“ Mar Menor / Minor Sea”BEATRIZ CASTIÑEYRA Y JULIA CELA 2ºA

LocationUnique ecosystem in the world.Situated on the Southeast of Spain.

Caracteristics *It is separated from the Mediterranean Sea by the Manga of Mar Menor.

* With 73 km of coast, where there are beaches with trasparent and slightly deep water.

*In the south we find Cabo de Palos with his caracteristic lighthouse.

*The ecosystem´s balance is extremely fragile.

CLIMATE*The climate is dry warm Mediterranean,and is privileged. *The annual temperature is of 17ºC., and the summer monthly averages are top to the 21ºC. *It has soft temperatures in winter and high in summer.*Rainfall is low , between 200 and 500 annual mm but the humidity helps the vegetation. *The winds are usually of leveche in summer, and in autumn, levante.*in summer the winds are stronger and if they come from Africa increase the heat.

FLORA Marine flora :The Mar Menor has 80 species of algae , including Acetabularia , which are adapted to the upper floors water.

The coastal wildlife:Esparragueras ,hinojo, lirio, margarita marina, tomillo, palmito, romero.

FAUNAMarine fauna:

Coastal wildlife:

ENDANGERED SPECIES

Sea horse Eel

Common Name: Zamacuca Family: Araceae

Protected areas*Salinas and Arenales de San Pedro del Pinatar. *Island of Mar Menor and opened spaces like saladar de Lo Poyo, el Carmolí, the beach of La Hita, el Cabezo of San Ginés and las salinas de Marchamalo. *The Grosa island.

Islands of Mar Menor In his south zone we find five islands of volcanic origin: there are three called bigger island: Isla Perdiguera, Isla del Baron and Isla del Ciervo; and two minor islands: Isla Redonda and Isla del Sujeto.

They spread over three municipalities: Cartagena, San Javier and Los Alcázares.

Isla Perdiguera *Is a volcanic island situated in the center of the Mar Menor.

*It is named isla Esparteña, because the esparto abounds there.

*The climate is Mediterranean subtropical.

*The vegetation possesses a series of adjustments, which allow him to support the hardness of this climate.

Isla del Barón*It is the island with the biggest dimensions.

*The name of the island comes from the Baron of Benifayó, the one who constructed there a palace.

*It is a private property.

*It has a forest of fan palm.

*it has mediterranean climate.

Isla del Ciervo*Placed in the south of La Manga del Mar Menor.

*Like the other islans is an old volcano.

*Vegetation: Cardo Borriquero, Fan Palm, cornical and chumberillo de lobo.

*Mediterranean climate.

Isla Redonda*It is the smallest island of the Mar Menor, but very destacated by his circular form and hilly aspect. It is in the south of La Manga, between La Isla del Ciervo and La Isla del Sujeto.

*it isn´t so known as El Baron y La Perdiguera.

*it possess abundant vegetation: thymes, lavenders, cornicales and zamarrillas.

Also they have gulls patiamarillas, garcillas bueyeras and garcetas.

Isla del Sujeto*Is the fallest and trowel of islands of the Mar Menor.

*It is the only island that preserves a more or less valuable crater.

*It constitutes an important center of nest building bird.

Curiosities*Lodoterapia with the muds of the Mar Menor: The Isla del Ciervo is the biggest zone of lodoterapia outdoors of the whole Europe. The good climatological conditions of the Minor Sea, with a high degree of salinity and a high percentage of hours of the Sun have done that were settling suitable muds

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