Sa Dragonera has belonged to the Majorca Council since 1987, but it was only in 1995 that the Government of the Balearic Islands approved the declaration of Natural Park. Natural Park of sa Dragonera Even though the Natural Park is named sa Dragonera, it also includes the islet of Pantaleu, the island Mitjana and els Calafats within its protected area, because of their shared environmental conditions, they are very valuable due to their magnificent state of natural conservation. Sa Dragonera has belonged to the Majorca Council since 1987, but it was only in 1995 that the Government of the Balearic Islands approved the declaration of Natural Park in order to guarantee the conservation of this space, and show it to all that want to know it. The island of Sa Dragonera is, geologically, the continuation of the Majorcan Serra de Tramuntana, but its vegetation is not the same because it is conditioned by the dimensions of the island, by the steep topography and the influence of the sea. The most common vegetation is littoral, in rocky areas, the coastal areas, the brushwoods of wild olive trees and rosemary, which is very abundant. Concerning the fauna of the park, its name Dragonera gives much away. The common gecko and the lizard are the only known reptiles on the island of sa Dragonera. In fact, apart from the birds, there were no mammals until the arrival of humans. In this way rabbits, goat, sheep, hedgehogs and rats were introduced, some of them for specific purposes and others in accidentally. The vell marí was an autochthonous mammal inhabiting the area, but declined in number and, in fact, there are now just a few left in the Mediterranean. The cetaceans that still can be frequently seen are the common dolphin and the dofí mular. As usually happens in natural parks in coastal areas, birds are the most habitual fauna, numerous and diverse. Sa Dragonera, Pantaleu and la Trapa were declared ZEPA areas (Bird Special Protection Zone). The most frequent marine species are the puffin, cormorant, virot, vulgar seagull and red seagull. Among the percy birds, are the peregrin falcon, the falcó marí, the kestrel and the little owl.
A large part of s'Albufera (1,700 hectares) conserves its natural characteristics intact, which make it a privileged place to be with an important environmental worth because it has remained relatively undisturbed for a long time period. Natural Park of s'Albufera de Mallorca S'Albufera de Mallorca is a wetland area, of approximately 2,580 ha with a perimeter of 32 kilometres, embracing part of the municipality of Alcúdia, Muro and sa Pobla, and has had extraordinary economic and ecological importance in this zone of the island. It is important not to confuse this lagoon, known as the big one, with the small lagoon at Pollença. A large part of s'Albufera (1,700 hectares) conserves its natural characteristics intact, which make it a privileged place to be with an important environmental worth because it has remained relatively undisturbed for a long time period. It is necessary to point out, however, that on the 3rd of November 2000 a fire destroyed a total of 450 ha of the area, 440 ha of which belonged to the Natural Park. Luckily, it wasn't the nesting season and the ecological consequences haven't been too devastating. In the spring of 2001 it will be possible to enjoy a total recovery of the affected area. Here, the main vegetation is the canyet and the cesquera plants, which were formerly used on the island for, amongst other things, feeding livestock. During the months of summer, the sea water floods into s'Albufera, which during the rest of the year is nourished by fresh water running from the high ground. This causes salted earth. In these lands saltworts and rushes grow, but also it should be noted that so do elm trees, tamarisks and albàs. The fauna that inhabits s'Albufera is as diverse as abundant. Counting only birds, there are about 230 species that live, nest or spend some time in this protected natural space. Of the ones that nest, it is important to highlight the coot, the cap-blau, the suís, the avisador and sedge-warble. However, there are also many migratory species which stop only to rest, such as flamingos or the limícoles, and also those who spend the whole winter such as ducks, herons... In the wetland areas, fish such as eels, sea-pechs, silverfish, amphibians and reptiles are also abundant. With the arrival of mass tourism in the sixties, the landscape in the region of s'Albufera was dramatically altered along the coastal area, when large spaces were built on and lakes and canals were constructed around the hotels and apartment blocks. To put a halt to this process and preserve the richness of the biggest wetland area of Majorca, the Balearic Government approved, in 1988, the creation of the first Natural Park of the Balearic Islands, with a total of 1,700 ha protected. Also, the area was declared ZEPA (Bird Special Protection Zone), and a Biosphere Reserve. Also, s'Albufera is included in the Ramsar treaty for the protection of wetlands.
The ZOO NATURA PARC was inaugurated in 2008. It is located in the municipality of Santa Eugenia, Mallorca, Balearic Islands, a few meters from an ANEI (Natural Area of Special Interest) and in the epicenter of traditional Mallorca. Zoo Natura Parc is the realization of the dream of an animal-loving Mallorcan family, whose hobby started very early and in a totally self-taught way, becoming their way of life. The spirit of the Zoo is formed by the three main pillars of any zoo, these are ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION, CONSERVATION and RESEARCH.
