Across the world from each other, the port of Skagway, Alaska and the beaches of Portugal’s sunny Algarve region are in danger from collapsing cliffs, threatening travel and tourism. In Skagway’s case, the effect has already been felt this summer.
Several rockslides at Skagway have closed a main docking area for cruise ships, forcing some ships to find alternate ports, or to bring passengers ashore in tenders. The operation of the White Pass & Yukon Railway, which operates from the pier, has also been affected. For Skagway, whose economy is heavily dependent on the summer cruise season, the outlook is worrying.
In Portugal, meanwhile, the Portuguese Environment Agency has released a list of 75 beaches with dangerous cliffs at risk of collapsing onto the beaches. The beaches are spread through five areas of the Algarve, and authorities point out to beachgoers that cliff collapses could be instantaneous with no warning.
