The sudden appearance of a ‘new beach’ in Sosua Bay off the cliffs of the On the Waterfront Restaurant is not due to changes in sea level but the result of submarine geological shifts, reports El Caribe newspaper today. This is a common phenomenon in the Caribbean, according to geologist Osiris de Le?n, from the Dominican Academy of Sciences. The geological process, which is being monitored by experts, is the friction of the Bahamas Platform with the Caribbean Plate, a process that, he said, eventually could result in the creation of new islets like Montecristi Bay’s Siete Hermanos. Over the last few days local residents and emergency services were surprised when a new beach appeared to form practically overnight, leading people to believe that a submarine earthquake had occurred, and giving rise to fears that a tidal wave could follow. De Le?n assured that this is not likely in the present circumstances, although the emergency services are looking out for changes in the area.
El Caribe newspaper also interviewed Cecilio D?az, deputy minister of Environment, who explained that this is but a natural phenomenon that is owed to certain atmospheric conditions occurring in the Atlantic Ocean. With dimensions of about 60 meters length and 5 meters width, the new beach is, according to D?az, the result of the rough weathers affecting the Caribbean and Atlantic region that have pushed large amounts of sand to land. ?There is no danger. All that has happened is that the ocean threw up some new sand and at any time it can take it back,? said D?az.
The new beach has been declared safe and is open to the public.