Photo: Park Archive. S Albufera des Grau Natural Park. Sa Gola ENGLISH

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1 ENGLISH Sa Gola S Albufera des Grau Natural Park Photo: Park Archive

Sa Gola S Albufera des Grau Natural Park This trail runs through the Sa Gola canal and the dune area of the beach at Es Grau and is very pleasant in the summer, given the shade of the pine grove and

2 Sa Gola S Albufera des Grau Natural Park This trail runs through the Sa Gola canal and the dune area of the beach at Es Grau and is very pleasant in the summer, given the shade of the pine grove and its proximity to the sea. Difficulty: Low Distance: 1.7 kilometres Duration: 45 minutes (not including stops) The trail is flat and can be followed on foot. There is access for visitors with limited mobility in the areas around Sa Gola. Feel free to stop in at the visitor reception and interpretation centre, where you will find all the information you need for this itinerary. Wild olive trees (Drawing: Vicenç Sastre)

3 1. Sa Gola The itinerary begins in the parking area at the football field, which is located near the coastal community of Es Grau. From there, you will walk along the Maó-Es Grau road some 200 metres until you come to a turning to the right. Just there, amid the tamarisks, you will see a gate made of wild olivewood. If you are on a bicycle, you may leave it in this area. Sa Gola is the name of a small canal that connects S Albufera des Grau with the sea. There is a stone bridge that crosses this canal just at the starting point of the itinerary. Beneath the bridge, you will see one of the sluice gates that regulate the flow of water between S Albufera and the sea. Traditionally used for fishing purposes only, this system is now used for the conservation of the lagoon. The sluice gates make it possible to regulate the water levels (which are important for the survival of underwater plants), the salinity levels (which determine the composition of plankton and the macrophytes) and the connection with the sea (which is essential for the migration of fish). Needless to say, this ecosystem is ideal for a wide range of animal and plant species. This water management has become vital, as some of the springs that traditionally spilled into S Albufera have dried up, due to the overexploitation of the S Albaida aquifer in the municipal area of Alaior. The end result was a change in the annual patterns of S Albufera. Mediterranean tree frog on a shrub (Photo: Òscar García)

2. The glasswort community Once past the stone bridge, you will come to a wooden walkway that protects the glasswort vegetation from foot traffic.

4 2. The glasswort community Once past the stone bridge, you will come to a wooden walkway that protects the glasswort vegetation from foot traffic. This area is characterised by a very specific plant type that adapts well to the significant changes in the water and salinity levels. Particularly worthy of note are the glasswort (Arthrocnemum fruticosum), the sea purslane (Halimione portulacoides), the caspia (Limonium ferulaceum) and the golden samphire (Inula crithmoides), among others. Glasswort prairie near the Sa Gola bridge (Photo: Andrea Guilera)

3. The lookout at Sa Gola point Follow the marked trail towards the lookout, and once you have passed the walkway, you will come to a short yet intense ascent that will take you up to the viewpoint,

5 3. The lookout at Sa Gola point Follow the marked trail towards the lookout, and once you have passed the walkway, you will come to a short yet intense ascent that will take you up to the viewpoint, where you will enjoy a breathtaking panoramic view of S Albufera to the west, with the Sa Bassa Salada lagoon and the dune system to the north. S Albufera des Grau has a surface area of approximately 70 hectares with a maximum depth of some 3 metres, and is surrounded by small hills that give it a sheltered appearance. This is no doubt one of the best places to enjoy the sunset. Sa Bassa Salada is a small saltwater lagoon that is isolated from S Albufera. Some summers it turns red due to the presence of certain bacteria that produce reddish pigments when the lagoon is lacking oxygen. Wooden walkways and glasswort prairie (Photo: Fernando Mozos)

4. The fish weirs As you come down from the lookout, if you look closely at the main wall, you will see the traditional dry-stone weir wall system that was once used for fishing.

6 4. The fish weirs As you come down from the lookout, if you look closely at the main wall, you will see the traditional dry-stone weir wall system that was once used for fishing. These structures were set up as pools that served to accumulate large numbers of fish, which were then caught through different fishing techniques. These constructions were added on to the bottleneck-shaped passageway located in the lagoon just before the connection with the sea. The fish were either channelled into the pools by the force of the freshwater streams that spilled into the lagoon, or they were drawn into them due to their need to spawn. In the latter case, they would swim up into a funnel-shaped wall system known as enfàs, which was connected to the fish weir system by means of several sluice gates. Only traditional eel fishing is allowed in the Albufera des Grau lagoon, yet the activity requires prior government authorisation. LAGOON Main wall Wall system ENFÀS THE FISH WEIRS National Plan for Aerial Orthophotography (PNOA) of the Spanish Ministry of Development s.

5. The dune system You will now continue to follow the trail towards the beach, through the dune area, which has been fixed by vegetation. Decades ago, part of the savin grove 5.

