Editing Formentera

{{Short description|Spanish island in the Balearic Islands}}
{{about||the Metric album|Formentera (album)|the Aitana single|Formentera (song)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2024}} 
{{Infobox islands
| name             = Formentera
| image_name       = Bandera de Formentera.svg
| image_caption    = Flag of Formentera
| image_size       = 200px
| image_map        = Formentera sat.png
| map_caption      = Satellite view (2006)
| map_size         = 
| map              = Spain Balearic Islands#Spain
| native_name      =
| native_name_link = Spain
| nickname         =
| location         = [[Mediterranean Sea]]
| coordinates      = {{coord|38|42|N|1|27|E|type:isle|display=title,inline}}
| archipelago      = [[Pityusic Islands|Pityuses]], [[Balearic Islands]]
| total_islands    =
| major_islands    =
| area_km2         = 83.24
| highest_mount    = [[La Mola]]
| elevation_m      = 119
| country          = [[Spain]]
| country_admin_divisions_title     = [[Autonomous communities of Spain|Autonomous community]]
| country_admin_divisions           = [[Balearic Islands]]
| country_admin_divisions_title_1   =
| country_admin_divisions_1         =
| country_admin_divisions_title_2   =
| country_admin_divisions_2         =
| country_capital_city              =
| country_largest_city              = [[Sant Francesc Xavier]]
| country_largest_city_population   =
| country1_leader_title = Government
| country1_leader_name = [[#Insular government|Island Council of Formentera]]
| country2_leader_title = President
| country2_leader_name = Òscar Portas ([[Sa Unió de Formentera|Sa Unió]])
| population       = 11,389
| population_as_of = Estimate 1 January 2023
| density_km2      = 136.8
| ethnic_groups    =
| additional_info  = Official languages:<br>[[Catalan language|Catalan]], [[Spanish language|Spanish]]
| module                  = {{infobox mapframe|zoom=10}}
}}
[[File:Escudo de Formentera (Islas Baleares).svg|thumb|150px|upright|Formentera coat of arms]]

'''Formentera''' ({{IPA|ca-ES-IB|fuɾmənˈteɾə|lang}}, {{IPA|es|foɾmenˈteɾa|lang}}) is a Spanish island located in the [[Mediterranean Sea]], which belongs to the [[Balearic Islands]] [[autonomous community]] ([[Spain]]) together with [[Mallorca]], [[Menorca]], and [[Ibiza]].

Formentera is the smallest and most southerly [[island]] of the [[Pityusic Islands]] group (comprising [[Ibiza]] and Formentera itself, as well as various small islets). It covers an area of {{convert|83.24|km2}}, including offshore islets. At the 2011 Census, the population was 10,583; according to the Census of 1 January 2021,<ref>Instituto Nacional de Estadística, Madrid, 2021.</ref> it counted 11,891 inhabitants, while the official estimate at 1 January 2023 was 11,389.<ref>Instituto Nacional de Estadística, Madrid, 2023.</ref>

== History ==
The island's name is said to derive from the [[Latin]] word ''frumentarium'', meaning "granary". The island was occupied in prehistoric times, going back to 2,000–1,600 BC. Archaeological sites from that period remain in Ca na Costa,<ref>Ca na Costa, L’Enciclopèdia d’Eivissa i Formentera, http://www.eeif.es/veus/Costa-ca-na/, accessed 16/04/2017.</ref> [[Cape Barbaria|Cap de Barbaria]] (multiple sites)<ref>Cap de Barbaria, L’Enciclopèdia d’Eivissa i Formentera, http://www.eeif.es/veus/Barbaria-cap-de/, accessed 16/04/2017.</ref> and Cova des Fum.<ref>Cova des Fum, L’Enciclopèdia d’Eivissa i Formentera, http://www.eeif.es/veus/Fum-cova-des/, accessed 16/04/2017.</ref> The island had been occupied by the [[Carthaginians]] before passing to the [[ancient Romans]]. In succeeding centuries, it passed to the [[Visigoths]], the [[Byzantine Empire|Byzantines]], the [[Vandals]], and the [[Arabs]]. In 1109, Formentera was the target of [[Battle of Formentera (1109)|a devastating attack]] by the [[Norwegian people|Norwegian]] king [[Sigurd I of Norway|Sigurd I]] at the head of the [[Norwegian Crusade]]. The island was conquered by [[James I The Conqueror|James I the Conqueror]], added to the [[Crown of Aragon]] and later became part of the medieval [[Kingdom of Majorca]].

