Balearic Islands

The Balearic Islands (/ˌbæliˈærᵻk ˈaɪləndz/; Catalan: Illes Balears [ˈiʎəz bələˈas]; Spanish: Islas Baleares [ˈizlaz βaleˈaɾes]) are an archipelago of Spain in the western Mediterranean Sea, near the eastern coast of the Iberian Peninsula.

The four largest islands are Majorca, Minorca, Ibiza and Formentera. There are many minor islands and islets in close proximity to the larger islands, including Cabrera, Dragonera and S'Espalmador. The islands have a Mediterranean Climate, and the four major islands are all popular tourist destinations. The islands' culture and cuisine are similar to that of the rest of the Catalan Countries.

The archipelago forms an autonomous community and a province of Spain, with Palma de Mallorca as the capital. The co-official languages in the Balearic Islands are Catalan and Spanish. The current Statute of Autonomy declares the Balearic Islands as one nationality of Spain. Though currently a part of Spain, throughout history the Balearic Islands have been under the rule of number of different kingdoms and countries.

Balearic Islands (Spanish Congress Electoral District)

Coordinates: 39°30′N 3°00′W / 39.500°N 3.000°W / 39.500; -3.000 Balearic Islands (Catalan: Illes Balears [ˈiʎəz βəɫəˈas]) is one of the 52 electoral districts (Spanish: circunscripciones) used for the Spanish Congress of Deputies – the lower chamber of the Spanish Parliament, the Cortes Generales. The method of election is the D'Hondt method and a closed-list proportional representation, with a minimum threshold of 3%.

Palma is by far the largest municipality with a population of 400,000 – over 40% of the district's population. Aside from Calviá and Ibiza, there are no other municipalities with more than 50,000 inhabitants.

Results

General elections

2011

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2008

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1989

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1986

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1982

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Notes

Cabrera, Balearic Islands

Cabrera (Catalan pronunciation: [cəˈβɾeɾə], Latin: Capraia) is an uninhabited islet in the Balearic Islands, Spain, located in the Mediterranean Sea off the southern coast of Majorca. It is a National Park. The highest point is Na Picamosques (172 m).

Cabrera is the largest island of the small archipelago that includes (from south to north) the islands of Estells de Fora, L'Imperial, Illa de ses Bledes, Na Redona, Conillera, L'Esponja, Na Plana, Illot Pla, Na Pobra, and Na Foradada.

History

Cabrera was used to house French prisoners during the Napoleonic Wars. Of 9,000 sent to Cabrera, only 3,600 survived.

Late in 1916 a malfunctioning Austro-Hungarian Navy submarine remained at Cabrera for several hours, and the Spanish government subsequently decided to expropriate the island for defense. It is alleged that Juan March Ordinas, avoiding the blockade, had been selling supplies, including fuel, to submarine personnel, from the area of Cala Ganduf and S'Olla. There was strong international protest, particularly by the British Admirality, as Spain was officially neutral during the First World War.