Formentera is the fourth island of the Balearic archipelago in area, 82 km2, and, together with the neighbouring island of Ibiza, makes up the Pitiusa Islands. It is located between latitude 38Ί 40' and 38Ί 49' north and between longitude lΊ l7' and lΊ 28' east . It is separated from the island of Ibiza by a narrow channel of 3.6 km. The distance between the ports of Ibiza and Formentera is 11 nautical miles. The shape of Formentera stretches out from east to west with an extension on the west side, the Cap de Barbaria, that extends southward and with the points of Sa Pedrera and Borronar that extend northward.
Morphologically , Formentera is made up of two very different formations: in the east there is the plateau of La Mola (height: 192 m.) which has a coast of cliffs and in the west there is the plain which has the high point of Puig Guillem (height: 106 m.). These two nucleos are joined by a land bridge 3 km. long that forms Mitjorn beach.
Distances in kilometres
|
C.Sa |
C.Ba |
E.Ca |
E.Pu |
L.Mo |
L.Sa |
S.Fe |
S.Fr |
Far |
|
|
Cala Sahona (C.Sa) |
|
9 |
14 |
10 |
20 |
8 |
8 |
5 |
22 |
|
Cap de Barbaria (C.Ba) |
|
|
18 |
14 |
24 |
12 |
12 |
9 |
26 |
|
Es Calo (E.Ca) |
|
|
|
8 |
6 |
12 |
6 |
9 |
8 |
|
Es Pujols (E.Pu) |
|
|
|
|
14 |
5 |
2 |
5 |
16 |
|
La Mola (L.Mo) |
|
|
|
|
|
18 |
12 |
15 |
2 |
|
La Savina (L.Sa) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
6 |
3 |
20 |
|
Sant Ferran (S.Fe) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3 |
14 |
|
Sant Francesc (S.Fr) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
.. |
17 |
|
Faro de La Mola (Far) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
... |
.. |
Geologically Formentera is made up of two Miocene table-like plateaus that rise up from the sea: La Mola in the southeast and the Cap de Barbaria - Pla del Rei in the southwest, joined by a thin strip of land that is 1.5 km. wide and 5 km. long, with an area of depression in the north where two lakes or "estanys" are located, S΄Estany des Peix and S'Estany Pudent. The geological origin of the island is linked to that of all the Balearic islands and especially to Ibiza. Its geological history is short and simple as the only geological substratum's that have been located belong to the Miocene and Quaternary Eras. The Miocene materials are limited to the highest areas such as the cliffs of La Mola, the Cap de Barbaria, Punta Prima and Punta Pedrera. The rest of the island is formed by sediments and alluvial soil deposited during the Quaternary Era.
Detail of limestone rock, formed by sediments. The heavy erosion caused by the sea and wind form various types of shapes and figures.
Punta Pedrera.
The soil of Formentera is, in general, low in productivity and is shallow and very rocky with occasional outcrops of the limestone crust and with a high percentage of sand. Regarding the soil, one of the most serious problems of Formentera is the erosion caused by heavy rains. The little rain that falls can be very heavy and washes away the topsoil. Later the limestone crust that lies underneath the soil in most of the island is exposed and agriculture becomes even more difficult.
Formentera still maintains intact its unique character. The tourism that chooses to come to Formentera does so precisely because of its beauty and peacefulness and this helps to maintain its charms. This explains why the tourist industry of the island does not usually have moments of crisis. When some big projects were proposed, the community of Formentera rejected them unanimously. Formentera is still striving to find and maintain the necessary equilibrium between the modern and the traditional.
Population Statistics
The actual population (February 1998) of Formentera is 5,963 people registered according to the latest census of the municipal government. This number can change considerably because a small percentage of the population, which does not live there all year, registers to take advantage of the discounts for transportation.
The following table shows the statistics of the census of the population as of February 1998.
|
TOTAL population: |
5.963 |
|
Actual foreign residents: |
1.034 |
By nationalities:
|
Germany |
586 |
|
France |
124 |
|
Italy |
60 |
|
Switzerland |
55 |
|
Great Britain |
51 |
|
Morocco |
33 |
|
Holland |
30 |
|
Belgium |
17 |
|
United States |
13 |
|
Argentina |
12 |
|
Others |
53 |
Evolution of the population in Formentera
|
TOTAL |
MEN |
WOMEN |
||||||
|
1991 |
1996 |
Increase |
1991 |
1996 |
Increase |
1991 |
1996 |
Increase |
|
4.316 |
5.353 |
24,03 % |
2.189 |
2.697 |
23,21 % |
2.127 |
2.656 |
24,87% |