From 1403 to the early 18th century, the threat of [[Barbary pirates|Barbary pirate]] attacks rendered the island uninhabitable.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uZbxkcaKFVMC&q=Formentera+uninhabited&pg=PA12|title=Ibiza and Formentera|last=Bryant|first=Sue|date=June 2007|publisher=New Holland Publishers|isbn=9781845378141}}{{Dead link|date=April 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=eACqCQAAQBAJ&q=Battle+of+A%C3%AFn-el-Turk&pg=PA453|title=Concise History of Islam|last1=Syed|first1=Muzaffar Husain|last2=Akhtar|first2=Syed Saud|last3=Usmani|first3=B. D.|date=2011-09-14|publisher=Vij Books India Pvt Ltd|isbn=9789382573470|language=en}}</ref> On 17 June 1651, during the [[Franco-Spanish War (1635)|Franco-Spanish War (1635–1659)]], a squadron of Spanish [[galley]]s under [[John of Austria the Younger]] [[Capture of the galleon Lion Couronné|captured the French galleon ''Lion Couronné'']] off this island.

The island and its surrounding islets became a separate insular council with the same territory as the eponymous municipality after 1977. Before that, it was administered in the former insular council of Ibiza and Formentera (covering the whole group of the Pityusic Islands), but in a separate [[Comarcas of Spain|comarca]] which already covered the current municipality of Formentera. This reform allowed Ibiza to unify its comarca of five municipalities with its new insular council, no longer administrating Formentera.

== Geography ==
[[File:MTN50-0849-2006-cns-Formentera.jpg|thumb|left|Map of the island of Formentera]]
[[File:Véndes de Formentera.svg|thumb|left|Map of Formentera's ''véndes'']]

The main island of Formentera is {{convert|19|km}} long and is located about {{convert|6|km|0}} south of Ibiza in the [[Mediterranean Sea]]. More specifically Formentera is part of the delimitation of the [[Balearic Sea]], which is a northwestern element of the Mediterranean Sea.<ref>C.Michael Hogan. 2011. [http://www.eoearth.org/article/Balearic_Sea?topic=49523 ''Balearic Sea''. Encyclopedia of Earth. Eds. P. Saundry & C.J.Cleveland. National Council for Science and the Environment. Washington DC]</ref> Its major villages are [[Sant Francesc Xavier]], [[Sant Ferran de ses Roques]], [[El Pilar de la Mola]] (on the [[La Mola]] peninsula), [[La Savina]], and [[Es Pujols]], the most important tourist destination of the island.

Formentera comprises one [[municipality]], also called Formentera, and has a population of 11,981 (as of 1 January 2021). Its land area is {{convert|83.24|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}. It is subdivided into several civil parishes (''parròquies''), themselves subdivided into ''vendas'' (''véndes'' in Catalan).

North of Formentera is located [[Espalmador]] (in Catalan: ''Illa de S'Espalmador''), the second largest island of the Pitiusas Islands, surrounded by a few minor islets.

