Balearic Islands

Encyclopedia : B : BA : BAL : Balearic Islands

Comunidad Autónoma de las Illes Balears'''

Flag Coat of Arms

Locator map of Balearic.png
Capital Palma
Official languages Catalan and Spanish
Area
– Total
– % of Spain Ranked 17th
4 992 km²
1,0%
Population
– Total (2005)
– % of Spain
– Density Ranked 14th
983 131
2,2%
196,94/km²
Demonym
– English
– Catalan
– Spanish Balearic

balear
Statute of Autonomy March 1, 1983
ISO 3166-2 IB
Parliamentary
representation
Congress seats
Senate seats 8
5
President Jaume Matas Palou (PP)
[Govern de les Illes Balears]

The Balearic Islands /ˈbeɪ̯lɪˌæɹɪk ˈaɪ̯ləndz/ (Catalan: /ˈiʎəz bəɫəˈaː(r)s/, Spanish: , /ˈis·las·ba·leˈaː·res/) 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 the official one. [Ley orgánico 2/1983, de 25 de febrero, por la que se aprueba el estatuto de autonomía del las Illes Balears] (PDF) See especially article 1.2. Note that the Spanish-language title uses the Catalan name. Accessed 2 July 2006.

Contents

1 Geography, Politics and Culture
2 History of the Archipelago
3 Notes
4 See also
5 External links

Geography, Politics and Culture

The Balearic Islands are one of the Catalan-speaking territories 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 Gymnesian Islands, and Ibiza and Formentera as the Pine Islands.

History of the Archipelago

Majorca Kings Palace at Perpignan

In ancient times, the islanders of the Gymnesian Islands constructed talayots, and were famous for their skill with the sling. Historically they have been colonized by the Phoenicians and invaded by the Carthaginians, Romans, the Vandals, the Byzantines, the Arabs, and the Aragonese. The latter brutally settled the islands, mainly by Catalan population, virtually extinguishing the previous populations, and initially ruled the Balearics as the vassal Kingdom of Mallorca, but in 1344 this ceased to exist and it was directly incorporated into the Crown of Aragon, which was later united dynastically with Castile as a result of the marriage of Isabella of Castile and Ferdinand II of Aragon, and formally absorbed into Spain by the Nueva Planta decrees after the War of Spanish Succession. Minorca was a British dependency most of the 18th century, a time in which the island was conquered and reconquered and traded by British, French and Spanish forces in several wars.

Illes Balears sponsors a professional cycling team in the UCI ProTour.

Notes

External links

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Administrative divisions of Spain

Autonomous communities:	Andalusia \| Aragon \| Asturias \| Balearic Islands \| Basque Country \| Canary Islands \| Cantabria \| Castile‑La Mancha \| Castile‑Leon \| Catalonia \| Extremadura \| Galicia \| Madrid \| Murcia \| Navarre \| La Rioja \| Valencia
Autonomous cities:	Ceuta \| Melilla
Plazas de soberanía:	Islas Chafarinas \| Peñón de Alhucemas \| Peñón de Vélez de la Gomera

Provinces of Spain

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Balearic Islands

Geography, Politics and Culture

History of the Archipelago

Notes

See also

External links