III.

Population

The Balearic Islands have a total population of 916,968 (2003 estimate). Majorca has the highestpopulation, with 676,516 inhabitants (2001), followed by Ibiza (population, 2001 estimate, 80,000), Minorca (2001, 71,524), and Formentera (2001, 5,553). The region’s capital is the city of Palma (population, 2007, 383,107) on Majorca. Other large settlements are Mahón (2006 estimate, 27,893), capital of Minorca, and an important seaport and air and naval base; Ibiza (2007, 44,114),capital of Ibiza Island; Manacor (2007, 37,963) and Inca (2007, 28,306), both on Majorca; and Ciudadella de Menorca (2007, 28,017). San Francisco Javier is the principal settlement on Formentera.

Catalan is the main language spoken in the Balearics, although Spanish also has official language status. The Balearic University, situated in Palma, was established in 1978 and is the island group’s leading institution of higher education. One of the region’s most important archaeological sites is Cueva Can Marca, near the Ibizan town of San Miguel. The prehistoric cave system is thought to be around 100,000 years old. Nearby is the Phoenician settlement of Sa Caleta, founded in the 8th century bc. Ibiza’s biodiversity and historic significance were recognized in 1999, when it was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.