Winter is the slow season on Menorca, at least for tourists. But for Mother Nature it’s a time to recuperate, recharge batteries and get ready for the long, hot summer months that attract so many people to this Mediterranean holiday paradise.
During the winter months, rain falls on the island’s rocky and mountainous interior, providing the moisture needed for plants and vegetation to grow. Some of this rainfall collects in over 80 small (many only one to two metres wide) natural pools that dot the landscape – pools that are known on the island as “basses”, or transient pools because by summer, they will have evaporated under the hot sun.
A Springtime Oasis
While it’s true that the pools will have disappeared by the summer, in spring, each one is a glorious oasis of life. The pools attract native animals and birds, plants spring up and the area surrounding the pools becomes a veritable treasure trove of nature’s finest specimens. In fact, so important are these pools to the island’s ecosystem, that it is believed that they were used by the Talaiotic people for drinking and irrigation well over 3,000 years ago.
Despite their transient nature, these pools are reborn in the same locations every year and all are nature reserves protected by the island council’s Life Nature project. They also attract many spring visitors to the island, especially nature lovers who rent a self-catered villa to give themselves maximum freedom to explore the wonders of nature.
Sa Bassa Verda – Our Personal Favourite
Sa Bassa Verde, or the Green Pond in English, is a spectacular example of this environmentally rich eco-system. It is a large, secluded pool set in a rocky basin, surrounded by trees and low shrubs. In the winter and spring, the pond fills up with water, plants and flowers bloom all around, and animals come to drink. All you have to do is sit with a packed lunch and enjoy the beauty and the tranquillity. We recommend getting a self-catered villa in the area. This will let you set your own pace and give you total freedom to explore the amazing scenery of the area.
To get to the pool, which is located northeast of the Algaiarens beaches to the north of Ciutadella, just follow signs for Cala Morell and Algaiarens. When the road splits, follow signs for Algaiarens and La Vall and park in the beach car park.
From here, you set out along the path signposted Cami de Cavalls. After a pleasant stroll across the fields and passing through three gates, the path begins to climb. After a while, the path forks – take the left fork and follow it all the way up through the forest where you can enjoy spectacular views of the valley and the beaches. Continue upwards until, suddenly, you come across the glorious, sparking green pool of rainwater. One journey has ended, but a new journey of wonder and beauty is about to begin.
Fleeting Beauty
As we said, all of the “bassa” pools will have disappeared by the summer. So take the opportunity to rent a self-catered villa and come to Menorca for a spring break to see the island in all its natural glory.
Brenda Jaaback, Managing Director of Bartle Holidays, is a renowned Menorca expert. From its history to its people and from its wildlife to its cuisine – no secret of the island remains hidden to her. Personally selecting the finest properties for her clients, Brenda is the go-to person for anyone looking for a self catered villa on Menorca. Bartle Holidays makes no warranty as to the accuracy of information contained in this article and excludes any liability of any kind for the information.
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