Stacking stones at Maspalomas Beach harms wildlife and weakens the coast
A growing trend among tourists to stack stones into small towers along the Maspalomas seafront is raising concern among environmental experts, who warn that the practice is damaging the coastline and endangering local wildlife.
The fad, which has gone viral on TikTok and other social media platforms, has turned the area around the Faro de Maspalomas into a hotspot for visitors eager to build and photograph their own rock “totems.”
But researchers say this activity offers no environmental benefit, and in fact, could have lasting negative effects.
A weakened natural barrier
“Removing stones from their natural position weakens the coastal barrier that protects everything behind it,” explains Abel Sanromualdo, a researcher at the Institute of Oceanography and Global Change at the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (ULPGC).
“Those rocks help absorb wave energy. When they’re taken away, erosion increases and waves can reach further inland.”
While moving just a few stones might seem harmless, Sanromualdo warns that repeated activity over time gradually undermines the beach’s natural defences, especially during strong southwesterly storms that often hit the area. “It’s a slow process, but it makes the coast more vulnerable,” he adds.
Impact on wildlife and landscape
The problem extends beyond erosion. “Those stones are habitats for small animals such as insects, crabs, and lizards,” says Sanromualdo. “By moving them, we remove their shelter and expose them to predators. Many of these species can’t adapt if their environment changes suddenly.”
He also notes that the practice disrupts both the natural landscape and the geological record of the area. “These stones were placed there naturally by the sea over time, they’re part of the island’s history. When we rearrange them, we lose valuable information that could help future studies on coastal change.”
Call for awareness and education
Experts are urging greater public awareness and education to curb the trend. Simply removing the stone piles, Sanromualdo argues, “won’t solve the problem unless people understand why it’s harmful.”
He recalls that in the past, locals used to build small stone shelters to shield themselves from the wind. Once information campaigns and clear signage were introduced explaining their impact, people largely stopped.
“Education is the key,” he concludes. “If visitors understand that these piles are damaging the environment they’ve come to enjoy, they’ll think twice before building them.”
The warning comes as Maspalomas continues to battle erosion and pressure on its dunes, highlighting the urgent need to protect one of Gran Canaria’s most iconic natural areas.
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