Cala Mondragó in Santanyí
The Mondragó Natural Park is situated in Cala Mondragó, in the South of Mallorca in the municipality of Santanyí. The protected natural area, with an area of 785 hectares, comprises the S'Amador beach, the dunes and the wetlands behind, the Mondragó beach, the wetlands called Ses Fonts de n'Alis and the cliffs, plus the agricultural lands and low hills round the area.
The whole natural area, both the beaches with fine white sand and crystal clear water, and the spectacular cliffs and inland areas, present an extraordinary interest throughout the year, and has become one of the main tourist attractions of Santanyí.
According to the naturalist Guillem Alomar Canyelles, from the point of view of the vegetation, we can find in Mondragó a series of different ecosystems: on the coast, where the sea breeze reaches, the 'saladina' grows, an endemic variety of the 'limonium'; and also the marine fennel and the 'socarrell', with its characteristic small spiky form. In the wet lands the vegetation is formed mainly by bamboo, sea rushes and tamarind. In the dune areas behind the beaches we can find sea thistle, beach lilies and others that are in clear recession due to the massive human use of the beaches. Another type of ecosystem is the one that is comprised of the species that live on the rocks, called 'rupícoles', that are normally to be found on the cliff walls of S'Amarador and Ses Fonts de n'Alis; and also in the numerous dry stone walls that these species have adapted to. Away from the coast we can find a dominating species, the 'lletrerassa' that in Santanyí is known as 'baladre' and the 'sabina' that is a variety of the wild olive but localised in marine areas. Other very extended species in Mondragó are the pine and wild olive, that form a low wood dominated by heather and rosemary.
As for the fauna, in the wetlands of S'Amarador and Ses Fonts de n'Alis, the migrating birds are extremely present. The most characteristic are the white crane, the coot, the waterhen, the Little Stint and the Little Ringet. In the wetlands, eels, amongst other species, can also be found. For some years intents have been made to introduce tortoises into Mondragó again.
The agricultural scenery of Mondragó is characteristic for its lands known as 'rotes' dedicated to the cultivation of cereals, fig trees, almond trees and carob trees, and for the low hill lands. The dry stone used in walls and houses, plus other buildings, such as the traditional barns, is another important characteristic of the local scenery. According to the Professor of Geography of the UIB, Miquel Grimalt Gelabert, in Mondragó the best preserved marine area can be found, and can be defined as a mosaic of crops and low hills, which is most valued for its diversity.
Mondragó has been a Natural Park since 1992 (Decree 85/1992), and has been a Zone of Special Protection for Birds (ZEPA) since 1995. Of the 785 hectares of the park, 690 are privately owned and 95 belong to the public administration. The Mondragó Natural Park is administered by the Balearic Department of Environment via a Governing Board in which there are representatives, amongst others, of the administration, the owners, the Balearic University and Balearic Associations for nature protection.
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