Aquifers, Orography and Karst Landforms in Mallorca

Aquifers

Aquifers are geological formations and water reservoirs that allow water to be extracted in economically viable quantities, and gas storage. A typical aquifer is a permeable layer of rock at the bottom with an impermeable cap on top, forming a storage cavity for water or gas.

Orography

Orography is the branch of geography that describes and studies the relief of the land.

Serra de Tramuntana (Mountain Range)

The Serra de Tramuntana stretches from the extreme north-west of the island, from Dragonera to Cap de Formentor. It has more than 90 peaks, the highest being Puig Major at 1,445 m, which belongs to the municipality of Escorca. Other notable peaks include:

• Puig de Tossals Verds: 1,047 m (municipality of Escorca)
• Galatzó: 1,027 m (municipality of Puigpunyent)
• Puig Roig: 904 m (municipality of Escorca)
• Massanella: 1,304 m, the second highest peak (Escorca)
• Tomir: 1,102 m (municipality of Escorca)
• Puig de Ofre: 1,090 m (Escorca)
• Serra d'Alfabia: 1,069 m (municipality of Sóller)

Serra de Llevant (Eastern Range)

The Serra de Llevant is an alignment of mountains running from north-north-east (Cap Ferrutx) to south-south-west (ses Salines). Its main peaks include:

• Puig de la Freda: 562 m high, belonging to the mountains of Artà
• Massís de Randa: situated between the plain and the Migjorn comarques, with the main summit at 543 m
• Puig d'en Ros: 501 m
• Puig de Galdent: 420 m
• Puig de Sant Salvador: 333 m, home to the sanctuary of healing, located between Algaida and Llucmajor

Geological Formations

The predominant material in Mallorca is limestone, which formed the seabed during the Triassic and Jurassic periods. Later Alpine uplift and the subsequent withdrawal of the sea shaped the island's current landscape.

Karst

Karst is formed mainly from Mallorcan limestone rock. Karst erosion is the dissolution of limestone by rainwater. The erosive action of torrents on limestone materials creates deep cliffs and steep ravines known as barrancs.

Karst Regions of Mallorca

The Serra de Tramuntana, large plains of Rescler, and other areas are home to many caves and grottoes.

Exokarst

Karstification produces landforms with many characteristic features:

• Dolines: funnel-shaped or pencil-shaped depressions that form over the years, often with streaks and ridges.
• Karren: fields of rocky terrain and large extensions of exposed limestone.

Endokarst

Endokarst includes avencs (sinkholes) and pous (shafts), as well as various cave formations:

• Stalactites: calcite formations hanging from the ceilings of caves, originating from water dripping through fissures.
• Stalagmites: calcite formations rising irregularly from the floor of a cave.
• Columns: formed when stalactites and stalagmites join.
• Underground lakes and rivers

Avencs

Avencs are natural vertical shafts in calcareous rock, open at the top.