Mercadal
Minorca Details
Flora
In Mercadal are several endemic species: one of them
being the three populations of bulbous Aetheorhiza willkommii, listed as vulnerable
in Menorca, two of the three populations of Allium antoni-menorquinas bolossii
and several species protected by various international conventions, the Bern
Convention, Habitats Directive, Convention Washington
and some of these plants are included on the list of threatened plants Balear
CBEVA.
Fauna
Of the 65 species of birds that nest on Menorca,
59 nest in Mercadal, being of great importance for preservation of the species
in the forssts of littoral and Toro. Non
flying mammals are represented by the
species menorquines Mercadal.
Most of the population is concentrated in the
nucleus of Mercadal approximately 2000 inhabitants, who are economically active
focusing on agriculture and tourism.
Mercadal has always been an inland town, so the historic memorabilia
such as the paintings and old photographs testify, to a rich farming history. There are numerous
coastal villages of recent history and of interest to tourism.
The populations fluctuate with tourists but basically Arenal
d'en Castell has 200 people, Coves Noves over 100, Macaret 140, Port of Addaia 350,
Punta Grossa over 100, and Sa Roca around
40.
The rest, of the population live scattered in the townships,
and in summer the large amounts of tourists, the townspeople move to work in
the areas supporting the tourism business.
In 1991, over 76% of the population was Balearic, with 20%
coming from other Spanish provinces, and a minority of 4% was foreign nationals,
but in the 2001 census the percentage of foreigners had reached over 11%, half
of them coming from Britain.
The illiteracy rate among people over 16 years was
in 200, under 1,%% of the population and almost 84% were schooled with a 100% for
the age group of 4 to 15 years. The majority of the population, almost 90% have at least
a high school, education and fewer than 13% have tertiary schooling.
The official languages are Castilian and Catalan dialect
are spoken in the
Government
The town's economy has traditionally been linked
to fishing, a sector which, despite suffering a major setback still survives. Tourism
is the main activity and there is an initiative in Fornells whereby moves are
afoot to diversify economic activity towards the population centres.
The unemployment rate was 14% in 2001 and the workforce
was primarily placed in the following sectors, 6.5%, industry and crafts at
9.5%, construction at 18% and the remaining various services, 52%.
The Primary sector, most of the land of the
municipality is engaged in fishing, and the town has a fishing village as well.
The municipality also owns and operates the only quarry in the area producing,
sandstone and gravel operations the municipality being the main customer.
Antonio Villalonga Riudavets, 1950, a socialist politician,
and senator from Menorca in the second and third legislatures.
Christopher Huguet Sintes, 1945, popular
politician, has held various positions in the Council of Menorca and the
Balearic Islands Government and was elected municipal councillor in Mahon.
Culture
In the city there iare records at the beginning of
twenty first century 41 associations, 12 are based in Fornells and two in Ses
Salines. The town has two non-university centres, school, public
library, sports hall and swimming pool.
The Shrine of Our Lady of Mount Toro, patroness of
the
The Beaches, Macaret beaches, Arenal d'en Castell, Port
d'Addaia are linked to urban counterparts and have easy access and a full
complement of services.
The Cavalry Pregonda Binimel · la with road access and it
is a popular destination.
On the coast are also several pristine beaches under
uitilized as they are only accessible on foot or by sea: Pudent Cala, Cala
Tusquet, Playas del Puerto de Fornells, Es Clot des Guix, Cala Viola de
Poniente and Levante, Sat Nitja, Rotja Cala, Cala
Cala and Mica.
Ports and Piers:
Commercial and fishing port of Fornells, 40 ° 3
'18 "N, 4 ° 7' 51" E, Titularitad is autonomous and has 121 moorings
with a depth between one and two meters.
Club Nautico Fornells, 40 ° 2 '19 "N, 4 ° 7' 28"
E, Located in Ses Salines, has 64 moorings with a draft between half and two
meters.
Addaia Marina, 40 ° 0 '22 "N, 4 ° 11' 55" E, Has
150 berths.
Sanitja anchorage.
In the bays of Fornells and Addaia anchorage is
provided for between 354 and 473 boats less than 10 meters in length and a
hundred yachts, especially during bad weather.
In Sanitja anchorage can be provided for 69 boats under 10
meters in length.
Local holidays:
3. A week in July is the
4. A week in July is the San Antonio, patron saint of Fornells.
It is situated 21 km from the capital Mahon and
about 15km of Fornells, is urbanized belonging
to the municipality. Mercadal, is located
in the centre of the island, bordered on the north by the sea, on the East by
Mahon, on the South is Alaior Migjorn Great Ferrerías in the West.
The interior of the island is characteristically quite flat,
there fore the highest peak of Menorca is a highlight called Monte Toro, which
rises 357 meters above the sea level.
Climate
The climate is, as in the rest of the Balearic
Islands,
The minimum temperatures in winter can drop below 5 º
C on many occasions at night and morning, and highest in summer exceed 30 ° C.
The territorial demarcation of Mercadal has undergone two
major changes through history, original records from the University of
Mercadal, show that preceding the current City Council, which was established
in 1439 by Governor Requesens Galceran, the areas were separated in 1837. The Ferrerías
municipality was incorporated in the twentieth century, in 1989, by Migjorn
Gran.
Etymology
The name comes from Latin and it has the meaning
of Mercatale of mercatum, a place or town where the market is held. In
granting rights in 1301 is was cited as Mercatallo
Villagers illustrious or prominent persons
Tirso Pons Pons, 1939, a senator from Menorca in
the Legislature and founder of the Balearic Socialist Movement, forerunner of
Socialist Party of the Balearic Islands.
The Secondary sector constitutes Municipal Industrial
activities, which are focused in the industrial and service of Fornells, opened
in October 2001, the park has 35 sites with a total area 72,310 m².
Of the 99 industrial activities of the municipality in
2001, 66 were related to construction.
The Tertiary sector, is the main economic engine
of the municipality, focusing activity in Fornells, Mercadal and the
hospitality industry with 23 hospitality establishments and over 4000 beds
surveyed in the 2001 survey of the industry.
History
Mercadal, the present capital city, dates from the
thirteenth century after the conquest of the island, by Alfonso III of
The town grew around the parish and eventually received
permission from King James II of Mallorca in 1301, near Ciutadella and Mahon
the privilege of holding a market on Thursdays.
The parish was initially under the name of Gerona, San
Narciso, until in 1431 when it became devoted to St. Martin. The
original in Fornells goes back to 1625 when construction began on the
Castillo de San Antonio which was demolished in 1782.
The building was at the entrance to the harbour, to defend
the island from attacks by foreigners. There was a third town centre now
defunct, in the valley called San Juan Carbonell which once had 200
inhabitants.