Overview

• The Guardia Civil arrested a 23-year-old Moldovan tourist on June 10 after he was caught breaking a three-centimeter stalactite during a guided boat and foot tour of the Coves de Sant Josep in La Vall d’Uixó, Castellón.
• Experts estimate stalactite growth rates of 0.1 to 10 centimeters per 1,000 years, meaning the damaged specimen took centuries to form.
• The Coves de Sant Josep is classified as a Bien de Interés Cultural and contains prehistoric paintings, engravings, and an 800-meter navigable underground river.
• The tourist faces charges of damaging historical heritage with potential penalties ranging from six months to three years in prison and fines of up to 24 months.
• Local authorities and tour operators have called for stricter visitor guidelines and heightened preservation efforts to protect the site’s geological and archaeological treasures.