A group of surfers in Chile claim to have found the perfect break and are not afraid to brave extreme pollution to enjoy it.
Ventana beach in Santiago, Chile receives polluted outflow from no less than ten thermoelectric power stations, which leaves the water brimming with arsenic, mercury, lead and other pollutants.
Aside from the serious health complications posed by such toxic elements, surfers also risk chemical burns and rashes from the poisonous waters. The air is poisonous too, full of sulfur dioxide.
However, Metro reports that the locals see the upside, with one surfer, Cristian Inzunzia noting:
The weather conditions are always good down there and the water temperature is actually quite warm so it’s easy not to think about incidental diseases.
Most of the time we manage to escape the really bad effects, except for the smell on our wetsuits – we could be the world’s smelliest surfers.
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Read on to see Ventanas in action.
Ventanas in action
[Source: Dusanvf (Flickr)]
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