Beaches in Valencian Coast

The main factors that determined the Valencian beaches characteristics are the configuration of relief structures; fluvial sediment supply; low tidal range; the predominance of low energy waves; scarcity of big storms; longshore littoral drift; and human action. There is a significant prevalence of sandy beaches. Nevertheless, both at the northern part of the Gulf of Valencia and in the structural segment, between the Cape Sant Antoni and Alicante city, pebble and gravel beaches are predominant. Most of the Valencian beaches have experienced significant morphological changes during the last decades due to the human interventions -voluntary or involuntary- in the coastal system. The implementation of artificial barriers to longitudinal transport (ports, jetties, groins, etc.) has caused updrift sedimentary accumulations and downdrift accelerated beach erosion, as usual. The urban occupation (especially by the construction of promenades, usually on top of the dunes) destroyed the precarious transversal beach equilibrium. On the other hand, artificial sand nourishments have altered the original texture of many beach segments and punctually modified the previous landscape morphology. In addition, the substantial decrease in new fluvial sediment supply to the coastal system, also by human action, has led to a paradigm shift in the Valencian coasts towards a deficient sedimentary economy that threatens its future sustainability.