Geography of Menorca
Geographically, the Autonomous Community of the Balearic Islands is made up of a group of islands divided into two distinct archipelagos: Mallorca and Menorca make up the archipelago of the Gymnésies ("Greater Balearics"), while Ibiza and Formentera together form the archipelago of the Pitiüses ("Lesser Balearics"), which in Catalan means "pine-covered", in reference to the primeval pine forests that cover their territories. The four main Balearic islands - Mallorca, Menorca, Ibiza and Formentera - have a total surface area of almost 5,000 km².
Located to the northeast of the largest Balearic island (Mallorca, 100 km from east to west and 80 km from north to south, with a surface area of 3,640 km² and a highest point of 1,445 m), Menorca is the second-largest territory in the Balearic island group. It is also Spain's most easterly piece of land. At 695 km², Menorca is six times smaller than its imposing neighbor. Some 48 km long and 20 km at its widest, it is extremely windy, and its low walls (reminiscent of those on Formentera) add to its charm. With its modest vegetation cover, Menorca is dominated by a similarly modest peak, Monte Toro, which rises to 357m. The island is home to two major conurbations, Maó to the east and Ciutadella to the west, which together account for two-thirds of the population (around 30,000 inhabitants in each of the two towns, for a total population of just over 95,000). Surrounding Mallorca and Menorca are a series of small islands, the most important of which are Sa Dragonera (and its famous lizards, from which it takes its name) and Cabrera (a national park with exceptional marine and terrestrial biodiversity), to the west and south of Mallorca respectively. There are also two Minorcan islands: Illa d'en Colom and Illa de l'Aire.
Geology of Menorca
From a geological point of view, Menorca is a very interesting case. While the Balearic Islands are an eastern and seaward extension of the Betic Cordilleras, Menorca's position, at the very tip of this geological formation, gives it characteristics that set it apart both from the other islands of the two archipelagos and from the mountain ranges from which it emanates. The breathtaking richness of its geological heritage (in terms of both color and materials) is truly breathtaking. It's important to note that the island is divided into two very different geological regions: Tramuntana to the north and Migjorn to the south, separated from each other by a line roughly following the Maó-Ciutadella road.
Tramuntana. Running the length of Menorca's north face, this is the area with the oldest materials. The Tramuntana is characterized by its rugged, irregular rocky coastline. Promontories, dark sandy coves and fractured rocky outcrops make up the bulk of a landscape studded with rounded mounds smoothed by the Tramontana winds.
Migjorn. On the southern side of the island, the sandstone dominates. In the form of a vast platform, this limestone rises horizontally, ending in imposing cliffs or immense white sandy beaches, wide open on the island's southern flank.
Four Menorcan landscapes. The island can be divided into landscape types according to the color of the predominant rocks. On the Tramuntana side, dark reds and grays are found, while in the Migjorn region, white is the predominant color.
