“A little restraint, please!” wrote the mayor of Les Sables d’Olonne, who is leading an effort to stop visitors from wandering the town in just their swimwear.

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Finns trying to enjoy beaches and parks during their all-too-brief summers have been vexed by legions of geese — and their droppings. The smelly mess has resisted even the most innovative solutions.

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From land, a rip current can appear relatively calm, as a strip of water that extends out between breaking waves. Its appearance can be deceiving.

© NOAA, via Associated Press

From land, a rip current can appear relatively calm, as a strip of water that extends out between breaking waves. Its appearance can be deceiving.

© NOAA, via Associated Press

The growing battle over how to manage sea level rise turns partly on a legal principle set down in Roman times.

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In peak vacation season, many of the continent’s most desirable getaways are becoming places to get away from.

© Finbarr O'Reilly for The New York Times