SPANISH HOLIDAY VILLAS
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Mar MenorMar Menor (Little Sea) is a unique area located on the east coast of Spain, within the region of Murcia, just above the city of Cartagena. Few regions have the good fortune to have both a saltwater lake and a Mediterranean shore. The region of Murcia has both and the salt water lake with an area of 170sq.km is known as Mar Menor, the largest salt water lake in Europe. Mar Menor is part of the Costa Calida. The area dates back to prehistoric times but most remains found date from the Roman and Arabic periods. The Romans valued the area highly and developed a valuable salt industry. It was about 1000 years ago that the lake took on the appearance it has today. The Romans called it Belich and referred to it as a port of refuge. It was much deeper in those times so could cope with even the largest of vessels. Over the last hundred years or so, the area has developed into a tourist haven. As well as the natural importance of the area the mud and clay are said to have therapeutic properties, known for centuries.
The average annual temperature here is 17ºC and the average during the summer is above 21ºC. The winters are very mild, very rarely falling below 10ºC. Rain is also rare here. With over 3000 hours of sunshine a year and the mild climate, the water here can reach 30º in August. The coast of the Mar Menor is flanked by small towns, in the past homes to fishermen and today, tourist enclaves. San Pedro del Pinatar in the north covers 21.7sq.km and has 15,200 inhabitants. This can swell to 60,000 in the summer months. Below this is San Javier with over 20,000 residents. The area offers several golf courses, municipal parks and the famous resort of La Manga. La Manga has more than 40km of beaches and the unique possibility of choosing between two seas with very different water temperatures, one with waves and one practically calm all year long. The number of hotels at La Manga make up 50% of the total hotels in the region. With so much water here there is no wonder that the area is a haven for watersports. The possibilities here are endless from sailing to diving, windsurfing and jetskiing
With all this glorious sunshine and warm water, the area is understandably known for a wide range of water sports, swimming, windsurfing, water skiing, jet skiing yachting and scuba diving. Alternatively if you just want to sunbath there are over 73km of coastline featuring many beautiful, clean, sandy beaches. Away from the water, interests such as golf in the 3 world-class 18 hole courses at the La Manga club, horse riding, cycling, and tennis. Or if you like walking you can visit the local towns and markets or take a bus ride to the historic city of Cartagena. Also if you prefer to relax the area is known for its spa water beauty treatments, because of the waters healing abilities. Due to their chemical qualities, the waters from the Mar Menor are renowned for having many medicinal properties. The high concentration of salts and iodines, the absence of waves, the shallowness of the water, and of course its exceptional temperature in winter as well as in the summer, all blend together to form a unique combination transforming these waters into the best therapeutic remedy against certain skin disorders and other ailments. Apart from being the largest open-air spa, the Mar Menor is thought to be one of the best places to organise regattas and to enjoy the other numerous water sports throughout the year. |
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[ Home ~ Location ~ Villa Sola MarMenor ~ Golf ~ Contact ~ Links] Spanish Holiday Villas, 140 Alexandra Road, St.Austell, Cornwall, England, PL25 4QJ. EMAIL: glyn@rowett-insurance.co.uk |