Espalmador is a [[tombolo]], separated from the main island of Formentera by a shallow [[sandbar]]. This area is a popular stopping point for those in yachts heading between Ibiza and Formentera.{{Clear}}

===Climate===

Formentera has a [[semi-arid climate]] with hot, very dry summers and warm, dry winters. The flat orography of the island means that rainfall is scarce and the temperature is quite uniform. The average annual rainfall is 370–420&nbsp;mm. The average annual temperature is between 17 and 18&nbsp;°C. Overall, the climate is mild, with an average annual temperature of 18.6 degrees Celsius and 2883 hours of annual sunshine on average.
<div style="width:80%;">
{{Weather box	
|location = Formentera 119m amsl
|metric first = Yes
|single line = Yes	
|Jan high C = 15
|Feb high C = 16
|Mar high C = 17
|Apr high C = 19
|May high C = 22
|Jun high C = 26
|Jul high C = 29
|Aug high C = 30
|Sep high C = 28
|Oct high C = 24
|Nov high C = 19
|Dec high C = 16
|year high C = 
|Jan mean C = 12
|Feb mean C = 12
|Mar mean C = 13
|Apr mean C = 15
|May mean C = 18
|Jun mean C = 22
|Jul mean C = 25
|Aug mean C = 26
|Sep mean C = 24
|Oct mean C = 20
|Nov mean C = 16
|Dec mean C = 13
|year mean C = 
|Jan low C = 8
|Feb low C = 8
|Mar low C = 9
|Apr low C = 11
|May low C = 14
|Jun low C = 17
|Jul low C = 21
|Aug low C = 21
|Sep low C = 19
|Oct low C = 16
|Nov low C = 12
|Dec low C = 9
|year low C = 
|unit rain days= 1.0&nbsp;mm
|Jan precipitation mm = 35
|Feb precipitation mm = 30
|Mar precipitation mm = 40
|Apr precipitation mm = 35
|May precipitation mm = 25
|Jun precipitation mm = 15
|Jul precipitation mm = 5
|Aug precipitation mm = 25
|Sep precipitation mm = 40
|Oct precipitation mm = 65
|Nov precipitation mm = 50
|Dec precipitation mm = 55
|year precipitation mm= 
|Jan precipitation days = 6
|Feb precipitation days = 5
|Mar precipitation days = 6
|Apr precipitation days = 6
|May precipitation days = 5
|Jun precipitation days = 3
|Jul precipitation days = 1
|Aug precipitation days = 3
|Sep precipitation days = 4
|Oct precipitation days = 5
|Nov precipitation days = 6
|Dec precipitation days = 6
|year precipitation days= 
|source 1 = Climates to travel<ref name = ctt>{{cite web
| url = https://www.climatestotravel.com/climate/spain/formentera
| title = Formentera Climate
| publisher = Climates to travel
| access-date = 20 October 2018}}</ref>
|date=October 2018
}}
</div>

==Administration==
===Insular government===
Elections are held every four years concurrently with [[Elections in Spain#Local elections|local elections]]. From 1983 to 2007, councilors were indirectly elected from the results of the election to [[Parliament of the Balearic Islands]] for the constituencies of [[Ibiza (Parliament of the Balearic Islands constituency)|Ibiza]] and [[Formentera (Parliament of the Balearic Islands constituency)|Formentera]] (then forming a single Island council, with Formentera sending a single councilor to both Parliament and the Island council). Since 2007, however, separate direct elections are held to elect the Island Council of Formentera, with currently 17 seats ([[Formentera (Parliament of the Balearic Islands constituency)|it only sends a single one to the Balearic Parliament]]).

