I got to Natal just before midnight in mid October 2024. My accommodation was a beautiful sea front villa in Ponta Negra. My first action was to grab a cold drink and walk down to the front terrace of the property facing Ponta Negra beach. It was high tide. The waves crashed against the supporting wall of the promenade. And once again, it was apparent that the sea was slowly but surely eating up the beach. The side of the promenade was lined with beach umbrellas and chairs. These items need to be carried up to the promenade and down again on to the sand according to the flow of high and low tide.
Next morning, at daylight, I was amazed to see what was happening along the coast line – the enlargement of Ponte Negra beach was underway. I was told that the work had started sometime in September. I noted that it had made good progress.
Enlargement of Ponta Negra beach
The enlargement of Ponta Negra beach has been in the planning for a long time. At one point the (former) mayor of Natal declared it an emergency. And rightly so. Ponta Negra beach, the vibrant heart of Natal, was under siege. The encroaching sea threatened the livelihoods of beach vendors, restaurants, and hotels that thrive along the coast. Businesses and beachgoers alike were forced to strategically plan their beach days around the low or high tide.
An ambitious plan for the enlargement of Ponta Negra beach was put forth, yet it required perseverance. The case traveled its way through legal terrains, ultimately reaching the courts for approval.
Once all legal issues were resolved, an innovative rescue mission was set in motion. A Dutch company was contracted to undertake the monumental task of enlarging the 4 kilometre stretch of coastline.
This dredge had four months to complete the work. The diligent crew needed to operate 24/7 to transport an estimated 1.3 million cubic meters of sand. The sand was dredged from deposits some 10 kilometres offshore.
Once the vessel returned to one of the five anchor points close to the coast line large pipelines were attached to it. This way, the sand was pumped on to the beach. The pipelines extended up to 130 meters. It would take approx 2 and a half hours to complete one cycle.
Brazilian engineering company DTA is involved
But this marked just the beginning as the Brazilian engineering company DTA deployed a series of powerful machinery to distribute and level the sand.
The enlargement of Ponta Negra beach becomes a reality
Slowly but surely, a vision became reality: Ponta Negra beach widened expansively to 50 meters at high tide and stretched to an impressive 100 meters during low tide.
Morro de Careca
An important factor in this endeavor was to protect Morro de Careca. This is a huge dune and the landmark of Ponta Negra beach in Natal. The sea water, during high tide, was washing away the bottom of the dune threatening it to collapse. But with the enlargement of Ponta Negra beach this would not happen anymore.
Enlargement of Ponta Negra beach
The enlargement of Ponta Negra beach is a marvel of human ingenuity. Business will now see an increase in their income. It will attract more tourism to Ponta Negra beach as it can now be enjoyed any day, any time.
The new beach was inaugurated 27 Dezember 2024. I was told that a party will go on for 4 days leading up to New Year. A huge stage was built up, music bands organised, stalls selling drinks and food installed. Well, it is estimated that some 70K people showed up. It looked like a rock concert. Unseen for Natal.
This transformation not only signals a win over nature’s relentless clawing but has rejuvenated the heart of Natal. Beach establishments, no longer are dictated by the tides. They now thrive in newfound security, unfurling umbrellas and setting out chairs without fear of nature’s interruption.
So stands Ponta Negra Beach, a symbol of human ingenuity and resolve, welcoming countless locals and tourists in harmony with the rhythmic symphony of the sea, all thanks to an ambitious dream realized over four determined months.
Well, it was time for the Dutch ship to say goodbye. Work has been completed. And this is what they did:
Leave A Comment
You must be logged in to post a comment.