A beautiful beach has turned into a construction site. "Another piece of paradise is dying."
The Indonesian island of Bali is renowned for its beautiful coastline, but the most spectacular beaches can be found on smaller islands within the province. A popular day trip destination for tourists is the small, car-free island of Nusa Penida. However, this paradise has lost some of its charm in recent months due to the construction of an elevator on the famous Kelingking Beach. Although work has since been halted due to controversy, scaffolding continues to disrupt the natural landscape.
Indonesian beach destroyedInternet users are in shock as they watch the devastation of Kelingking Beach on Nusa Penida. The place, nicknamed "Dinosaur Beach" due to its unique rock formations, recently fell victim to human activity. Bali authorities first allowed a Chinese company to build a 182-meter-long glass elevator to help tourists descend the clifftop, but now, due to numerous controversies, they have suspended construction.
This "amenity" has been protested not only by residents of the Bali province but also by foreign visitors. The modern elevator is a massive intrusion into the natural landscape, which is, after all, the main reason for visiting this part of the world. "This beach will drown in plastic; another piece of paradise is dying," one tourist warned.
Litter isn't the only problem that could arise with improved beach access. There's also talk of an increased risk of drowning – swimming is prohibited at Kelingking due to high waves, yet many tourists ignore the warnings.
Scaffolding scares away touristsDespite the suspension of construction, the unsightly scaffolding remains on the beach, and no one is preparing to dismantle it. The future of the project, which was estimated to cost $12 million, remains unclear. Meanwhile, tourists suggest that renovating the stairs would be a much better solution. "Currently, walking from the cliff to the beach via the steep path takes 45 to 60 minutes, while returning to the top of the cliff can take up to two hours," reports the BBC.
Read also: Dangerous discovery on a Baltic beach. "Don't touch, don't pick up, call emergency services." Read also: This is the royal family's favorite beach. One attraction is completely free.
Wprost
