|
Balearic Islands |
|
|
|
 Extended SuperSaver® Hotel listings
Spain * Supersaver-Hotels
® |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The Balearic Islands (Illes Balears
Catalan official name, Islas Baleares in
Spanish) are an archipelago in the western
Mediterranean Sea, near the coast of Spain. They
form one of the Autonomous Communities of Spain,
the Autonomous Community of the Balearic
Islands. The Community's capital city is Palma
de Mallorca. Its only province is also called
Illes Balears.
The official languages are Catalan and Spanish.
The Catalan name Illes Balears is used by the
Spanish government [1].
The Balearic Islands are one of the catalan-speaking
teritories designed by the cultural term of
Catalan Countries.
The main islands are Majorca (Mallorca), Minorca
(Menorca), Ibiza (Eivissa), and Formentera, all
popular tourist destinations.
Among the minor islands is Cabrera, which is the
location of the Parque Nacional del Archipiélago
de Cabrera.
Majorca and Minorca are the Balearic Islands
proper, while the other islands are included in
the appelation as part of the Autonomous
Community. The islands can be further grouped,
with Majorca, Minorca, and Cabrera as the Illes
Gimnesias, and Ibiza and Formentera as the Illes
Pitiüses.
|
|
|
Background:
|
Spain's powerful world empire of the 16th and 17th
centuries ultimately yielded command of the seas to
England. Subsequent failure to embrace the
mercantile and industrial revolutions caused the
country to fall behind Britain, France, and Germany
in economic and political power. Spain remained
neutral in World Wars I and II, but suffered through
a devastating civil war (1936-39). In the second
half of the 20th century, Spain has played a
catch-up role in the western international
community. Continuing concerns are Basque Fatherland
and Liberty (ETA) terrorism and further reductions
in unemployment. |
|
Location:
|
Southwestern Europe, bordering the Bay of Biscay,
Mediterranean Sea, North Atlantic Ocean, and
Pyrenees Mountains, southwest of France |
|
Nationality:
|
noun: Spaniard(s)
adjective: Spanish |
|
Ethnic groups:
|
composite of Mediterranean and Nordic types |
|
Religions:
|
Roman
Catholic 94%, other 6% |
|
Languages:
|
Castilian Spanish (official) 74%, Catalan 17%,
Galician 7%, Basque 2% |
|
Currency:
|
euro
(EUR); Spanish peseta (ESP)
note: on 1 January 1999, the European
Monetary Union introduced the euro as a common
currency to be used by the financial institutions of
member countries; on 1 January 2002, the euro became
the sole currency for everyday transactions with the
member countries |
|
Currency code:
|
EUR;
ESP |
|
Exchange rates:
|
euros
per US dollar - 1.1324 (January 2002), 1.1175
(2001), 1.0854 (2000), 0.9386 (1999); pesetas per US
dollar - 149.40 (1998), 146.41 (1997) |
|
|
|
|
|
