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2 -
Geographical situation
The Balearic Islands are situated in the
Mediterranean at about a hundred kilometers off the
Spanish coast. The archipelego is formed by two
groups of islands : the Balearic islands (Mallorca
and Minorca) and the Pithyuses (Ibiza and
Formentera) on the south west of the archipelego.
There is 1239 kms of coast line in all.
Mallorca is
the biggest island with the largest population and
also the most important. Minorca is rocky, flat and
arid. Ibiza and Formentera have a richer vegetation
and higher altitudes. The total surface of all the
islands is 5014 sq. kms (Mallorca 3460, Minorca
700, Ibiza 572, Formentera 100).
Mallorca has 572,229 inhabitants. The culminating
point is the Torrellas o Puig Mayor, 1445
meters.
302,000 people live in the capital, Palma
Minorca is to the north east and has 60,802
inhabitants.
Mahon, the main town has a population of
22,926.
Ibiza which lies to the south east has a population
of 67,340 inhabitants.
Formentera which is south of Ibiza has 35,032
inhabitants.
There are
also 7 small islands :
Aire - Aucanada - Botafoch - Cabrera (made a
national park in 1988) - Dragonera - Pinto - El Rey
(Pinto and El Rey are part of the Pithyuses).
Mallorca and Ibiza are the most touristic islands.
Formentera is not visited much and Minorca is not
very well developed.
These islands are an ideal destination for out of
season travelling, particularly as they are hardly
at all developed industrially.
3 - Economy & statistics
The Balearic islands are part of Spain and their
economy depends on the Iberian
peninsula.
Tourism is
the main source of revenue, making 70% of the
archipelego's income.
4 - Agriculture
The fertile soil and the very mild climate make
the country a good producer of fruit and wine.
Crops are barley (18%), wheat (10%) and vines (6%),
but the harvest of cereals is not very
good.
Olive and
almond trees grow well in the Mediterranean
climate.
Spain (with
the Balearic islands) is the second biggest orange
producer in the world and the biggest producer of
olive oil.
Agriculture
and fishing have been in constant decline since
1950.
5 - Industries
Artisanal work and industry form 24% of the
gross domestic product of the Balearic islands :
leatherwork, shoes, glassware, ceramics and
pottery, weaving, artificial pearls and the milk
industry.
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