The Mar Menor (Little Sea) is a unique area located on the east coast of Spain, within the region of Murcia, just above the city of Cartagena. Few regions have the good fortune to have both a saltwater lake and a Mediterranean shore. The region of Murcia has both and the salt water lake with an area of 170sq.km is known as Mar Menor, the largest salt water lake in Europe. Mar Menor is part of the Costa Calida.
The area dates back to prehistoric times but most remains found date from the Roman and Arabic periods. The Romans valued the area highly and developed a valuable salt industry. It was about 1000 years ago that the lake took on the appearance it has today. As well as the natural importance of the area the mud and clay are said to have therapeutic properties, known for centuries.
The average annual temperature here is 17C and the average during the summer is above 21C. The winters are very mild, very rarely falling below 10C. Rain is also rare here. With over 3000 hours of sunshine a year and the mild climate, the water here can reach 30 in August.
The coast of the Mar Menor is flanked by small towns, in the past homes to fishermen and today, tourist enclaves. San Pedro del Pinatar in the north covers 21.7sq.km and has 15,200 inhabitants. This can swell to 60,000 in the summer months. Below this is San Javier with over 20,000 residents.
The area offers several golf courses, municipal parks and the famous resort of La Manga. La Manga has more than 40km of beaches and the unique possibility of choosing between two seas with very different water temperatures, one with waves and one practically calm all year long. The number of hotels at La Manga make up 50% of the total hotels in the region.
With so much water here there is no wonder that the area is a haven for watersports. The possibilities here are endless from sailing to diving, windsurfing and jetskiing.
Other places worthy of a visit are Santiago de la Riberera, Los Alczares an old fishing village and the point at Cabo de Palos with its lighthouse. If history is of interest to you then you must visit nearby Cartagena with its castles, forts and lighthouses.
