2 
Chapter-1 The Summer
Island
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SITUATION
Minorca (Spanish spelling, Menorca)
is situated in the Western Mediterranean at latitude 39° 52' North
and longitude 4° 13' East, 224km (140 miles) south-east of Barcelona.
It is the farthest east of the Balearic group of islands; of which the
others are Majorca, Ibiza and the smaller Cabrera and Formentera.
Minorca's nearest and largest neighbour,
Majorca, lies slightly to the south-west, the two islands being only 29km
(18 miles) apart at their nearest points. Ibiza lies 225km (144 miles)
to the south-west. The Bay of Alcudia in northern Majorca, with its background
of jagged mountains, can be clearly seen from most points along the south
coast of Minorca, sometimes silhouetted by flaming sunsets. It was no doubt
this proximity that induced an Englishwoman to swim from one to the other
in 1971. The channel between Majorca and Minorca is only about l00m deep,
but Minorca's wilder northern coast is near the edge of a submarine sill
or precipice, where the sea-bed plunges to 2,400m (8,000ft).
Minorca's position in the Mediterranean
has influenced its, history since ancient times. Within a radius of 300km
(about 200 miles) lie peninsular Spain, the great sea-ports of the south of France, Corsica and Sardinia, Algeria and
North AmericaI was thus accessible to early mariners from all directions,
and Port Mahon became a regular port of call on their trade routes. Later,
in the great days of the sail, it became of strategic importance to Britain
and France as well as to the future of America, and was occupied by Britain
for a total of seventy-one years between 1708 and 1802.
Minorca may be classed as one of
the smaller Mediterranean islands, as it is only 49km long (about 30 miles)
and varies in width from 20km (12 miles) to
13km (8 miles). It has an area of 702sq km (270 square miles) and is of
low relief.
Although not without hills its highest
point is only 306m (1,175ft). It is only one-fifth the size of Majorca.
It is therefore ideal in size for
the tourist. A larger island could be too urbanised, a smaller one confining
and claustrophobic. In Minorca one can be out of sight and sound of the
sea if one wishes, but it is never far away.
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