7 5. The dune system You will now continue to follow the trail towards the beach, through the dune area, which has been fixed by vegetation. Decades ago, part of the savin grove 5. The dune system in Es Grau was unsustainably cut down for lumber use purposes, as well as to build part of the town and the football field. Later on, the area was repopulated with pine trees. You will now continue to follow the trail towards the beach, through the dune area, which has been fixed by vegetation. Decades ago, part of the savin grove in Es Grau was unsustainably cut down for lumber use purposes, as Today, you will see the recovery of the original plant life, including savins (Juniperus well as to build part of the town and the football field. Later on, the area was phoenicea subsp. turbinata), alaterns (Rhamnus alaternus) and a few young holm repopulated with pine trees. oaks (Quercus ilex). The savins are trees with shallow roots that hold the dune in place, cover a great deal of land and can make use of the water that filters through the dune or the little water that is retained in the sand. Today, you will see the recovery of the original plant life, including savins (Juniperus phoenicea subsp. turbinata), alaterns (Rhamnus alaternus) and a few young holm oaks (Quercus ilex). The savins are trees with shallow roots that hold the dune in place, cover a great deal of land and can make use of the water that filters through the dune or the little water that is retained in the sand. On the fixed dune it is not uncommon to see the black rat (Rattus rattus), which feeds on the On tender the fixed dune pinecones. it is not uncommon You might to see the also black see rat (Rattus an occasional rattus), which hedgehog (Atelerix algirus). feeds on Noteworthy the tender pinecones. among You might the also birds see found an occasional in this hedgehog area are forest (Atelerix algirus). Noteworthy among the birds found in this area are forest species, such species, as such the as turtle the turtle dove dove (Streptopelia turtur), turtur), the chaffinch the chaffinch (Fringilla (Fringilla coelebs) and coelebs) the and great the tit great (Parus tit major). As to to the the reptiles, reptiles, mention mention must be must be made of the Hermann s tortoise which boasts made of the Hermann s tortoise (Testudo hermanni), which boasts Herman s tortoise (Photo: Jordi Escandell) Herman s tortoise (Photo: Jordi Escandell)

one of the densest populations in the world here. The insect population in the area includes a small metallic bluish-greenish beetle that is endemic to the Balearic Islands, the Timarcha balearica.

8 one of the densest populations in the world here. The insect population in the area includes a small metallic bluish-greenish beetle that is endemic to the Balearic Islands, the Timarcha balearica. From here, you will move on towards the Bol Llarg, which is at the beach of Es Grau, where you will see the dune system. This is a highly fragile ecosystem given its mobility and the human stress to which it is subjected during the summer months. For this reason, a number of conservation measures have been taken, including the limitations of the bathing area and the redistribution of Posidonia, which acts as a sand trap. This management has enabled the dune system to recover considerably, while at the same time conserving the beach s sand. In the dune area closest to the sea you will see a number of plants that have adapted perfectly to life on a highly unstable sandy surface that is prone to water loss. Among them are the sea daffodil (Pancratium maritimum), the sea holly (Eryngium maritimum), sand couch grass (Elymus farctus) and marram grass (Ammophila arenaria). Sea daffodil (Photo: Jordi Escandell)

6. The marine area of the Park Emerging in the Park s flooded areas are the Posidonia oceanica and Cymodocea nodosa sea grass meadows, marine phanerogams that serve a very important dual purpose.

9 6. The marine area of the Park Emerging in the Park s flooded areas are the Posidonia oceanica and Cymodocea nodosa sea grass meadows, marine phanerogams that serve a very important dual purpose. While the dead remains of these plants accumulate at the shore and protect the sand from the winter storms, the forked vines of the living plant help retain the sand, and the leaves mitigate the effects of the waves on the sandy sea floor. The marine area of the Park moreover features a wide variety of rock-dwelling seaweed communities. Particularly abounding here are those of the Cystoseira genus, which have suffered a great deal throughout the Mediterranean, as they are highly sensitive to excessive human traffic and pollution. To return from here, you can walk along the beach back to the Colonia des Grau, a residential area that has successfully conserved its Menorcan character. The depths of the Park s waters (Photo: Ricard Borràs) Edition: Espais de Natura Balear. Design: Joaquim Gamero. Translation: Susan Feuer

10 Es Bol Llarg Cala en Vidrier Cala des Coster d en Truja Roca des Mabres Platja des Grau Punta de sa Gola Sa Bassa Salada Es Grau Mirador Drawing: Vicenç Sastre Albufera des Grau Sa Gola Sa Paret Mestre S Embut Es pont des Grau Km 6 Sa Pantena

Title/Name of the area: Chwaka Bay, Zanzibar

Title/Name of the area: Chwaka Bay, Zanzibar Presented by: Dr. Charles Lugomela, Ag. Head, Department of Aquatic Sciences and Fisheries, University of Dar es Salaam, P.O. Box 35064 Dar es Salaam, Tanzania