Balearic Islands
From Open Encyclopedia
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| Image:Locator map of Balearic.png | ||
| Capital | Palma de Mallorca | |
| Official languages | Catalan and Spanish | |
| Area – Total – % of Spain | Ranked 17th 4 992 km² 1,0% | |
| Population – Total (2003) – % of Spain – Density | Ranked 14th 916 968 2,2% 183,69/km² | |
| Demonym – English – Catalan – Spanish | Balearic balear balear | |
| Statute of Autonomy | March 1, 1983 | |
| ISO 3166-2 | IB | |
| Parliamentary representation Congress seats Senate seats | 8 5 | |
| President | Jaume Matas Palou (PP) | |
| Govern de les Illes Balears | ||
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The Balearic Islands (Illes Balears Catalan official name, Islas Baleares in Spanish) are an archipelago in the western Mediterranean Sea, near the coast of Spain. They form one of the Autonomous Communities of Spain, the Autonomous Community of the Balearic Islands. The Community's capital city is Palma de Mallorca. Its only province is also called Illes Balears.
The official languages are Catalan and Spanish. The Catalan name Illes Balears is used by the Spanish government [1].
The Balearic Islands are one of the catalan-speaking teritories designed by the cultural term of Catalan Countries.
The main islands are Majorca (Mallorca), Minorca (Menorca), Ibiza (Eivissa), and Formentera, all popular tourist destinations.
Among the minor islands is Cabrera, which is the location of the Parque Nacional del Archipiélago de Cabrera.
Majorca and Minorca are the Balearic Islands proper, while the other islands are included in the appelation as part of the Autonomous Community. The islands can be further grouped, with Majorca, Minorca, and Cabrera as the Illes Gimnesias, and Ibiza and Formentera as the Illes Pitiüses. Image:Palau dels Reis de Mallorca a Perpinya.jpg In ancient times, the islanders constructed talayots, and were famous for their skill with the sling. Historically they have been invaded by the Romans, the Vandals, the Byzantines, the Arabs, and the Aragonese. The latter brutally settled the islands, mainly by Catalan population, virtually extinguishing the previous populations, and initially ruled the Balearics as the vassal Kingdom of Mallorca, but in 1344 this ceased to exist and it was directly incorporated into the Crown of Aragon, which was later absorbed into Spain as a result of the War of Spanish Succession.
Minorca was a British dependency most of the 18th century, a time in which the island was conquered and reconquered and traded by British, French and Spanish forces in several wars.
Illes Balears sponsors a professional cycling team in the UCI ProTour.
Image:Espanyamusulmana1.png Image:Balearic.png
See also
External links
- Government of the Balearic Islands
- Illes Balears - Official travel website for the Balearic Islands
- BalearesWeb - Website directory for the Balearic Islands
- Baleares Travel Net - Travel website directory in the Balearics
- SpainInfo - Touristic information of the Balearic Islands
| Administrative structure of Spain | Image:Spain flag large.png |
|---|---|
| Autonomous Communities: Andalusia | Aragon | Asturias | Balearic Islands | Basque Country | Canary Islands | Cantabria | Castile–La Mancha | Castile–Leon | Catalonia | Extremadura | Galicia | Madrid | Murcia | Navarre | La Rioja | Valencia | |
| Autonomous Cities: Ceuta | Melilla | |
| Plazas de soberanía menores: Islas Chafarinas | Peñón de Alhucemas | Peñón de Vélez de la Gomera | |
| | Image:Spain flag large.png |
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