The "Albufera de Mallorca" is located in the Northeast sector of Mallorca and it is the largest wetland of the Balearic Islands.

It occupies the lowest part of a subsidence basin. It is separated from the sea by a dune bank some 300 m. wide, formed by calcareous sands of organic origin. The zone's northern boundary is marked out by the small elevations of Son Fe and Sant Martí. In the south and east there are extend Majorca's richest cropland.

The hydric feeding comes about mainly by contributions of the Muro and St. Miquel torrents, which carry 20-24 hl³ per year, the spurts or springs and the rainfall of the area. Due to the permeability of the lands these torrents act only when rainfall is important and this only happens about 40 days a year, mainly in autumn, remaining dry the rest of days.

The vegetation of s'Albufera is relatively less varied that its bird population. Hydrophilous species, especially reeds and sedges cover most of the marsh. On the banks of canals grow strips of woods composed basically of elms and poplars. Near to the sea, where the salinity is more pronounced rushes, glasswort, and Limonium species grow. Also some tamarisks grow in this area. We also find numerous species of orchids. The dunes of s'Albufera are where mock privet grows and also juniper trees that produce a biological barrier. From here to the interior we find scrubs, pinewoods and also the presence of "peu de milà" (Thymelaea velutina or myrtifola), an endemic specie to Mallorca and Menorca.

Birds are the most significant zoological group. There are more than 200 species. The Albufera is important as shelter for these birds. It is a resting zone and winter home for numerous migratory birds. In wetlands, birds found meal and can rest before resume the travel farther south. Among aquatic birds, we shall note as most notable grey and purple herons, the little bittern, the kingfisher, harriers, the coot and the stilt plover. Among smaller birds, the most notable are the moustached warbler, the water rail and the Kentish plover. We can also see the osprey, the Eleonora's falcon, the red-crested pochard, the honey buzzard and the glossy ibis among others.

The modern ecosystem is the result of profound transformations carried out by man. In 18th and 19th centuries, before any anthropics actions s'Albufera it occupied an area of about 2.500 ha. However, various projects were drawn to desiccate s'Albufera with a massive drainage for health, agricultural and industrial purposes. Those projects started opening channels, building pitches, roads, bridges, etc, The main project, assigned to a British company called "New Majorca Land Co" (1863), was abandoned before finishing. So the main part of desiccated lands turned to its natural state and the vegetation grew back.

At the beginning of 20^th century, the cultivation of rice was introduced, and it continued until the nineteen sixties. After that, s'Albufera suffered the most radical transformation to date: the process of urbanisation and tourist occupation of surroundings.

In 1988, under popular pressure, the Balearic Parliament declared 1.701 ha. of s'Albufera as Natural Park. The whole area is also a Natural Area of Special Interest with the Law 1/91 of the Balearic Parliament. In 1989 it was included on the Ramsar Conservation's list of swamps of international importance. In 1996 an EU directive (79/409/EEC) designated it a Special Protected Zone for Birds (SPA).

The aim of the park is the nature protection, the public use (cultural, recreational and scientific) and the socioeconomic integration on the area and the island.

The Albufera constitutes an unique landscape and ecosystem in the Balearic Islands, however various activities endanger its conservation. Firstly, the urbanisation and the tourist occupation, which have fundamentally affected the larger lagoons and the dune bank. Secondly, the proximity of the electric powerhouse "es Murterar" and, thirdly, the pollution of waters due to the fertilisers and pesticides used in the near cultivated areas. Fortunately, the waters from nearby built-up areas that were a source of pollution, nowadays they are almost totally treated.

More inf:

MAYOL, A.; LLABRÉS, A.; AGUILÓ, J.A.; PERELLÓ, G.; MUNTANER, J. (1991). S'Albufera, Guide for walking. Conselleria d'Agricultura i Pesca. Govern Balear. Palma. Spain.

MARTINEZ TABERNER, A.; MAYOL SERRA, J. (Edr) (1995). S'Albufera de Mallorca. Monografies de la Societat d'Història Natural de les Balears, 4. Ed. Moll. Palma. Mallorca. Spain.