Es Pontàs ("the big bridge" in the Catalan language) is a natural arch made from limestone in the southeastern part of the island of Mallorca in Spain. The arch is located on the coastline between the Cala Santanyí and Cala Llombards in the municipality of Santanyí, and is approximately 20 metres (66 ft) in height. Es Pontàs is only accessible by boat or by swimming, and is a popular scenic location for tourists to Mallorca (particularly at sunrise and sunset) who view it from the 'Mirador Es Pontas'.[2]
Es Pontàs | |
|---|---|
 Es Pontàs as seen from 'Mirador Es Pontas' | |
  Es Pontàs Es Pontàs within Mallorca | |
| Coordinates: 39°19′32″N 3°08′41″E / 39.325556°N 3.144722°E | |
| Location | Santanyí (Balearic Islands, Spain) |
| Elevation | 20 m (65 ft) |
Climbing area edit
The arch is also a deep-water soloing (DWS) climbing area,[3] and the first routes in the guidebook date from circa 2003 with Stop Look and Listen 6a+ (5.10b) and Treasure Island 6b (5.10c).[4] The area is most noted for Chris Sharma's DWS routes, and particularly Pontax 8c (5.14b) in 2005, and Es Pontàs 9a+ (5.15a) in 2006.[5] Es Pontàs was the first-ever DWS route at the grade of 9a+ (5.15a), and at the time that Sharma made the first ascent, it was one of only a handful of rock climbing routes in the world at that grade.[6] Sharma's ascent of Es Pontàs is captured in the 2007 climbing film, King Lines.[7][8][9][10]
See also edit
- Azure Window, sea arch in Malta
- Durdle Door, sea arch in England
References edit
- ^ "Es Pontas". NaturalArches.org. 2023. Retrieved 20 August 2023.
- ^ Robinson, Mike (2007). "Es Pontàs (9a+)". Deep Water: Rockfax Guidebook to Deep Water Soloing. Rockfax. p. 8. ISBN 978-1873341766.
- ^ "Es Pontàs, Deep water soloing". theCrag. 2023. Retrieved 20 August 2023.
- ^ James, Alan; Glaister, Mark; Beail, Daimon (2016). "Es Pontas (9a+), Santanyi". Spain: Mallorca, Sport Climbing and Deep Water Soloing. Rockfax. p. 350-354. ISBN 978-1873341186.
- ^ "Jernej Kruder / the Es Pontas deep water solo interview". PlanetMountain. 2 November 2016. Retrieved 18 August 2023.
- ^ Leavy, Michael (8 October 2018). "Interview: Jan Hojer on His Third Ascent of "Es Pontas" (5.15a Deep Water Solo)". Rock & Ice. Retrieved 18 August 2023.
- ^ Clarke, Owen (11 June 2022). "Chris Sharma—One Of The Best And Most Influential Rock Climbers Of All Time". Climbing. Retrieved 11 June 2022.
- ^ "Watch Chris Sharma's Most Spectacular Climb Es Pontás, Remastered". Gripped. 25 April 2021. Retrieved 18 June 2022.
- ^ Bisharat, Andrew (6 September 2022). "The 20 Best Climbing Films of All Time". Outside. Retrieved 18 October 2022.
Number 11. King Lines (2007)
- ^ Lewis, Ashley (3 December 2007). "King Lines". UKClimbing Magazine. Retrieved 20 August 2023.
External links edit
- Es Pontas, Hard Climbs (2023)
- Es Pontas Rock Climbing, Mountain Project (2023)
- VIDEO: Chris Sharma’s Mallorca Es Pontas remastered, PlanetMountain (2021)
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