16 de mayo de 2004

→ S.O.S.  Nature Parks !
 

→  Cabrera National Park
 

→  Sa Dragonera NaturePark
 

→ Cala Mondragó Nature Park
 

→ Península de Llevant Nature Park
 

→ S´Albufera Nature Park
 

→ S´Albufereta Nature Reserve
 

→ Monument Natural del Torrent de Pareis
 

→ Monument Natural de les Fonts Ufanes
 

→ G.O.B.-The Balearic environmental organisation

 -Please, click on the numbers on the map!-

PARC NACIONAL DE CABRERA  (Nr. 1 on the map)

►The only National Park in the Balearic Islands is located 12 kilometres from the southeast cape of Mallorca and has an area of 10,021 hectares. The group of islands was a prohibited military area until 1986. "Greenpeace" organised a protest in order to stop the military manoeuvres which took place once a year. Since then, the manoeuvres were stopped and five years later the islands were protected. There are dolphins and 200 kinds of fish around the islands. The bird life is also remarkable.

►If you want to visit the island, you must book boat tickets in advance (just 60 people a day are allowed). From the 1 April to the 30 October, there is a daily boat from Colònia Sant Jordi (Tel. [0034] 971 717190- More Information►) or from Porto Petro (Tel. [0034] 971 657012). If you have your own boat, you need a permit (Tel. [0034] 971 725010). You aren´t allowed to hike across the island, you can only visit the beach, the castle and the museum. If you book in advance the National Park Office offers 4 different nature hikes. (Tel. [0034] 971 725010).

PARC NATURAL DE SA DRAGONERA (Nr. 2 on the map)

►The Nature Park was declared in 1995 , has an area of 279 hectares and is situated before the southwest cape of Mallorca. In 1982 a building company planned a resort for 2000 tourists. After major demonstrations the government canceled the project and bought the island. On the island there are many Balearic lizards and interesting birds (the eleonora´s falcon nests here in summer).  More information (spanish)►

►It is possible to visit the island from 10 am to 5 pm (April to September) and from 10 am to 3 pm (from October to March). Groups of more than 10 people should book in advance (Tel. [0034] 971 180632). They are 4 hiking routes where you can walk on your own.

►You can take the boat "Margarita" in Sant Elm.: from 1 October to 31 December and 1 February to 30 June , there are boats every hour (Mo- Sa) from 10.15 to 13.15. (only if the sea is calm). In summer there are more services. (Price in 2003, return ticket: 8 Euro. tel. [0034] 639 617545 and [0034] 696 423933).

PARC NATURAL DE CALA MONDRAGÓ (Nr. 3 on the map)

►It was declared in 1992 and has an area of 785 hectares. It is situated in the southeast of Mallorca, 5 kilometres from Santanyí. Large demonstrations prevented the destruction of the unspoilt coves (a 10.000 tourist resort was planned in 1989 )

►They are 3 marked short hikes (for more information, tel. [0034] 971 181022). On 2003, guided hikes were organised on Saturdays (Tel. [0034] 971 176800)

PARC NATURAL DE LA PENÍNSULA DE LLEVANT (Nr. 4 on the map)

►The newest Nature Park was declared in November 2001 and  had an area of 21.507 hectares . On January 2004 it was reduced to 1586 ha . The information offices are in Artà: Carrer de l´Estel, 2-1/ E-07570 Artà (Tel. [0034] 971 836828)

► On 2003, guided hikes were organised on Saturdays (Tel. [0034] 971 176800)

→ The government has bought two huge "fincas": Aubarca (1200 hectares) and S´Alqueria Vella (400 hectares). Some buildings have been turned into accomodation: "Ses cases d´Aubarca" (6 double rooms), "la caseta de s´Arenalet" (18 beds) and "la caseta des Oguers" (10 beds). Nearby there is also a camping site with 30 places. You must book in advance: Tel. [0034] 971 836828 and [0034] 971 829219.

→ The hiking trails start in S´Alqueria Vella (4 km from Artà, you can rech the spot by car). From here you walk to Es Verger (45 min.) and on to Aubarca and the beautiful beach S´Arenalet d´es Verger (2 hours). From here you can walk to Puig de sa Tudossa in 90 minutes or in the opposite direction to the cove Cala Estreta (2 hours) .

→ From S´Alqueria Vella you can walk in one hour to the hermitage Ermita de Betlem and on to Betlem  (45 min) and along the coast to the cove "Caló de Ferrutx" (1 hour.)

S.O. S.      NATURE PARKS !   (More information ►)

→ Since the elections in May 2003 the new government has taken many steps prejudicial to the environment (new motorways, golf courses). On January 2004 the area of the "Llevant" Nature Park was reduced from 21.507 Hectares to just 1.586 . That corresponds to the extension of the public areas Aubarca and Alqueria Vella. All private properties have been excluded from the park. The environmental organisation G.O.B. is fighting these measures. The biggest demonstration in the history of the island took place on the 14 February 2004: 50.000 persons demanded more nature parks and less motorways!

            
       - Area until January 2004-                                          - Area after January 2004-

PARC NATURAL DE S´ALBUFERA DE MALLORCA (Nr.5 on the map)

►The oldest nature park on the island was declared in 1988 and has an area of  1.709 hectares. It is situated in the north, between Alcúdia and Ca´n Picafort and it is home to 200 different breeds of birds . The park is open from 9 am to 5 pm (October to March) and from 9 am and 7 pm (April to September). For more information, contact tel. [0034] 971 892250.

►On 2003, guided hikes were organised on Saturdays (Tel. [0034] 971 176800)

+ Information►

RESERVA NATURAL DE S´ALBUFERETA (Nr. 6 on the map)

►The nature reserve was declared in 2001 and has an area of 211 hectares. It is situated in the north between Port de Pollença and Alcúdia. For more information, contact tel. [0034] 971 892250.

MONUMENT NATURAL DE LES FONTS UFANES (Nr. 8 on the map)

►The Natural Monument (50 hectares) is an intermittent spring: from 3.000 to 100.000 liters of water per second shoot out of the ground of the forest, normally once a year. The springs are on a private property, near the "Coves de Campanet". The owners open it the weekend after the springs "explode". It happened in December 2003 and in May 2004, due to a rainy spring.

THE BALEARIC ENVIRONMENTAL ORGANISATION  (+ Information ►)

►The G.O.B. (Grup Ornitològic Balear i de defensa de la naturalesa) has beenin existence since 1973 . The adress is: Manuel Sanchís Guarner, 10/ 07004- Palma de Mallorca- tel. (0034) 971 496060

►With some 5000 members, the campaigns of the GOB have been very important in securing the protection of some unspoilt areas such as the island Sa Dragonera (1982, now a nature park), the beach Es Trenc (1986), the cape "Punta de N´Amer", Capocorb, the cove "Cala Mondragó" (1989, now a nature park), S´Albufereta (1990, natur reserve since 2001), the island Cabrera (1986) and many others.

►The organisation has also stopped projects which would have damaged the environment: new urban or touristic areas, golf courses, new trunk roads,... The G.O.B. also owns and manages the nature reserve of La Trapa (near Sant Elm) which was bought by popular subscription.

▲▲To the top of the page