For years tourists have ridden boats through this sacred Australian natural wonder. A new ban will stop them in their tracks | CNN
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Tour boats will soon be banned from passing through what naturalist David Attenborough has described as “Australia’s most unusual natural wonder,” a move that has received both applause and criticism from those affected by the upcoming restrictions.

The Horizontal Falls are one of Australia’s strangest natural attractions, a unique blend of coastal geography and powerful tidal forces that visitors pay big money to see up close.

But all that is about to change.

Located at Talbot Bay, a remote spot on the country’s northwestern coastline, the falls are created when surges of seawater pour between two narrow cliff gaps, creating a swell of up to four meters that resembles a waterfall.

For decades, tours have pierced these gaps on powerful boats, much to the dismay of the area’s Indigenous Traditional Owners, who say the site is sacred.

It’s not the only reason the boat tours are controversial. In May 2022 one boat hit the rocks resulting in passenger injuries and triggering a major rescue operation. The incident led to calls to halt the tours for safety reasons.

Although the boat trips have continued, the concerns of the Indigenous Traditional Owners have now been heeded, with Western Australia, the state in which the falls are situated, saying they will be banned in 2028 out of respect.

  • Stern@lemmy.worldEnglish
    1122·
    8 months ago

    What if their 34th, 33rd, 32nd, 31st, 30th, 29th, 28th, 27th, 26th, 25th, 24th, 23rd, 22nd, 21st, 20th, 19th, 18th, 17th, 16th, 15th, 14th, 13th, 12th, 11th, 10th, 9th, 8th, 7th, 6th, 5th, 4th, 3rd, 2nd and 1st great grandpa along with their father too all see a place as sacred to their culture?

    They didn’t build it anymore then 35 did, so I’m not understanding what counterpoint you’re trying to put forth here. My point was fairly clear, and if you’re only going to willfully misinterpret it, then I’m not sure you’re someone I want to engage with.

    • supersquirrel@sopuli.xyzEnglish
      115·
      8 months ago

      They didn’t build it anymore then 35 did, so I’m not understanding what counterpoint you’re trying to put forth here.

      Oh ok, so your argument is if indigenous peoples built Niagra Falls thennn they could claim it was sacred site to their culture.

      …got it

      That makes total sense, it is a commonly accepted fact among all major religions and cultures of the world that something can only be sacred if it was built by human hands. Forgot about that one!

      • ashok36@lemmy.worldEnglish
        78·
        8 months ago

        Sacred implies supernaturality. Since that isn’t actually a thing, nothing is sacred. It’s as valid for one person to say they think something is not sacred as it is for someone to say they think it is.

        At the end of the day, the argument should be that it is unique and should be preserved because of its uniqueness. That’s a much more palatable and understandable position to take.

        • stoly@lemmy.worldEnglish
          62·
          8 months ago

          People in Congress refer to the US Capitol as a “Sacred” space. Yes, that’s right. It has nothing to do with gods or supernatural things. It is referred to that way specifically because it is so important to the people.

        • girlfreddy@lemmy.caEnglish
          43·
          8 months ago

          How about you set aside your “palatability” of an idea and instead respect other’s truth about it instead? Or is that too selfless for you?