What is wrong with the Mar Menor?
Massive rainfall washed agricultural sediment, which included excessive amounts of nitrates from fertilizers into the Mar Menor. These excessive amounts of nitrates depleted the levels of dissolved oxygen in the water, suffocating the fish.
Where is Mar Menor Spain?
Murcia
Mar Menor (Spanish pronunciation: [ˌmaɾ meˈnoɾ], “minor/smaller sea”) is a coastal saltwater lagoon in the Iberian Peninsula located south-east of the Autonomous Community of Murcia, Spain, near Cartagena. Its name is the opposite of the Mediterranean, which is the Mar Mayor (greater/larger sea) of the region.
Is Mar Menor still polluted?
Mar Menor ‘Smaller Sea’ is the largest saltwater lagoon in Spain and is located near sunny Cartagena. Tourists used to flock to the areas around Mar Menor to enjoy the lagoon’s clear and safe waters. However, in recent years the condition of Mar Menor has significantly deteriorated due to pollution.
Why is the Mar Menor polluted?
Recent heavy rainfall and rising temperatures has led to increased nitrate levels in water pouring into the lagoon from fields on the Campo de Cartagena. That means a resulting upturn in dangerous algae that reduces oxygen levels in the lagoon which could kill fish and other marine species.
Does the Mar Menor smell?
It has a putrid smell that reveals what the Murcia government has described as a “grave ecological unbalance”, and what activists are calling “ecocide”: a crime against an ecosystem and the species – including humans – that live within it.
Do people swim in the Mar Menor?
“The beach is open for swimming, but if you put your foot in it, you’ll see how it sinks into the mud. It could even be dangerous,” says Pineda, who is irked by the authorities’ failure to act and their permissive attitude toward certain agricultural practices.
What is the nearest airport to Mar Menor?
Corvera
The nearest airport to Mar Menor is Corvera (RMU) Airport which is 20.9 km away. Other nearby airports include Alicante (ALC) (67.9 km) and Valencia (VLC) (198.1 km).
Is Mar Menor a nice place to live?
Mar Menor, in northern Murcia, is home to the largest saltwater lagoon in Europe. Its unique ecosystem and superb microclimate, which delivers more than 3,000 hours of sunshine per year, make it a popular location with second home buyers.
Can you swim in the Mar Menor?
Is Mar Menor fresh water?
The Mar Menor is a saltwater lagoon of the Mediterranean Sea located in the Region of Murcia, in south- eastern Spain.
Is the Mar Menor a lake?
The Mar Menor is Europe’s largest saltwater lake with a surface area of 170 square kilometres, 70km of internal coastline, separated from the Mediterranean by the 22km long strip of land, La Manga del Mar Menor, offering a large choice of sandy beaches and calm bathing conditions.
Where in the UK flies to Murcia?
You can fly directly to Murcia from the following UK airports:
- London Gatwick Airport.
- London Stansted Airport.
- London Luton Airport.
- Bournemouth Airport.
- Bristol Airport.
- Birmingham Airport.
- East Midlands Airport.
- Manchester Airport.
What is Mar Menor in Murcia famous for?
THE Mar Menor in Murcia is Europe’s largest saltwater lagoon but also one of the continent’s saddest stories over the ravages of pollution. It’s an area that should be talked about in terms of beauty with its varied flora and fauna.
Is the Mar Menor a protected area?
The Mar Menor is also part of a Specially Protected Area of Mediterranean Importance and is a Special Protection Area ( ZEPA in Spanish) for bird life.
Who is to blame for the Mar Menor crisis in Murcia?
Jo, along with many campaigners points the finger of blame at the regional Murcia government run by the Partido Popular since 1995. “The government has paid little attention to the Mar Menor for decades,” she declared.
What is La Manga del Mar Menor like?
La manga del mar menor is a couple of kilometres along the strip it is a lovely area,very Spanish with mar menor on one side and the Mediterranean on the other,beatifull sandy beaches on both sides with safe bathing, the mar menor is shallow and very warm getting to 30%C .