La Manga
Encyclopedia
La Manga or La Manga del Mar Menor (meaning "The Sandbar of the Minor Sea") is a seaside spit
in the Region of Murcia
, Spain
.
The strip is 22 km long and 100 metres wide (average), separating the Mediterranean Sea
from the Mar Menor
(Minor Sea) lagoon, from Cabo de Palos to the Punta del Mojón.
Historically, it was known by the Romans as Palus and later by the Moors as Al Buhayrat Al Qsarand. In the 17th century its name changed to Mar Chico, meaning "small sea" and later as El Mar Menor. Originally, it was a bay opening into the Mediterranean; at either end, volcanic reefs gradually held back the sand and sediment that was dragged along by the sea currents to form a sandy column of dunes and rock vegetation and long beaches in contact with two seas. La Manga sandbar is cut off by natural channels that keep the two seas in contact with each other; the so-called golas allow water from the Mediterranean into the lake. As such, the space was untouched until the 1960s, when La Manga was discovered as a tourist resort and underwent a transformation which included the urbanisation of the area and the construction of tourist infrastructures.
In 1938, during the Spanish Civil War
, the Battle of Cape Palos
took place near the cape.
Its lighthouse began operating on January 31, 1865. The cape is part of a marine reserve, the Reserva Marina de Cabo de Palos e Islas Hormigas.
The nearest airport is San Javier
(MJV).
There are sailing and skiing schools that run periodical courses, as well as windsurfing
and catamarans, and canoeing. In the nearby town of Los Belones is a stadium, La Manga Stadium
, known for hosting numerous football
clubs from all over the world during the winter months. La Manga Cup
has been staged every year since 1999.
Spit (landform)
A spit or sandspit is a deposition landform found off coasts. At one end, spits connect to land, and extend into the sea. A spit is a type of bar or beach that develops where a re-entrant occurs, such as at cove's headlands, by the process of longshore drift...
in the Region of Murcia
Region of Murcia
The Region of Murcia is an autonomous community of Spain located in the southeast of the country, between Andalusia and Valencian Community, on the Mediterranean coast....
, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
.
The strip is 22 km long and 100 metres wide (average), separating the Mediterranean Sea
Mediterranean Sea
The Mediterranean Sea is a sea connected to the Atlantic Ocean surrounded by the Mediterranean region and almost completely enclosed by land: on the north by Anatolia and Europe, on the south by North Africa, and on the east by the Levant...
from the Mar Menor
Mar Menor
Mar Menor is a salty lagoon, in the south-east of the autonomous Community of Murcia, in Spain, separated from the Mediterranean sea by La Manga, a sandbar 22km in length and with a variable width from 100 to 1200m....
(Minor Sea) lagoon, from Cabo de Palos to the Punta del Mojón.
Historically, it was known by the Romans as Palus and later by the Moors as Al Buhayrat Al Qsarand. In the 17th century its name changed to Mar Chico, meaning "small sea" and later as El Mar Menor. Originally, it was a bay opening into the Mediterranean; at either end, volcanic reefs gradually held back the sand and sediment that was dragged along by the sea currents to form a sandy column of dunes and rock vegetation and long beaches in contact with two seas. La Manga sandbar is cut off by natural channels that keep the two seas in contact with each other; the so-called golas allow water from the Mediterranean into the lake. As such, the space was untouched until the 1960s, when La Manga was discovered as a tourist resort and underwent a transformation which included the urbanisation of the area and the construction of tourist infrastructures.
In 1938, during the Spanish Civil War
Spanish Civil War
The Spanish Civil WarAlso known as The Crusade among Nationalists, the Fourth Carlist War among Carlists, and The Rebellion or Uprising among Republicans. was a major conflict fought in Spain from 17 July 1936 to 1 April 1939...
, the Battle of Cape Palos
Battle of Cape Palos
The Battle of Cape Palos, also known as the Second Battle of Cape Palos, was the biggest naval battle of the Spanish Civil War, fought on the night of March 5–6, 1938, east of Cape Palos near Cartagena, Spain.-Leadup to the battle:...
took place near the cape.
Its lighthouse began operating on January 31, 1865. The cape is part of a marine reserve, the Reserva Marina de Cabo de Palos e Islas Hormigas.
The nearest airport is San Javier
Murcia-San Javier Airport
Murcia-San Javier Airport is a military air base and civilian passenger airport located in San Javier, south of Murcia, Spain. It is operated by Aena , the Spanish airport authority.-Operations:The airport can receive aircraft up to the size of Boeing 757 or 767...
(MJV).
Sports
The Mar Menor with its 5 islands and having shallow and protected waters, lends itself to being an International waterbased Sports Station.There are sailing and skiing schools that run periodical courses, as well as windsurfing
Windsurfing
Windsurfing or sailboarding is a surface water sport that combines elements of surfing and sailing. It consists of a board usually two to four metres long, powered by the orthogonal effect of the wind on a sail. The rig is connected to the board by a free-rotating universal joint and comprises a...
and catamarans, and canoeing. In the nearby town of Los Belones is a stadium, La Manga Stadium
La Manga Stadium
La Manga Club Football Stadium is a stadium in La Manga, Spain. It was a resort stadium and was used to friendly matches and as a resting and training place for the Spain national football team.-External links:*...
, known for hosting numerous football
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
clubs from all over the world during the winter months. La Manga Cup
La Manga Cup
La Manga Cup is a winter football tournament played in La Manga del Mar Menor . Usual participants are clubs from countries with a summer football season: Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Norway, Russia, Ukraine, and the United States and Canada. The first cup was played in 1999 which was won by Rosenborg...
has been staged every year since 1999.