Posidonia Oceanica, a World Heritage Site

You may have heard of the Posidonia meadow between Ibiza and Formentera. But you may not know that this underwater plant is a World Heritage Site.

Unlike what many people may think, posidonia is a plant and not an algae. And it has a lot to do with the fact that our beaches and coves boast transparent, crystalline and oxygenated waters.

In today's article we explain why it is so important for the marine ecosystem of the Pitiusas Islands (and the Mediterranean Sea as a whole!)..

Posidonia: the most important natural treasure of Ibiza and Formentera

The posidonia oceanica is a marine plant endemic to the Mediterranean Sea. That is, it is not found anywhere else in the world. As if that were not enough, it holds a no small record...

And the meadow that lies between Ibiza and Formentera is the largest and longest living organism of the entire planet! More than eight kilometers long and more than 100,000 years of life.

Amazing, right?

Numerous marine species depend on Posidonia oceanica

Among the numerous species that inhabit the Posidonia Oceanica meadows of Ibiza and Formentera we find such peculiar specimens as the "seahorse" (Hippocampus ramulosus) or endemic fish such as the "gerret".

But also other large fish such as the "mero", the "dorada", the "sepia" or the squid find in the Posidonia the perfect refuge to protect themselves from predators and to raise their future generations.

A whole paradise of marine animals that you will be able to discover in our glass-bottom boat excursions (underwater vision).

Saving Posidonia: a commitment for the present and the future

Due to factors such as climate change or the pollution of the oceans, the fragility of the posidonia meadow of Ibiza and Formentera has become a cause for alarm in recent years.

The loss of water quality is just one of the consequences that we will have to face as a society if we do not protect such an important ecosystem as this one.

That is why initiatives have appeared such as Save Posidonia Project, which aims not only to promote sustainable tourism but also sponsor hectares of posidonia to help finance this pioneering project.

Undoubtedly a very positive action to raise awareness about the vital importance of Posidonia in Ibiza and Formentera in the present and especially for future generations.

Well, well: no posidonia, no beach

Wait, what?

Yes, you read that right. If in Ibiza and Formentera we didn't have the Posidonia Oceánica meadow we wouldn't have the wonderful beaches and idyllic coves that you can discover (for example) in our boat excursion to Es Vedrà and Formentera's coves.

Thanks to this marine plant, the Mediterranean waters of the Pitiusas Islands are oxygenated thanks to the posidonia meadow but it also acts as a filter and erosion stopper, protecting the sand of beaches and coves and preventing the advance of currents.

Therefore, if in the autumn and winter season you see posidonia accumulated on the beaches, do not be surprised: thank them for their work for which every year you can enjoy a paradisiacal sea!

More information about Posionia Oceanica

Si quieres conocer más a fondo la importancia que tiene la pradera de posidonia de Ibiza y Formentera, a continuación te dejamos unos enlaces que pueden ser de tu interés:

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