====Results of the elections to the former Island Council of Ibiza and Formentera====
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:97%;"
|- bgcolor="#CCCCCC"
! colspan="4" |[[File:Former Coat of Arms of Ibiza and Formentera Islands.svg|35px]]<br>Island Councilors of the Island Council of Ibiza and Formentera between 1978 and 2007
|-
| colspan="4" | {{hidden begin|title=''Key to parties''|contentstyle=font-size:95%; border:solid 1px silver; padding:8px; background:white;}}
{{colbegin|colwidth=12.5em}}
{{legend|{{party color|Confederation of the Greens}}|[[Confederation of the Greens|EVIB]]|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}
{{legend|{{party color|Coalition of Progressive Organizations}}|[[Coalition of Progressive Organizations|COP]]|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}
{{legend|{{party color|Pacte Progressista}}|[[Pacte Progressista|Pacte]]|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}
{{legend|{{party color|Socialist Party of the Balearic Islands}}|[[Socialist Party of the Balearic Islands|PSIB–PSOE]]|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}
{{legend|#2A52BE|[[Independents of Ibiza and Formentera Federation|FIEF]]|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}
{{legend|{{party color|Democratic and Social Centre (Spain)}}|[[Democratic and Social Centre (Spain)|CDS]]|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}
{{legend|{{party color|Liberal Democratic Party (Spain, 1982)}}|[[Liberal Democratic Party (Spain, 1982)|PDL]]|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}
{{legend|{{party color|Union of the Democratic Centre (Spain)}}|[[Union of the Democratic Centre (Spain)|UCD]]|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}
{{legend|{{party color|Independent Popular Council of Formentera}}|[[Independent Popular Council of Formentera|AIPF]]|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}
{{legend|{{party color|People's Party of the Balearic Islands}}|[[People's Party of the Balearic Islands|PP]]|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}
{{legend|{{party color|Democratic Coalition (Spain)}}|[[Independents al Consell Insular d'Eivissa i Formentera|ICIF]]–[[Democratic Coalition (Spain)|CD]]|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}
{{legend|{{party color|People's Coalition (Spain)}}|[[People's Coalition (Spain)|CP]]|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}
{{legend|{{party color|People's Alliance (Spain)}}|[[People's Alliance (Spain)|AP]]–[[Liberal Party (Spain, 1976)|PL]]|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}
{{colend}}
{{hidden end}}
|- bgcolor="#CCCCCC"
! Election
! Distribution
! colspan="2"|President
|-
| align=center|1979<ref>{{cite journal|author=Martín Rotger Lebrón| title=Les eleccions preautonòmiques de 1979 a les Illes Balears | journal=Mayurqa | volume=3 |year=2021| doi=10.22307/2386.7124.2021.01.008 | pages=107–121|language=es| doi-access=free}}</ref>
| 
{| style="width:45em; font-size:85%; text-align:center; font-family:Courier New;"
|- style="font-weight:bold"
| style="background:{{party color|Socialist Party of the Balearic Islands}}; width:2em; color:white;"| 2
| style="background:{{party color|Union of the Democratic Centre (Spain)}}; width:4em; color:white;"| 4
| style="background:{{party color|Democratic Coalition (Spain)}}; width:6em; color:white;"| 6
|}
| rowspan="2" | Cosme Vidal Juan (ICIF–[[Democratic Coalition (Spain)|CD]], [[People's Coalition (Spain)|CP]])
| style="background:{{party color|Democratic Coalition (Spain)}};"|
|-
| align=center|[[1983 Balearic regional election|1983]]
|
{| style="width:45em; font-size:85%; text-align:center; font-family:Courier New;"
|- style="font-weight:bold"
| style="background:{{party color|Socialist Party of the Balearic Islands}}; width:5em; color:white;"| 5
| style="background:{{party color|Liberal Democratic Party (Spain, 1982)}}; width:1em; color:white;"| 1
| style="background:{{party color|People's Coalition (Spain)}}; width:6em; color:white;"| 6
|}
| style="background:{{party color|People's Coalition (Spain)}};"|
|-
| align=center|[[1987 Balearic regional election|1987]]
|
{| style="width:45em; font-size:85%; text-align:center; font-family:Courier New;"
|- style="font-weight:bold"
| style="background:{{party color|Socialist Party of the Balearic Islands}}; width:5em; color:white;"| 5
| style="background:{{party color|Democratic and Social Centre (Spain)}}; width:1em; color:white;"| 1
| style="background:{{party color|People's Alliance (Spain)}}; width:7em; color:white;"| 7
|}
| rowspan="3" | Antoni Marí ([[People's Party of the Balearic Islands|PP]])
| rowspan="3" style="background:{{party color|People's Party of the Balearic Islands}};"|
|-
| align=center|[[1991 Balearic regional election|1991]]
| 
{| style="width:45em; font-size:85%; text-align:center; font-family:Courier New;"
|- style="font-weight:bold"
| style="background:{{party color|Socialist Party of the Balearic Islands}}; width:5em; color:white;"| 5
| style="background:#2A52BE; width:1em; color:white;"| 1
| style="background:{{party color|People's Party of the Balearic Islands}}; width:7em; color:white;"| 7
|}
|-
| align=center|[[1995 Balearic regional election|1995]]
|
{| style="width:45em; font-size:85%; text-align:center; font-family:Courier New;"
|- style="font-weight:bold"
| style="background:{{party color|Confederation of the Greens}}; width:1em; color:white;"| 1
| style="background:{{party color|Socialist Party of the Balearic Islands}}; width:4em; color:white;"| 4
| style="background:{{party color|Independent Popular Council of Formentera}}; width:1em; color:white;"| 1
| style="background:{{party color|People's Party of the Balearic Islands}}; width:7em; color:white;"| 7
|}
|-
| align=center|[[1999 Balearic regional election|1999]]
|
{| style="width:45em; font-size:85%; text-align:center; font-family:Courier New;"
|- style="font-weight:bold"
| style="background:{{party color|Coalition of Progressive Organizations}}; width:1em; color:white;"| 1
| style="background:{{party color|Pacte Progressista}}; width:6em; color:white;"| 6
| style="background:{{party color|People's Party of the Balearic Islands}}; width:6em; color:white;"| 6
|}
| Pilar Costa ([[Pacte Progressista]])
| style="background:{{party color|Pacte Progressista}};"|
|-
| align=center|[[2003 Balearic regional election|2003]]
|
{| style="width:45em; font-size:85%; text-align:center; font-family:Courier New;"
|- style="font-weight:bold"
| style="background:{{party color|Pacte Progressista}}; width:5em; color:white;"| 5
| style="background:{{party color|Independent Popular Council of Formentera}}; width:1em; color:white;"| 1
| style="background:{{party color|People's Party of the Balearic Islands}}; width:7em; color:white;"| 7
|}
| Pere Palau ([[People's Party of the Balearic Islands|PP]])
| style="background:{{party color|People's Party of the Balearic Islands}};"|
|-
| colspan="4" style="background:#EEEEEE; text-align:center;"| {{smaller|''Split into the Island Councils of [[Ibiza]] and Formentera respectively, with the 2007 Amendment of the [[Statute of Autonomy of the Balearic Islands|Statue of Autonomy]] coming into effect.''}}
|}

