Playa La Franca Pm1

22.2°C Water temp · Jul 22

Spain Coastal 2 - Good 22.2°C

Satellite image of PLAYA LA FRANCA PM1 — Satellite image © Esri

La Franca is a natural sandy beach located in Ribadedeva, Asturias, Spain, on the Cantabrian coast. The beach measures 260 meters in length and 141 meters in width, with white sand composition. It experiences macrotidal conditions with a tidal range exceeding 4 meters and moderate wave action. Water renewal occurs in less than 7 days, and the beach has high occupancy during summer months.

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Water

Coastal marine water body in the Western Cantabrian region. Length 260 meters, width 141 meters. White sand composition. Macrotidal amplitude exceeding 4 meters. Water renewal time less than 7 days. Mean wind speed 5.24 m/s. Current direction northwest. Moderate wave action.

Location

Ribadedeva municipality, Asturias, Spain. The beach is accessible by road with over 100 parking spaces and has good pedestrian access.

Facilities

Lifeguards, toilets, showers, disabled access, good pedestrian access, over 100 parking spaces.

Water Quality

Microbiological water quality classified as good, with sufficient results recorded in 2016. The beach received Blue Flag designation in 2007, 2010, and 2011. Water quality has deteriorated since 2012. Overall contamination risk assessed as low based on recent sanitary quality controls.

Risks

Primary pollution source is the Cabra River estuary discharging directly onto the beach, carrying urban and agricultural runoff. Risk of short-duration contamination episodes classified as moderate. Low risk of microalga and cyanobacteria proliferation. Low risk of macroalga blooms. Low risk of jellyfish proliferation, though Portuguese man-of-war (Physalia physalis) sightings occurred in 2008, 2010, and an exceptional surge of multiple jellyfish species in 2012. One jellyfish sting incident recorded in 2015 and one sighting of Aequorea forskalea in 2016. Treated wastewater discharge point 782 meters away from sampling point.