Menu toggle
New to 2016 – Underwater Museum, Lanzarote

New to 2016 – Underwater Museum, Lanzarote

By Charlotte Wilson

Lanzarote has been confirmed as the location of Europe’s first underwater museum.  The project predicted to take two years to complete with a budget of approximately 700,000 Euros.  The project will be undertaken by British sculptor, Jason DeCaires Taylor and will involve 10 installations or varying sizes.
 
The main installation will have a botanical garden which will reflect Lanzarote’s local flora and fauna and will also consist of an archway and fence. The project aims to spread awareness of environmental issues such as global warming by providing a habitat for aboriginal marine life.
 
The underwater sculptures should help the declining reef population by encouraging not just coral reef to grow on the sculptures, but to encourage a boom in marine life to the area with animals such as brightly coloured fish, sea urchins, sponges, sea turtles, and even sharks.
 
The installation will have a variety of man-made sculptures as well as sculptures made from organic and abstract material.
 
Visitors will be able to see the underwater museum in a number of ways; such as via scuba diving and glass bottomed canoes; organisers are also looking at undertaking submarine tours of the site.
 
Lanzarote’s government wanted to take the opportunity to attract more conscientious tourists to the island and they believed that the way to do so would be to add a cultural destination that will be a must see for tourists. 
 
The sculptures should last for 300 years under the water and this will make Lanzarote a tourist destination for hundreds of years to come.

Share this article:

Subscribe to newsletter

close

Subscribe to our newsletter

Sign up here and get the latest news and updates delivered directly to your inbox

You can unsubscribe at any time