Cap De Cavalleria
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CENTRE D’INTERPRETACIÓ Cap de Cavalleria, a land scarred by the buffet- The opening of this space has resulted in the recov- CAP DE DEL CAP DE CAVALLERIA ing of wind and battering of waves; a lighthouse, ery of the interior of the Cavalleria lighthouse for pub- Ajuntament des Mercadal the oldest in Menorca, 15 metres in height and lic visitation, with a project by the architect Jesús C/ Major, 16 | 07740 es Mercadal CAVALLERIA Tel. 971 37 50 02 standing no less than 94 metres above sea level. Cardona. The idea and the content of the Centre were [email protected] And here, in this most imposing landscape, is the designed by the Menorcan studio Mediterraneum, Centre d’Interpretació del Cap de Cavalleria inter- cultura, turisme i medi ambient, s.l. THE VERY NORTH pretation centre, which brings us up close to the The Centre’s goal, as well as that of this publica- island’s uniqueness, its rich natural environment, tion, is to make the basic aspects that define this geology and history, and provides us with the keys most singular location that is Cavalleria, readily to understanding why we find ourselves in a bio- available for both Menorcan residents as well as sphere reserve. visitors; both from a geological point of view as well AJUNTAMENT ESPAI EXPOSITIU, ADEQUACIÓDES D'ESPAISMERCADAL EXTERIORS I ELECTRIFICACIÓ SOLAR “Cap de Cavalleria, The Very North” is a space for as that of biodiversity or history. A brief but intense FOTOVOLTAICA AL FAR DE CAVALLERIA interpretation promoted by the Town Hall of Es journey through one of the most emblematic land- Mercadal with the support of Ports de Balears, the scapes of all of Menorca and an explanation of the Consell Insular de Menorca and financing from the ins and outs of the oldest lighthouse on the island. Leader Project of the European Commission. Welcome to the very north! FEADER Fons Europeu Agrícola de Desenvolupament Rural Europa inverteix en les zones rurals. Mediterraneum, cultura, turisme i medi ambient, s.l. Cap de Cavalleria: the very north / [textos originals: Mediterraneum, cultura, turisme i medi ambient, s.l.; adaptació de textos i coordinació de l’edició: Félix de Pablo i Ariadna Ferrer] . – Maó : Consell Insular de Menorca. Agència Menorca Reserva de Biosfera , 2017. – 40 p. : il. ; 15x21 cm I. Pablo Pons, Félix de, ed. II. Ferrer, Ariadna, de. 1. Centre d’Interpretació del Cap de Cavalleria 2. Medi ambient – Menorca – Exposicions 3. Geologia – Menorca – Exposicions 4. Recursos naturals – Menorca – Exposicions 502(460.32Men) 504(460.32Men) 55(460.32Men) CAP DE CAVALLERIA © PUBLISHING ORIGINAL TITLE DESIGN AND LAYOUT CENTRE D’INTERPRETACIÓ Agència Menorca El Cap de Cavalleria, el nord del nord LLuís C.Catchot DEL CAP DE CAVALLERIA THE VERY NORTH Reserva de Biosfera © photograph inside front cover Information and hours : DEPARTAMENT DE MEDI AMBIENT I TRANSLATION RESERVA DE BIOSFERA Consell Insular de Menorca www.behance.net/llcc Ajuntament des Mercadal Translation services Plaça de la Biosfera, 5 C/ Major, 16 | 07740 Es Mercadal Traduccions Insula PRINTING The north and the south, two islands in one 02 07703 Maó (Menorca) Tel. 971 37 50 02 Coordinator Irene Cardona Imprenta Sacal, SL [email protected] © ORIGINAL TEXTS Translator Darren Green www.imprentasacal.com Natural diversity 08 Mediterraneum, cultura, © COVER PHOTO LEGAL DEPOSIT turisme i medi ambient, s.l. Joan Mercadal ME 666-2017 ALSO IN THIS COLLECTION A question of geography 14 ADAPTATION OF TEXTS AND 00. Menorca, the Biosphere © © PHOTOGRAFIES ISBN COORDINATION OF PUBLISHING Reserve Within Your Reach Félix de Pablo, apart from those 978-84-947309-7-9 Land and sea, sources of wealth 20 Ariadna Ferrer, Félix de Pablo 01. Geology of Menorca images accredited to other authors. 02. Cap de Cavalleria: LANGUAGE CONSULTING the very north The Cavalleria lighthouse 26 Language Consulting Services of the Consell Insular de Menorca PRINTED ON FSC© Planning for sustainability 36 CERTIFIED AND 100% POST-CONSUMER RECYCLED PAPER THE NORTH AND THE SOUTH, TWO ISLANDS IN ONE STORM ON THE NORTHERN COAST 02 CAP DE CAVALLERIA THE VERY NORTH 03 Menorca is divided into two large geological areas. GEOLOGICAL AREAS Migjorn, the southern region, is of relatively flat terrain and predominated by Miocene sandstone, or marès. ■ THE DARK MENORCA The area is marked by its slicing ravines, authentic nat- The oldest rocks, formed around 300 million ural gardens, and is home to the island’s most impor- years ago at great sea depths, occupy virtually half of the Tramuntana region. tant water reserves. Tramuntana, the northern region, is far more rough and rugged, made up of more ancient ■ THE RED MENORCA materials that have undergone greater alterations. The Sedimentary rocks on dry land caused by the geological composition, the harsh northern wind and effects of great rivers approximately 250 million extreme