| The archipelago of Cabrera is one of the most important natural spaces within Spanish territory. The High Court declared it a National Maritime-Terrestrial Park in 1991 because of its exceptional natural and landscape value. The Park is located in the south of Majorca, 10 kms from Ses Salines and 12 km from Coḷnia de Sant Jordi. It consists of a total number of 18 islands and islets, with a total surface area of 1,836 ha.
The island of Cabrera is the largest one, with a coastal perimeter of 38 kilometres, an extension of 1,569 ha and a maximum elevation of 172 meters at the spot known as na Picamosques. The Illa dels Conills, with 137 hectares and a height of 122 meters is the second island of importance. The rest are islets, most of which are almost inaccessible.
The local climate is Mediterranean semi-arid, with annual average temperatures of 18ºC, a little superior to the temperatures of the immediate Mallorcan coast, and rainfall, on 350 mm of average.
The archipelago is a staging post to many migrating birds during their travels; also to be found on the Islands are Elenora falcons, 10 sub- species of lizards and around 450 species of plants.
History to has touched these Islands, in the 1st to 6th centuries a colony of Romans resided here producing "garum", a product of fish gut which when added to a meal was said to be an aphrodisiac, in the park museum some roman remains can be seen.
The castle was used during the Napoleonic wars of 1809 to 1811 for around 9,000 prisoners, who arrived in groups, the largest was of 4,000 men who were held prisoners for 5 years, only 3,600 survived.
Legends tell us of a monastery situated here and inhabited by rebel monks who danced naked on the beach. (The first nudists of Mallorca?)
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