Member Profile
Menorca
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LOCATION AND COMMUNICATION LINKS
Menorca is situated in the middle of the Western Mediterranean, half way between the coast of southern France and Algeria and mid way between the Italian and Spanish mainlands. Throughout the year there are several daily flights to Barcelona, Palma de Mallorca and Madrid as well as two flights a week to London. During the summer - April to October - the number of flights is increased and Menorca has direct connections with many airports in mainland Spain and the rest of the European continent. Modern ferries operate throughout the year between Menorca and Palma de Mallorca, Barcelona, Valencia in the Spanish mainland.
GEOGRAPHY
Menorca is rectangular in shape and approximately 50km by 25km with a total area is roughly 702 sq km and a coastline of 216km. Geologically, the island is divided into two symmetrical, but very different, parts; the north with its jagged coastline, scanty vegetation, many tiny islets and red sand beaches; the south formed by karstic rock with its smooth cliff faces, water eroded valleys and white sandy beaches flanked by pine woods. Menorca is quite flat with the highest point of the island being Monte Toro, standing 357m above sea-level.
The climate is typically Mediterranean, with average temperatures of 24C in the summertime and 11C in winter. The prevailing north wind, known as “Tramuntana”, can become especially strong during the winter and because of the lack of mountains has sculptured the islands countryside into its present shape.
POPULATION AND MAJOR CENTRES
Menorca has a population of just over 80,000 inhabitants, most of whom could be considered Menorcans, being a mixture of all the cultures that have been present on the island throughout its history. Some 10,000 are immigrants from countries other than Spain, the majority from Britain - between 6.000 and 7.000 - are mostly retired people who have second homes on the island. In recent years, due to the important economic growth with the following socio-economic prosperity, immigration from other parts of the world, but mainly northern Africa and South America, has become a common phenomenon.
There are two major cities on the island, Mahón on the east coast with a population of approximately 27.000 and Ciutadella on the west coast with about 25.000 inhabitants. The remainder of the population, ranging from 1.500 to 7.000, resided in the other six municipalities: Es Castell, Sant Lluis, Alaior, Es Mercadal, Es Migjorn and Ferreries.
HISTORY
During the centuries Menorca has, like many other Mediterranean islands, been in contact with many cultures and seen many invasions. In ancient times the island was conquered by Phoenicians, Romans and Arabs. In 1287 it was the turn of the Christians from Catalonia resulting in those Arabs that lived on the island being either converted to Catholicism or expelled. In 1492, as a result of the marriage between Ferdinand of Aragonia-Catalonia and Isabella of Castille, modern Spain, as it is known today, was created with Menorca being included as a part of it. In the 18th and 19th centuries Menorca experienced three British and one French occupations in-between periods of Spanish rule. This was due mainly to the islands strategic position in the western Mediterranean and particularly the harbour at Mahón, considered to be one of the best natural harbours in the world, along with Pearl Harbour in Hawaii and Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean. In 1802 Menorca was definitively returned to Spain by Britain. During the Spanish civil war in the 1930's Menorca was the only Balearic Island that remained loyal to the legal constitutional Spanish Government fighting against coup-maker and Dictator Franco during the uprising.
GOVERNMENT
Menorca comprises eight municipalities and each of them has a County Council which deals with local matters. The governing body of the island as a whole is the Menorca Island Council which is comprised of a President, currently Mr Marc Pons, and 12 Counsellors. Menorca is one of the Balearic Islands which constitutes one of the 17 so-called Autonomous Communities into which Spain is nowadays administratively divided. Therefore Menorca is represented in the Balearic Parliament in Palma de Mallorca as well as in the Spanish National Parliaments in Madrid, in the Lower Chamber, The Congress and in the Upper Chamber the Senate. All representatives are democratically elected every four years.