salinity make for very challenging environmen- years ago. They make up a large portion of the remaining half of the island’s north. tal conditions in this area, especially near the coastline. ■ THE GREY MENORCA The remaining rocks of the Tramuntana region THE NORTHERN COAST IS HOME TO THE OLDEST ROCKS ON THE ISLAND © Agustí Rodríguez The oldest materials found on the island, which are also were deposited between 240 and 110 million years ago, primarily in shallow, calm seawaters. the oldest in all of the Balearic Islands, can be found between Tirant and Macar Gran, and were formed 410 mi- llion years ago. ■ THE WHITE MENORCA The most characteristic rock on the island, The southern coves are rounded in shape, with fine white marès, covers the island’s southern half. This sand, while the northern coast has more jagged coves, sandstone type rock was created around 11 darker in colour, with larger grains of sand. million years ago due to the accumulation of skeletal remains of sea organisms mixed with grains of quartz and other rock fragments. ■ QUATERNARY The last of the geological periods, with rocks formed starting 2.5 million years ago. In Menorca, these are found primarily as fossil dunes. © Centre de Geologia de Menorca MACARELLA, ON THE SOUTHERN COAST © Antoni Cutiller 04 CAP DE CAVALLERIA THE VERY NORTH 05 THE TRAMUNTANA: THE NORTHERN WIND This dry, cold and strong wind is one of the most no- torious in the western Mediterranean. In Menorca, it blows an average of 165 days per year, with approx- imately thirty days with forces of over 100 km/h. The northern coast is the best place to witness the effects these winds have on the island: dry soil, storms, ship- wrecks, plants adapted to wind and salinity, trees slanted toward the south, and more. The vegetation on the northern coast is scant, but there are plants like the socarrells, cushion-like thorn bushes endemic to Menorca and Mallorca, which have adapted SOCARRELLS © Pere Fraga to the wind and salt. Wind erosion shapes the vegetation and the rocks, even the hardest of them. In Menorca, the tramuntana blows with extreme force thanks to the absence of obstacles. The salt carried by the tramuntana winds dehydrates and kills the parts of trees openly exposed to the north, cau- sing growth towards the south. CALA ROJA WILD OLIVE (Olea europaea) 06 CAP DE CAVALLERIA THE VERY NORTH 07 NATURAL DIVERSITY MOSAIC LANDSCAPES ARE TYPICAL OF THE MENORCAN COUNTRYSIDE 08 CAP DE CAVALLERIA THE VERY NORTH 09 HERMANN’S TORTOISE (Testudo hermanni) SOCARRELL (Launaetum cervicornis) LILFORD’S WALL LIZARD (Podarcis lilfordi) EUROPEAN SHAG (Phalacrocorax aristotelis) RED KITE (Milvus milvus) © Joan Florit BALEARIC SHEARWATER (Puffinus mauretanicus) LAND BIODIVERSITY BIRD BIODIVERSITY Its insularity, climatic conditions, rela- One of the most important characteristics of The Hermann’s tortoise is a highly abundant spe- The biodiversity of birds is extremely high in Common to the island’s coastal A species that is in danger of The Balearic shearwater, en- tively low impact from tourism, absence the island’s land biodiversity are its endemisms, cies on the island, while quite rare on a national Menorca, with over 300 identified species. Birds areas, the European shag can be extinction, the red kite is slowly demic to the Balearic Islands, level. They can be found living in virtually any easily observed. recovering from a state that ne- is one of the most threatened of highly polluting large industry and species that are only found in a singular limit- of prey are a highlight, and include the endan- part on the island. Adult birds are completely arly led to its disappearance. European birds that still breeds goals involving sustainable develop- ed geographical area. There are 83 species of gered red kite, osprey, Egyptian vulture and per- black and have a crest on their in Menorca. ment explain such an elevated level of endemic plants and 109 species of endemic in- The island is home to several species of socar- egrine falcon. Sea birds form another ornitholog- heads during mating season, rells, cushion-like thorn bushes well adapted to while younger specimens have biodiversity in an area that covers less vertebrates in Menorca. Among the vertebrates, ical group with unique singular species, like the the harsh coastal conditions. lighter coloured abdomens. than 700 km2. we find the Lilford’s Wall Lizard (Podarcis lilfor- endangered Balearic shearwater, European shag, di), an evolutionary prodigy that has diversified In Menorca, there are 18 Lilford’s Wall Lizard po- Cory’s shearwater or Audouin’s gull. The pres- on each of the islets that surround Menorca. pulations, all of which are found on the small is- ence of coastal lagoons and other wetland areas lets that surround Menorca. allows for a significant population of birds adapted to these ecosystems, like ducks, pochards, cattle egrets or other species of egrets and herons.