Bodies pile up at the annual Human Tower competition

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Bodies pile up at the annual Human Tower competition

Emil Lendof

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Oct 8, 2018

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Human Towers Are Built In The Tarragona Castells Competition

The ‘Castellers’ who build the human towers with precise techniques compete in groups, know as ‘colles’, at local festivals with aim to build the highest and most complex human tower. The Catalan tradition is believed to have originated from human towers built at the end of the 18th century by dance groups and is part of the Catalan culture. Getty Images

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Members of the Castellers DEsparreguera arrive to the 27th Tarragona Competition on October 06, 2018 in Tarragona, Spain.

TARRAGONA, SPAIN – OCTOBER 06: Members of the Castellers DEsparreguera arrive to the 27th Tarragona Competition on October 06, 2018 in Tarragona, Spain. The ‘Castellers’ who build the human towers… Getty Images

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Members of the Castellers de Villnova built a human tower during the 27th Tarragona Competition on October 06, 2018 in Tarragona, Spain.

TARRAGONA, SPAIN – OCTOBER 06: Members of the Castellers de Villnova built a human tower during the 27th Tarragona Competition on October 06, 2018 in Tarragona, Spain. The ‘Castellers’ who… Getty Images

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A member of the colla 'Xiquets del Serrallo' celebrates after building a human tower during the 27th Concurs de Castells competition on October 6, 2018 in Tarragona, Spain.

TARRAGONA, SPAIN – OCTOBER 06: A member of the colla ‘Xiquets del Serrallo’ celebrates after building a human tower during the 27th Concurs de Castells competition on October 6, 2018… Getty Images

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A member of the colla 'Nens del Vendrell' builds a human tower during the 27th Concurs de Castells competition on October 6, 2018 in Tarragona, Spain.

TARRAGONA, SPAIN – OCTOBER 06: A member of the colla ‘Nens del Vendrell’ builds a human tower during the 27th Concurs de Castells competition on October 6, 2018 in Tarragona,… Getty Images

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Members of the colla 'Colla de Castellers d'Esplugues' celebrate after building a human tower during the 27th Concurs de Castells competition on October 6, 2018 in Tarragona, Spain.

TARRAGONA, SPAIN – OCTOBER 06: Members of the colla ‘Colla de Castellers d’Esplugues’ celebrate after building a human tower during the 27th Concurs de Castells competition on October 6, 2018… Getty Images

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A young member of the colla 'Xiquets de Reus' jumps after building a human tower during the 27th Concurs de Castells competition on October 6, 2018 in Tarragona, Spain.

TARRAGONA, SPAIN – OCTOBER 06: A young member of the colla ‘Xiquets de Reus’ jumps after building a human tower during the 27th Concurs de Castells competition on October 6,… Getty Images

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Members of the colla 'Moixigangers d'Igualada' build a human tower during the 27th Concurs de Castells competition on October 6, 2018 in Tarragona, Spain.

TARRAGONA, SPAIN – OCTOBER 06: Members of the colla ‘Moixigangers d’Igualada’ build a human tower during the 27th Concurs de Castells competition on October 6, 2018 in Tarragona, Spain. The… Getty Images

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Members of the Castellers de Sabadell react as they built a human tower during the 27th Tarragona Competition on October 07, 2018 in Tarragona, Spain.

TARRAGONA, SPAIN – OCTOBER 07: Members of the Castellers de Sabadell react as they built a human tower during the 27th Tarragona Competition on October 07, 2018 in Tarragona, Spain…. Getty Images

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Members of the Castellers de la Vila de Gràcia prepare to build a human tower during the 27th Tarragona Competition on October 07, 2018 in Tarragona, Spain.

TARRAGONA, SPAIN – OCTOBER 07: Members of the Castellers de la Vila de Gràcia prepare to build a human tower during the 27th Tarragona Competition on October 07, 2018 in… Getty Images

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Members of the Castellers de Sant Cugat prepare to build a human tower during the 27th Tarragona Competition on October 07, 2018 in Tarragona, Spain.

TARRAGONA, SPAIN – OCTOBER 07: Members of the Castellers de Sant Cugat prepare to build a human tower during the 27th Tarragona Competition on October 07, 2018 in Tarragona, Spain…. Getty Images

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Members of the Castellers de Sabadell prepare to build a human tower during the 27th Tarragona Competition on October 07, 2018 in Tarragona, Spain.

TARRAGONA, SPAIN – OCTOBER 07: Members of the Castellers de Sabadell prepare to build a human tower during the 27th Tarragona Competition on October 07, 2018 in Tarragona, Spain. The… Getty Images

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TARRAGONA, SPAIN – OCTOBER 07: Members of the Castellers de Sabadell react as they built a human tower during the 27th Tarragona Competition on October 07, 2018 in Tarragona, Spain…. Getty Images

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Members of the Castellers de Sants build a human tower during the 27th Tarragona Competition on October 07, 2018 in Tarragona, Spain.

