Mar Menor
Encyclopedia
Mar Menor is a salty lagoon
, in the south-east of the autonomous Community of Murcia, in Spain
, separated from the Mediterranean sea
by La Manga
, a sandbar 22km in length and with a variable width from 100 to 1200m.
It belongs to four municipalities: Cartagena
, Los Alcázares
, San Javier
and San Pedro del Pinatar
.
With a surface area of nearly 170km², a coastal length of 70km, and warm and clear water which does not exceed 7m in depth, it is "the largest swimming pool in the world" according to the opinions of the famous swimmer and Hollywood actress Esther Williams
.
Its relatively high salinity, which aids flotation, and remarkable sporting infrastructures make this one of the most popular places in Europe for the practice and training of all kinds of water sports.
Phoenicians initially, then the Moorish Kings, chose this "small sea" to install their summer residences here. Today, this place attracts all those who seek a quiet place to rest and relax, with ideal climatic conditions all year round.
In 1994 the Mar Menor was included on the list of the Ramsar Convention
for the conservation and sustainable utilization of wetlands.
The Mar Menor is also part of a Specially Protected Area of Mediterranean Importance
and is a Special Protection Area
(ZEPA in Spanish) for bird-life.
37°46′N 00°50′W
Lagoon
A lagoon is a body of shallow sea water or brackish water separated from the sea by some form of barrier. The EU's habitat directive defines lagoons as "expanses of shallow coastal salt water, of varying salinity or water volume, wholly or partially separated from the sea by sand banks or shingle,...
, in the south-east of the autonomous Community of Murcia, in Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, separated from the Mediterranean sea
Mediterranean Sea
The Mediterranean Sea is a sea connected to the Atlantic Ocean surrounded by the Mediterranean region and almost completely enclosed by land: on the north by Anatolia and Europe, on the south by North Africa, and on the east by the Levant...
by La Manga
La Manga
La Manga , or La Manga del Mar Menor is a seaside spit in the Region of Murcia, Spain.The strip is 22 km long and 100 metres wide , separating the Mediterranean Sea from the Mar Menor lagoon, from Cabo de Palos to the Punta del Mojón.Historically, it was known by the Romans as Palus and...
, a sandbar 22km in length and with a variable width from 100 to 1200m.
It belongs to four municipalities: Cartagena
Cartagena, Spain
Cartagena is a Spanish city and a major naval station located in the Region of Murcia, by the Mediterranean coast, south-eastern Spain. As of January 2011, it has a population of 218,210 inhabitants being the Region’s second largest municipality and the country’s 6th non-Province capital...
, Los Alcázares
Los Alcázares
Los Alcázares - pronounced Los Al-Katha-Res is a small, but expanding coastal spa town and former fishing village on the Western side of the Mar Menor in the autonomous community and province of Murcia, southeastern Spain....
, San Javier
San Javier, Murcia
San Javier is a small town and municipality in the autonomous community and province of Murcia in southeastern Spain. The municipality is situated at the northern end of Murcia's Mediterranean coastline, the Costa Cálida. It is best known for its international airport located there, Murcia-San...
and San Pedro del Pinatar
San Pedro del Pinatar, Spain
San Pedro del Pinatar is a small town and municipality in the autonomous community and province of Murcia, southeastern Spain. The municipality is situated at the northern end of Murcia's Mediterranean coastline, the Costa Cálida, and borders with the province of Alicante...
.
With a surface area of nearly 170km², a coastal length of 70km, and warm and clear water which does not exceed 7m in depth, it is "the largest swimming pool in the world" according to the opinions of the famous swimmer and Hollywood actress Esther Williams
Esther Williams
Esther Jane Williams is a retired American competitive swimmer and MGM movie star.Williams set multiple national and regional swimming records in her late teens as part of the Los Angeles Athletic Club swim team...
.
Its relatively high salinity, which aids flotation, and remarkable sporting infrastructures make this one of the most popular places in Europe for the practice and training of all kinds of water sports.
Phoenicians initially, then the Moorish Kings, chose this "small sea" to install their summer residences here. Today, this place attracts all those who seek a quiet place to rest and relax, with ideal climatic conditions all year round.
Ecological importance of the Mar Menor
At the northern end there are salt-flats which include a wetland of international importance. This area is conserved as a natural park administered by the regional government. Its name in Spanish is "Salinas y Arenales de San Pedro del Pinatar".In 1994 the Mar Menor was included on the list of the Ramsar Convention
Ramsar Convention
The Ramsar Convention is an international treaty for the conservation and sustainable utilization of wetlands, i.e., to stem the progressive encroachment on and loss of wetlands now and in the future, recognizing the fundamental ecological functions of wetlands and their economic, cultural,...
for the conservation and sustainable utilization of wetlands.
The Mar Menor is also part of a Specially Protected Area of Mediterranean Importance
Specially Protected Areas of Mediterranean Importance
Specially Protected Areas of Mediterranean Importance are sites "of importance for conserving the components of biological diversity in the Mediterranean; contain ecosystems specific to the Mediterranean area or the habitats of endangered species; are of special interest at the scientific,...
and is a Special Protection Area
Special Protection Area
A Special Protection Area or SPA is a designation under the European Union Directive on the Conservation of Wild Birds.Under the Directive, Member States of the European Union have a duty to safeguard the habitats of migratory birds and certain particularly threatened birds.Together with Special...
(ZEPA in Spanish) for bird-life.
External links
37°46′N 00°50′W