LANGUAGE AND CULTURE
Two official languages coexist in Menorca, Castilian Spanish and Catalan. The majority people over 50 learned French as their first foreign language, whilst the under 50's studied English. Communication through English is commonplace both in the tourist industry and in the private sector. The Menorcan culture could best be described as Mediterranean. The island has been in contact with many cultures and religions from many origins throughout history. It has seen many invasions and is today undoubtedly part of modern Spain, but Menorca will always remain Mediterranean. Examples of this are our traditions, the music as well as in the kitchen. The best known of these outside the island, are the “fiestas”. Each summer every village holds its own fiesta in which the thoroughbred black stallions are the centrepiece. The most famous being the ones in Ciutadella, which take place annually on the 24th of June and in these medieval games of Venetian origin the black stallions play the central role. When it comes to food the tradition is based on what today is known worldwide as the 'Mediterranean diet'. The best example of its benefits, which no scientist doubts, was a man named Joan Riudavets who died in 2003, in the Menorcan municipality of Es Migjorn, at the age of 114, the oldest person in the world at his death. One of his brothers died recently at 105 while another is now 102.
ECONOMY
Despite the fact that Menorca is less developed than in the rest of the Balearic Islands, tourism is the main economic activity and source of income. The island has about 100.000 tourist beds, and visitors value the peace and quiet of the beaches and coves, the good weather and the islands culture. The majority of the islands’ visitors are British. In 1992 Menorca was awarded by UNESCO the distinction of ”Biosphere Reserve”, in recognition of the islands sustained economic growth encompassed within its “territorial plan”, avoiding tourism of masses and enforced by a strict environmental protection policy.
The islands agriculture is very important to its beauty, the milk production is considerable and the local cheese is highly acclaimed for its quality and flavour. The manufacturing industry is also of importance, costume jewelery and footwear producers are represented at international trade fairs. In the service sector the two giant Spanish banks BBVA and BSCH are represented on the island. BSCH is the major shareholder in the Royal Bank of Scotland, owner of the NatWest Bank, and has recently bought up the Abbey National Bank. At local level, a bank called “Sa Nostra” is also of a major importance. Both Menorca’s economic growth and GNP per capita is well above the average for both Spain and the European Union, inflation is under control and the island boasts an almost unknown unemployment figure. Menorca, and indeed Spain as a whole, fully complies with its commitments to the economic criteria established by the European Monetary Union for being part of the so called Euro-zone.
SPORT AND LEISURE ACTIVITIES
Sport in Menorca is divided into two sections, federated sport and popular sport for everyone. The federated sports depend on the Balearic and the Spanish Federation part of the international Federation. Sport for the under 16 year olds is termed School Age Sport. For younger children, as well as competitive sport, there is an educational, ethic and social slant, and these sporting programmes are designed by the different federation delegates together with the Island Council. Popular sport for everyone encompasses youngsters to veterans including handicapped sportspeople, and these activities are organised by the sport clubs, County Councils and the Island Council. A commission of technicians and sports managers is formed by representatives from each County Council and from the Island Council, and their task is to coordinate all the programmes, needs etc. Each County Council has their own sporting facilities: sport centres, football pitches, tennis courts and some have a swimming pool (indoor and outdoor), athletic grounds. In many cases these are situated in the neighbourhood of a school so that the facilities can be used by the children in the morning and by the rest of the population during the rest of the day. Sport is financied partially by the Island Council, through the official budget, and partially from funds from private sponsors, membership fees and the Balearic and Spanish federations and Governments. In Menorca 54 sports are played including almost all of the 18 official sports of the International Island Games Association. Football, basketball, tennis, sailing and swimming are the most popular ones. The men's basketball Team plays in the highest Spaniah division 'La Liga ACB' and the ladies volleyball Team also plays in their highest Spanish division 'La Superliga'; and finally, Menorcan athlete Elizabeth Salom represented Spain at the recent Beijing Olympic Games competing in Rhythmic Gymnastics.
Dr. Antonio OLIVES, Island Secretary, Menorca Island Games Association
News & Press Releases
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