Mar Menor Facts for Kids

A satellite view of the Mar Menor, showing the sandbar

The Mar Menor (which means "Minor Sea") is a large, salty lagoon located in the southeast of the Region of Murcia, in Spain. It's like a huge, calm lake that is separated from the main Mediterranean Sea by a long, narrow strip of land called La Manga. This natural sandbar is about 22 km long and can be anywhere from 100 m to 1,200 m wide.

Where is the Mar Menor?
Why the Mar Menor is Important for Nature
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Where is the Mar Menor?

The Mar Menor is shared by four different towns, or municipalities: Cartagena, Los Alcázares, San Javier, and San Pedro del Pinatar.

This amazing lagoon covers an area of about 135 km2. Its edge, or perimeter, stretches for about 59.51 km. The water in the Mar Menor is warm and clear, and it's not very deep – usually no more than 6 m. Because of its calm, shallow waters, the famous swimmer and Hollywood actress Esther Williams once called it "the largest swimming pool in the world"!

The water in the Mar Menor has a lot of salt, which makes it easier to float! This makes it one of the most popular places in Europe for many different water sports.

Long ago, people like the Phoenicians and later the Moorish kings loved this "small sea" so much that they chose it for their summer homes. Today, it's still a favorite spot for people looking for a quiet place to relax and enjoy the great weather all year round.

Why the Mar Menor is Important for Nature

At the northern end of the Mar Menor, there are special areas called salt marshes. These include a very important wetland that is recognized around the world. This area is protected as a nature park by the local government. Its Spanish name is "Salinas y Arenales de San Pedro del Pinatar". Tiny living things, called microbes, that live in this coastal lagoon have been studied recently.

The Mar Menor is so important for nature that it was added to the Ramsar Convention list in 1994. This list helps protect and use wetlands wisely. It's also part of a Specially Protected Areas of Mediterranean Importance and is a Special Protection Area (called ZEPA in Spanish) for birds.

In 2007, the Mar Menor was even chosen as one of the top 100 finalists for the 12 Treasures of Spain.