Mar Menor – La Manga 

Mar Menor  is a unique area located on the east coast of the Costa Blanca, near to Murcia and Cartagena. The salt water lake has a superficies of 170sq.km. The length of the coast counts 73 km and the maximum depth is less than 7 meters. It’s the largest salt water lake in Europe. It’s special and natural ecological characteristic makes the Mar Menor a unique and splendid place. The beaches are of transparent and shallow water.

The coast of the Mar Menor is flanked by several small fisher and tourist towns. To mention is first San Pedro del Pinatar in the north, then below is San Javier located and in the south is the village Los Nietos with a train to Cartagena.

The area offers several golf courses and municipal parks. The Mar Menor has huge extensive beaches. The sea has waves and Mar Menor is calmer and warmer all year long. Mar Menor is a haven for water sports. The possibilities here are endless from sailing to diving, windsurfing and jet skiing. The Mar Menor has excellent conditions for sport practicing and for boat trips out to the five small off-shore islands.

La Manga del Mar Menor is a strip of land of 24 km long and between 100 and 1200 m wide. The strip goes from Cabo de Palos towards north with many hotels and houses that runs the length of strip. These areas of land sedimentation are built up of dunes and vegetation of thickets. The extensive constructions filled the landscape. Nowadays the place basically lives on tourism that fills its beaches during the whole year thanks to its warm climate.

On the west side of the strip is Mar Menor, the big lake of salty water. On the east side is the Mediterranean Sea. Both seas are communicated by two canals called “golas”. The strip of land is now a tourist Mecca, and the whole area south of San Pedro del Pinatar is very crowded, especially in high seasons.

Other places worthy of a visit are Santiago de la Riberera, Los Alcázares and old fishing village and the point at Cabo de Palos with its lighthouse. You should not miss to visit nearby Cartagena with its castles, forts and lighthouses.

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