"Not only beaches, sand and sun..." Top 5 Page for this destination Balearic Islands by russian_yaz

Balearic Islands is not only beaches, night clubs and discos... take a journey into my pages and find lot of amanzing places to explore:

Deiá graveyard, in the top of the hill

The sun, the tranquillity of its coves, its transparent waters, its diversity, its balmy climate, and an endless succession of scenery that has everything except monotony, where every single corner has its own special charm.

From the steep slopes of the high peaks of the Serra de Tramuntana in Mallorca, the wide variety of habitats in the S'Albufera des Grau Nature Reserve in Mahon, the delightful scenery of Ses Salines in Ibiza to the sandy havens of peace in Formentera, the Balearic Islands are an inexhaustible source for all those who would like to instill its essence and drain it in a single draught.

Each island is a microcosmos with its own individual personality, gifted with singular richness.

The Islands have always been popular with numerous personalities from the political, social and cultural worlds. Such people as the Archduke Ludwig Salvatore of Austria, Chopin, J.B. Lawrence, Errol Flynn, Winston Churchill, Rubén Dario, Robert Graves (buried in the beatifull tonw of Deiá)and Joan Miró visited or resided in the Islands.

Now days Hollywood celebrities as Michel Douglas and and Catherine Zeta-Jones also choose these island as their destination.

Puig Major

Total land area: 5,040.29 km2
Coastline: 1,428 km
Highest point: 1,445 m (Puig Major, Mallorca)
Average annual temperature: 18.4 ºC
Average annual hours of sunshine: 2,850.54
Population: 878,627 inhabitants

The total surface area of the Balearic Islands is 5,040.29 Km2, of which the majority corresponds to a Mallorca, with 3,640 Km2 (72.6%). Minorca has a surface area 716 Km2 (10.8%), Ibiza 572.6 Km2 (10.8%), and Formentera 83.2 Km2 (1.6%).

The Balearic Islands are the most easterly region of Spain. They represent 0.99% of Spanish territory, excluding Ceuta and Melilla, and are located in the centre of the western Mediterranean Sea. Their geographical location lies between Latitude 40º05'39" and 38º38'25" North and Longitude 1º11'16" and 4º19'38" East.

The Balearic Archipelago presents remarkably varied scenery. As for its orographical features, Mallorca presents a combination of mountain ranges (Tramuntana and Llevant) and plains (el Migjorn and es Pla). In Minorca, in spite of the apparent evenness of the terrain, the Tramuntana, of gentle hills, forms a contrast with es Migjorn, characterised by its flatness. Ibiza is notable for its two mountainous belts and extensive plains, whereas Formentera is the flattest of the Islands.

The Balearic Islands enjoy a Mediterranean climate, characterised by a moderate temperature throughout the year. The average annual temperature fluctuates between 16 and 17ºC. Average annual rainfall is moderate or scarce, more frequent in autumn, generally in October. In summer, the rainfall is practically non-existent. The winds vary in respect of the terrain and situation but those with a north component predominate in the cold season and those with an east component in the summer, with the addition of local breezes. Minorca and the eastern side of Mallorca are exposed to the entry of wind from the north which becomes the tramuntana, a cold and dry wind.

• Pros:Sun, beach, beatifull coastlines and endless path to choose from
• Cons:On high season the great number of tourists is annoying
• In a nutshell:Wonderfull islands with mountains, calas, cliffs and sealife