Dune systems in Menorca
There are a total of eight well developed dune systems in Minorca, including that of the Albufera des Grau .
Seven of these dune systems are located on the north coast( Es Grau, Son Saura, Tirant, Cavalleria, Pregonda, Cala Pilar and La Vall) and only one is located on the south coast (Son Bou).
There are also various other smaller dune systems (Arenal d'en Castell, Binimel·là, Mongofre, etc.). These dune systems are exceptional in the Balearics and in a large part of the western Mediterranean, due to the fact that they are longitudinal cordons that are parallel to the dominant wind direction and independent of the orientation of the coastline, with the exception of Son Bou
As far as vegetation present in these dune systems, the following stand out: the sea lilies(Pancratium maritimum), the marine thistle (Eryngium maritimum) and the spurge (Euphorbia paralias) . All these have a great capacity of retention that generates the first stable dune relief. The most interior area of the dune system is home to woody vegetation. The first shrubs to install themselves are the sabine (Juniperus phoenices), the lentisk (Pistacia lentiscus) and the privet (Phillyrea latifolia).
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