Discovered accidentally during the construction of a well in 1906, they form a set of subway galleries of calcareous origin that are linked by naturally formed corridors. They are located in the middle of the residential district of Génova, belonging to the municipality of Palma de Mallorca (Balearic Islands). The caves have a route on foot of almost a kilomentro of distance and one descends until the 36 m of depth. Of enormous natural beauty, given especially by the different mineral colors of its speleothems and its great concentration of eccentric formations, they stand out notably for the multitude of specimens of the very rare and difficult to find coraloid speleothems (also known as popcorn or cauliflowers). They also have an enormous natural irrigation of fresh water throughout the year, which favors a very humid environment, a phenomenon that makes them stand out from the other 4 tourist caves on the island, giving this cave a very appreciated value of liveliness.
A unique botanical garden with didactic facilities to teach visitors about the surrounding environment. Since 1989 BOTANICACTUS has been one of the most emblematic tourist destinations in the south of Mallorca, combining splendor, vigor and diversity in an environment of great natural wealth, making it the most representative botanical garden on the island and one of the most emblematic of its kind in the world. In it we find a great variety of native flora from many parts of the world, showing all its splendor and variety in an environment with an area of 150,000 m², bringing together more than 1,600 species and 15,000 specimens, with the backdrop of the largest lake of the Balearic Islands, about 10,000 m² located in the tropical zone, with aquatic plants, bamboo on its shores, which will transport you to the interior of a lost jungle.
The Cúber reservoir is an artificial water reservoir located on the slopes of Puig Major and Morro de Cúber. Together with the Gorg Blau reservoir, it is owned by the City Council of Palma and supplies water to the municipality and its surroundings. Its own water and water from the Gorg Blau (pumped, as it is at a lower level), is distributed in the municipalities of the Bay of Palma through the Almadrà stream. It receives its name due to its proximity to the possession of Cúber. Among others, also takes the name of this possession the peak that overlooks the reservoir: the morro de Cúber.
They are located to the right of the road, at the entrance of the urbanized nucleus of Cala Sant Vicenç. They have been known for several centuries, since Joan B. Binimelis already speaks of them in his History of Mallorca of 1593, in which he affirms that "they denote to have been the habitation of giants". In 1927, Wilfred Hemp invented a total of 13 caves, but currently only 7 are preserved, since they have been plundered and reused since their discovery. Cristòfol Veny divided them into simple caves, for habitation, and complex caves, for burial. Despite this hypothesis, it seems more plausible that they were all part of the same necropolis from the Middle Bronze Age (around 1600 BC), in an area that probably had sacred and ritual value. The site where the necropolis is located is a Quaternary sediment, easily excavated, different from the rest of the territory. Six of the seven caves are aligned at the foot of a natural step near the path that leads there from the entrance to the site. The seventh cave is located on the other side of the road, in front of the third cave. The first cave (no. 6 of Hemp) has neither vestibule nor passageway, since they have been destroyed. In front of the access, there are signs of the existence of a kind of courtyard that must have been part of the complex. The interior has a length of about 12 m and, at the bottom, has an apse closed by an apsidiole or niche. Inside, a bétilo idol (cylindrical stone considered sacred) was found, which is the only representation of this type found in Mallorca. The second cavity (No. 7 of Hemp), one of the best preserved, also presents the remains of an entrance courtyard, with a quadrangular hole. The doorway is one meter high by half a meter wide, and gives access to the antechamber, followed by the main chamber, which has an entrance with a curved lintel, with samples of grooves or closing marks, and has a bench and central trench, as well as apsidia or niches in the apse and the sides. Fragments of bone pieces, known as buttons, with a V-shaped perforation, were found. The third cave has lost the front part and preserves a central bench and two lateral niches and one apsidal niche. The fourth cave has an access with carved rock and an antechamber and chamber, with a lateral bench and three niches. The fifth cave has a different floor plan, circular, with a large entrance and, on the roof, a hole with a closing slab.
Las Salinas de Sa Vall or Colonia de Sant Jordi is the second oldest in the world (fourth century BC.) Since its establishment has been initiated by the Punic merchants. The salt remained the main source of interest to the Romans, Byzantines, Arabs and Christians. These same sources salineras its importance may explain the etymology of the municipality. Their extraction is still done with traditional methods, during the month of agosto.Constituyen a fragile and valuable ecosystem key part protected natural area is Trenc-Salobrar Field.
The natural park of the Llevant peninsula, with an area of 1,671 ha, comprises a large area of the mountains of Artà, and includes the highest peaks of the Serres de Llevant (Puig Morei, 564 m; Puig des Porrassar, 491 m; Puig de sa Tudossa, 441 m). The nature reserves of Cap de Ferrutx and Cap des Freu, in the municipalities of Artà and Capdepera, comprise two areas of coastal cliffs at the northern end of the Llevant peninsula.
Bird watchers have a specific place that provides them with information not only about birds, but also about the nature areas nearby. The centre is located in the area of La Gola in the Port de Pollença. La Gola is a small wetland zone formed by the confluence of the Gotmar and Sóller torrents, whose waters flow through the site before reaching the sea. Panels with itineraries to guide visitors have been set up. The location of the centre a few kilometres from the S'Albufereta and Albufera wetlands in Mallorca, as well as its proximity to the Tramuntana Mountains, makes it an ideal starting point for those interested in nature in general and bird watching in particular. The centre also meets educational goals related to the world of birds and nature conservation. A permanent exhibition introduces visitors to the islanl's birdlife, species and habitats.
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