Madagascar

In Madagascar, there’s a sand dune where no one may dig with iron.

At a lake near the east coast, a sand dune lies between the lake and the sea. Mermaids are believed to live in the sand.

When the lake rises, the water has to get through the dune to the sea. According to tradition, it’s the mermaids who open the way through the sand, with their small hands.

The village fishermen help them by digging a channel through the sand. But they dig only with wooden paddles.

Iron is forbidden. It could hurt the mermaids said to be hiding beneath the sand.