Little Sea

(Local Name: La Manga Mar Menor) The main center of tourist activities is the Mar Menor northeast of Cartagena. This is a large lagoon (area 180 sq.km/70 sq.mi), with water of high salt and iodine content, which is cut off from the sea by a narrow spit of land, La Manga, 22km/14mi long and between 50m/55yd and 150m/165yd wide, which is traversed by several channels. The water of the lagoon, which has an average depth of 7m/23ft, is so warm that bathing is possible almost all year round. La Manga and the strip of coast on the mainland side of the lagoon are lined with facilities for bathers, hotels and tourist centers. The most important of these on the mainland are San Pedro de Pinatar, San Javier (which is also