pop (2000e) 600 000; area 3640 km²/1400 sq mi. Largest island in the Balearics, W Mediterranean, 240 km/150 mi N of Algiers; chief town, Palma; tree-covered Sierra del Alfabia rises to 1445 m/4741 ft at Torrellas; taken in 1229 by James I of Aragón; in the Middle Ages, famous for its porcelain (maiolica); popular tourist resort; pottery, brandy, jewellery, mining, sheep, timber, fishing; many Roman, Phoenician, and Carthaginian remains.
| Mallorca | |||||
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Coordinates : 39° 30’N , 3°0'E Time Zone : CET (UTC+1) - summer: CEST (UTC+2) |
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| General information | |||||
| Native name | Mallorca (Catalan) | ||||
| Spanish name | Mallorca | ||||
| Founded | 13th century | ||||
| Postal code | 07001-07691 | ||||
| Area code | 34 (Spain) + 971 (Mallorca) | ||||
| Website | http://www.mallorca.es/index.php?lang=en | ||||
| Administration | |||||
| Country | Spain | ||||
| Autonomous Community | Comunidad Autónoma de Islas Baleares | ||||
| Province | Illes Balears | ||||
| Administrative Divisions | 53 | ||||
| Mayor | Maria Antònia Munar i Riutort (UM) | ||||
| Geography | |||||
| Land Area | 3,640.16 km² | ||||
| Altitude | 222 m AMSL | ||||
| Population | |||||
| Population | 777,821 (2005) | ||||
| - rank in Spain: | 15th | ||||
| Density | 214 hab./km² (2005) | ||||
Mallorca (in Catalan, Spanish, and English; Like the other Balearic Islands Ibiza (Catalan: Eivissa), Formentera, and Minorca ("minor island", Catalan: Menorca), the island is a popular tourist destination. In Germany and the United Kingdom, where package tourism to the island started in May 1952, Mallorca has remained a popular destination.
The capital of the island is Palma, which is also the capital of the autonomous community of the Balearic Islands.
History
Founding of Mallorca
Mallorca has been inhabited since antiquity.
In 902, the Caliphate of Cordoba conquered Mallorca, ushering in a new period of prosperity for the island.
Palma de Mallorca
The capital of Mallorca, Palma, was founded as a Roman camp called Palmaria upon the remains of a Talaiotic settlement.
20th Century to today
Since the 1950s, the advent of mass tourism radically changed the physiognomy of both the city and island, transforming it into a centre of attraction for visitors and attracting workers from mainland Spain.
On November 14, 2005, the local newspaper Diario de Mallorca reported allegations that the CIA used an airport on the island for a program of covert transfers of terror suspects. Joan Miró died in Son Abrines, Palma de Mallorca on December 25, 1983, after spending his later years on the Island.
Of the modern celebrities, Catherine Zeta-Jones and Michael Douglas have maintained a residence since the late 1990s on the north shore of the island, spending as much as half the year there.
Language
The official languages of Mallorca are Spanish and Catalan.
Politics
The Balearic Islands, of which Mallorca forms part, are currently governed by the Partido Popular (People's Party) under Jaume Matas. Despite some popular opposition, Matas's government is currently pursuing a massive road building and development plan that, critics say, threatens to ruin Mallorca's landscape and render the island environmentally unsustainable.
There is a specific government for the island which is called Consell Insular de Mallorca (Mallorca Insular Council) with competences in culture, roads and municipal administration.
Administration
The island is administratively divided into these municipalities:
| Alaró Alcúdia Algaida Andratx Ariany Artà Banyalbufar Binissalem Búger Bunyola Calvià Campanet Campos Capdepera Consell Costitx Deià Escorca | Esporles Estellencs Felanitx Fornalutx Inca Lloret de Vistalegre Lloseta Llubí Llucmajor Manacor Mancor de la Vall Maria de la Salut Marratxí Montuïri Muro Palma Petra sa Pobla | Pollença Porreres Puigpunyent Santa Eugènia Santa Margalida Santa Maria del Camí Santanyí Sant Joan Sant Llorenç des Cardassar Selva Sencelles Ses Salines Sineu Sóller Son Servera Valldemossa Vilafranca de Bonany |
Attractions
Bellver Castle Santueri Castle Palma Cathedral Cuber LakeCuisine
Typical dishes of Mallorca are ensaïmada, a pastry made with pork lard (saïm) and sobrassada, sausage with lard and paprika.
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