Majorca is the largest of the islands that make up the Balearic archipelago. This group of islands lies to the west centre of the Western Mediterranean and emerges upon a submarine platform, separated from Catalan coasts by a channel of over 3,280 ft in depth. Majorca makes up the Balearic archipelago together with Minorca, Ibiza, Formentera, Cabrera and other minor islands.

 

Compared to other large neighbouring islands (Corsica, Sardinia or Sicily), its extension is small. It has a 3,521-sq m area, with a perimeter of 361 miles. Its highest point is Puig Major at 4,740 ft. The maximum distance from one end of the island to the other, between the east end (Cape Capdepera) and the west end (Sant Elm), is 59 miles, whereas the northernmost area (Cape Formentor) is 49 miles away from the southernmost one (Cape Ses Salines). In short, Majorca is the seventh largest island in the Mediterranean and, along with Minorca, the furthest from the continent.

 

In spite of this, it offers a remarkable physiographic diversity. Two mountain ranges give shape to Majorca’s structure: the Tramuntana mountain range to the northeast, and the Llevant mountain range to the southeast. Between these two, lies the island's flat area, where three sub unities may be distinguished: the Raiguer, by the Tramuntana mountain range, which preserves a certain irregularity, the Pla, and the Migjorn. The Llevant marina completes Majorca’s group of physical lands.

The total yearly average rainfall levels are 550 l/m2, although there are remarkable internal differences. Depending on the location, rainfall ranges between 350 and 1500 mm. The rainfall pattern is seasonal, and the dry season coincides with the warm season (summer). The weather is typically Mediterranean, with mild average temperatures of 16-18ºC (except high up in the mountain), high average temperatures of 30ºC during the summer and low temperatures of 6ºC on winter nights. Nevertheless, each year sees rises and drops of over 35º and under -2ºC.

The vegetation is characterised by a predominance of the pine trees, which has replaced the oak in the coldest places. The almond tree predominates in uncultivated mountain areas, and the carob and olive trees, in cultivated areas, although to a lesser extent. Irrigated areas are scant and, in general, agriculture has taken on a symbolic role, due to an overexploitation of tourism and related services which, along with construction comprise most of the island’s economy. Until the mid-20th century, the island was partially self-sufficient, tough the tourist “boom” brought about important changes, not least population growth, which currently exceeds 800,000 inhabitants, half of which live in Palm. This growth is due to immigration, initially Spanish and, from the 1990s onwards, also European, North African, Sub-Saharan, and South American.

The result is a densely populated island, with a high living standard on one hand, but  a process of degradation and destruction of its natural heritage known as “balearisation” on the other hand. This phenomenon is also visible on the other islands, with greater (Ibiza) or lesser (Minorca) intensity. Its cultural heritage has also been affected as a consequence of continuous aggressions against the historical, archaeological and artistic patrimony, as well as the process of Catalan, the Balearics’ own language, as a minority.