TARRAGONA, SPAIN – OCTOBER 07: Members of the Castellers de Sants build a human tower during the 27th Tarragona Competition on October 07, 2018 in Tarragona, Spain. The ‘Castellers’ who… Getty Images

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Members of the Castellers de Sants built a human tower during the 27th Tarragona Competition on October 07, 2018 in Tarragona, Spain.

TARRAGONA, SPAIN – OCTOBER 07: Members of the Castellers de Sants built a human tower during the 27th Tarragona Competition on October 07, 2018 in Tarragona, Spain. The ‘Castellers’ who… Getty Images

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Members of the Castellers de Sants react as they built a human tower during the 27th Tarragona Competition on October 07, 2018 in Tarragona, Spain.

TARRAGONA, SPAIN – OCTOBER 07: Members of the Castellers de Sants react as they built a human tower during the 27th Tarragona Competition on October 07, 2018 in Tarragona, Spain…. Getty Images

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Member of the Castellers de Vilafranca celebrates as they built a human tower during the 27th Tarragona Competition on October 07, 2018 in Tarragona, Spain.

TARRAGONA, SPAIN – OCTOBER 07: Member of the Castellers de Vilafranca celebrates as they built a human tower during the 27th Tarragona Competition on October 07, 2018 in Tarragona, Spain…. Getty Images

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Members of the colla Castellers de Sabadells build a human tower during the 27th Concurs de Castells competition on October 7, 2018 in Tarragona, Spain.

TARRAGONA, SPAIN – OCTOBER 07: Members of the colla Castellers de Sabadells build a human tower during the 27th Concurs de Castells competition on October 7, 2018 in Tarragona, Spain…. Getty Images

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Members of the colla Castellers de Sants build a human tower during the 27th Concurs de Castells competition on October 7, 2018 in Tarragona, Spain.

TARRAGONA, SPAIN – OCTOBER 07: Members of the colla Castellers de Sants build a human tower during the 27th Concurs de Castells competition on October 7, 2018 in Tarragona, Spain…. Getty Images

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Members of the colla Castellers de Barcelona build a human tower during the 27th Concurs de Castells competition on October 7, 2018 in Tarragona, Spain.

TARRAGONA, SPAIN – OCTOBER 07: Members of the colla Castellers de Barcelona build a human tower during the 27th Concurs de Castells competition on October 7, 2018 in Tarragona, Spain…. Getty Images

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Members of the colla ' Colla Jove Xiquets de Valls' build a human tower during the 27th Concurs de Castells competition on October 7, 2018 in Tarragona, Spain.

TARRAGONA, SPAIN – OCTOBER 07: Members of the colla ‘ Colla Jove Xiquets de Valls’ build a human tower during the 27th Concurs de Castells competition on October 7, 2018… Getty Images

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TARRAGONA, SPAIN – OCTOBER 07: Members of the colla ‘ Colla Jove Xiquets de Valls’ build a human tower during the 27th Concurs de Castells competition on October 7, 2018… Getty Images

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Members of Colla Vella dels Xiquets de Valls build a human tower during the 27th Tarragona Competition on October 07, 2018 in Tarragona, Spain.

TARRAGONA, SPAIN – OCTOBER 07: Members of Colla Vella dels Xiquets de Valls build a human tower during the 27th Tarragona Competition on October 07, 2018 in Tarragona, Spain. The… Getty Images

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Members of Colla Vella dels Xiquets de Valls celebrate as they built a human tower during the 27th Tarragona Competition on October 07, 2018 in Tarragona, Spain.

TARRAGONA, SPAIN – OCTOBER 07: Members of Colla Vella dels Xiquets de Valls celebrate as they built a human tower during the 27th Tarragona Competition on October 07, 2018 in… Getty Images

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Members of Colla Vella dels Xiquets de Valls celebrate after building a human tower during the 27th Tarragona Competition on October 07, 2018 in Tarragona, Spain.

TARRAGONA, SPAIN – OCTOBER 07: Members of Colla Vella dels Xiquets de Valls celebrate after building a human tower during the 27th Tarragona Competition on October 07, 2018 in Tarragona,… Getty Images

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TARRAGONA, SPAIN – OCTOBER 07: Spectators watch the 27th Tarragona Competition on October 07, 2018 in Tarragona, Spain. The ‘Castellers’ who build the human towers with precise techniques compete in… Getty Images

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Members of the Castellers de Sants fall down as they built a human tower during the 27th Tarragona Competition on October 07, 2018 in Tarragona, Spain.

TARRAGONA, SPAIN – OCTOBER 07: Members of the Castellers de Sants fall down as they built a human tower during the 27th Tarragona Competition on October 07, 2018 in Tarragona,… Getty Images

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Members of Castellers de Sants build a human tower during the 27th Tarragona Competition on October 07, 2018 in Tarragona, Spain.

TARRAGONA, SPAIN – OCTOBER 07: Members of Castellers de Sants build a human tower during the 27th Tarragona Competition on October 07, 2018 in Tarragona, Spain. The ‘Castellers’ who build… Getty Images

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