THE CABRERA ARCHIPELAGO MARITIME-TERRESTRIAL NATIONAL
PARK
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Relevant protecting legislation: National Park (Act
14/91). Area of Special Natural Interest (Act 1/91,
approved by the Balearic Parliament). Special Bird Protection
Area (EEC Directive 79/409)
Area: Terrestrial - 1,318.3 hectares.
Maritime - 8,703.2 hectares. Total : 10,021.5
hectares
Location: To the south of Majorca. Off
Cape Salinas.
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Physical environment Located 10 kilometres off Cape Salinas,
the Archipelago of Cabrera is in reality a southerly outcrop of the
Sierra de Levante range of mountains. It is made up of 19 islands
and islets. The largest is Cabrera, followed by the IIla dels Conills.
The other significant islands are Ses Rates, els Estels, l'Imperial,
les Bledes, es Fonoll, na Rodona, l'Esponja, na Plana, na Pobra, s'Illot
Pla, s'Illot and na Foradada.
In the background, the castle of Cabrera. In the foreground, the
characteristic giant fennel
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Flora The archipelago has typically Mediterranean vegetation
with widespread maquis and pine groves. However, Cabrera has
certain individual features: alongside the wild olive trees,
spurge olives, evergreen buckthorn, and spurges appear species
typical of holm oak groves such as an endemic variety of buckthorn
and on higher ground Balearic box (Buxus balearica). Another
special characteristic is the size of the juniper groves, just
where the soil is so poor and scarce.
The archipelago has 22 plant species endemic to the Balearics
and one subspecies endemic just to Cabrera itself, a variety
of wild madder (Rubia angusitfolia ssp caespitosa).
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Fauna Cabrera is a strategic point in the migratory routes
of many birds. To date as many as 130 species have been sighted in
the archipelago. The most common are the colonies of cormorants, Audouin's
gulls, Wilson's storm petrels, Manx shearwaters, and Yelkouan shearwaters.
The most significant land animal is the lizard (podarcis lilfordi),
extinct in Majorca, yet which is found on all the islands of the archipelago
of Cabrera, where an intense process of species separation has come
about, due to genetic isolation and the isolation of habitats, to
such an extent that as many as ten subspecies have been described.
The sea The sea bed is especially important in Cabrera, as
much for its diversity as for its productivity. The fact that no water
from the mainland reaches the area directly means that contamination
of its waters is kept to the minimum, which helps to conserve local
biotypes.
How to get there by public transport: in
tourist pleasure boats (golondrinas). From Colònia de Sant
Jordi. Sailings are daily in summer but less frequent in the winter.
It is a good idea to book in advance: Excursiones a Cabrera. Tel.
971 649 034. The voyage to Cabrera lasts about 30 minutes. From
Porto Petro; Daily sailings from May 1st to September 30th. For
bookings: Cruceros Llevant. Tel 971 657 012. The voyage to Cabrera
lasts about 1 hour and a quarter
How to get there under your own steam: To visit
the National Park in a private vessel, a permit issued
by the Park administration is required. Sailing permits
(valid for up to a month) may be authorised without the
right to anchor; permits are also authorised for overnight
stays, and for scuba-diving in certain reserved areas.
If one wishes to moor in the harbour of Cabrera, a permit
issued by the Military Government is required. (Comandancia
de Marina. Estación Naval de Porto Pí.
C/ Dique del Oeste, s/n. 07015 Palma de Mallorca. Tel.
971 709 900 or 971 709 918). Arranged visits: The
Park can arrange for visits for groups of up to 60 people
with the service of an interpreter. National Park
Office: Plaza de España, 8 - 1º. 07002
Palma de Mallorca. (Illes Balears). Tel. 971 725 010.
Fax. 971 725 585. E-mail: cabrera@mma.es National
Park Office in Colònia de Sant Jordi: C/
Burguesa, 2. 07640. Colònia de Sant Jordi. Ses
Salines. (Illes Balears). Museum and Information Centre "Es
Celler": Information centre and reception on the
island of Cabrera Tel. 630 982 363. Permanent exhibition,
guided tours, exhibition rooms, audiovisuals, videos,
programmes of environmental education and voluntary work.
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