colours. To avoid mistakes when classifying waste, we must know what colours correspond to each type of waste.

ACTIVITY: Join with Arrows

:

TYPE OF WASTECOLOR

CONTAINER ESPECIALPAPER AND CARDBOARD BLUE

GLASS ESPECIALORGANIC WASTE GREY

SPECIAL BATTERIES YELLOW USED OIL ECO-PARkCLOTHES ESPECIAL

UNCLASSIFIED GREEN

15. SERRA GELADA NATURAL PARK.

The Serra Gelada Natural Park is extended over Benidorm and Altea It consists of Si-erra Gelada mountains and a part of the sea, from the island of Benidorm to the is-land of Olla in Altea. Its main aim is to protect the fauna and flora, as they were

seriously threatened by the construction of buildings. One of the spe-cies that are protected in this park are the dolphins

16. MAP