Formentera Nature
Formentera is made up of two low plateaux, Barbària, to the west, and La Mola, to the east. In the north are coastal lagoons and bays, such as the Estany Pudent, old and important saltpans, and the Estany des Peix. The main road connects the port of La Savina, obligatory point of arrival, with the lighthouse of La Mola, at the island's eastern tip.
From the point known as Es Mirador, on the way up La Mola, the visitor has a view of practically the whole island, and, if visibility is good, the islets towards Ibiza and Eivissa town itself.
The landscape captivates the beholder with its character and authenticity. The vegetation, principally scrub and pine forest, has adapted to a very particular soil. There also remain long-lived examples of fig trees and the abundant juniper trees (Juniperus Sabina) that used to cover a large part of the island, and which are moulded into dramatic shapes beside the sea by the salty wind. The rich marine life is an open invitation to visit the depths. Birds are also notably abundant, especially in the Ses Salines Nature Reserve. A good part of the island is protected from development.
The old saltpans, which were worked until a few years ago and employed as many as a hundred people, are today a space surrounded by such glorious beaches as Illetes and Llevant; dune systems in precarious equilibrium dominate this area. There are also secluded, peaceful coves, and another large beach, Migjorn. The fishing boats at the water's edge, in the shelter of their boathouses, are a picturesque element, a vestige of what was until recently a major economic activity.
The visitor who wishes to contemplate the
immensity of the sea from a cliff top has two privileged spots
at which to do so: the lighthouses of La Mola and Cap de Barbària.