As Catedrais beach facts for kids
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Praia das Catedrais is a famous beach on the northwest coast of Spain. Its name means "Beach of the Cathedrals" in English. The local people call it Praia de Augas Santas, which means 'Beach of the Holy Waters' in Galician. This special beach is found in a town called Ribadeo, in the province of Lugo in Galicia. It's right on the Cantabric coast, about ten kilometers (or six miles) west of Ribadeo town. The beach gets its name from the amazing rock formations that look like the arches of a grand cathedral.
This beautiful beach has been named a Natural Monument by the local government of Xunta de Galicia. This means it's a protected area because of its unique natural features.
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Discovering Praia das Catedrais
The most exciting parts of Praia das Catedrais are its amazing natural arches and big caves. You can only see these incredible shapes when the ocean tide is low. When the tide is high, the beach looks much smaller, but it's still a great place for swimming.
What Happens at Low Tide?
When the tide goes out, the beach becomes much bigger. That's when you can truly see how huge the cliffs and sea caves are. Some are small cracks in the rock, while others are giant caves. The roofs of these caves have fallen in over time because of the ocean waves.
At low tide, you can walk on a wide sandy area. This area is surrounded by tall rock walls made of slate and schist. These rocks form arches that are up to 30 meters (about 100 feet) high! They look a lot like the flying buttresses you might see on a cathedral. You'll also find large caves, sandy paths between huge rock blocks, and many other cool rock shapes.
Exploring Further
Sometimes, when the tide is extra low, you can even walk to other nearby beaches by following the sand. But be careful! The coast here is very flat, so the water comes back in quickly. It's important to know the tide times so you don't get stuck.
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See also
In Spanish: Playa de Las Catedrales para niños
