by Valentina T. and Riccardo D.
The first underwater museum in Europe has recently been opened.
The Museo Atlantico consists of nearly 300 different statues which have been placed on the bottom of the sea. They are made of a particular material which promotes coral life and helps marine organisms and native species to reproduce . The statues represent different kinds of scenes with human figures created by the international artist Jason deCaires Taylor who has opened other underwater museums around the world. The sculptures are immersed at depths between 12 and 15 metres and they are placed on the seafloor of Las Coloradas bay in Spain’s Lanzarote island, covering a 2500 square-metre surface . Included in those statues, we can find 35 human figures which are walking on the bottom of the sea. It can even be visited by someone who has never dived before, as lessons can be taken in the morning so that in the afternoon you can visit the museum. The sculptures are made up of a variety of works including:
- A group of children who are using their own boats
- A traditional local funeral pyre
- A scene that shows how sailors were abandoned in the shipwreck off the coast of Senegal
- A couple taking a “selfie”
- A group of 35 sculptures (as mentioned before) walking towards an underwater wall and entrance – a boundary between two realities and a portal to the Atlantic Ocean
- A sculpture which represent different plants and humans that live in harmony
- A hybrid animal/human which is looking at a mirror that reflects the surface of the ocean
- A children’s playground that is enjoyed by suited businessmen
- Photographers that are taking pictures
- 200 life-size figures on the seafloor that create a vast circular formation
The creator of these mysterious sculptures was inspired by Greek mythology creating a connection between humans and water nature, with a romantic background. This has attracted many visitors who have been amazed.