Morro do Careca (“bald hill” in Portuguese) is the main symbol of the city of Natal and the state of Rio Grande do Norte. It measures 120 meters (390 ft.). In the past, Morro do Careca was a spot for recreation and entertainment. The bathers and tourists would climb up the hill and come down with the help of a device called skibunda (“bunda” is Portuguese for “butt”—you’d sit on a board and ski down the slope). Since the end of the 1990s, it has been closed to visitors. The reason for the closure was to protect the dunes; the preservation of the vegetation will aid in safeguarding against erosion, ensuring that the sand does not slip and thus reduce the height of the hill. At present, all activity on the dune remains suspended. The scene also brings together a sea full of bathers, surfers, windsurfers and kitesurfers, in addition to the stand-up paddle crowd. It is frequented by locals and tourists, who fill the tents on the boardwalk and the shore. The best spot for bathing is in the right corner, between the end of the boardwalk and Morro do Careca. There, the sea is calmer and also has the long-time restaurant, the Old Five Beach Bar.