====Results of the elections to the Island Council of Formentera====
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:97%;"
|- bgcolor="#CCCCCC"
! colspan="4" |[[File:Escudo de Formentera (Islas Baleares).svg|35px]]<br>Island Councilors of the Island Council of Formentera since 2007
|-
| colspan="4" | {{hidden begin|title=''Key to parties''|contentstyle=font-size:95%; border:solid 1px silver; padding:8px; background:white;}}
{{colbegin|colwidth=12.5em}}
{{legend|{{party color|Gent per Formentera}}|[[Gent per Formentera|GxF]]|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}
{{legend|{{party color|Socialist Party of the Balearic Islands}}|[[Socialist Party of the Balearic Islands|PSIB–PSOE]]|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}
{{legend|{{party color|Independent}}|CompromísFormentera|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}
{{legend|{{party color|Sa Unió de Formentera}}|[[Grup d'Independents de Formentera|GUIF]]|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}
{{legend|{{party color|Sa Unió de Formentera}}|[[Sa Unió de Formentera|Sa Unió]]|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}
{{legend|{{party color|People's Party of the Balearic Islands}}|[[People's Party of the Balearic Islands|PP]]|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}
{{legend|{{party color|Vox (political party)}}|[[Vox (political party)|Vox]]|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}
{{colend}}
{{hidden end}}
|- bgcolor="#CCCCCC"
! Election
! Distribution
! colspan="2"|President
|-
| align="center" |[[2007 Balearic Island Council elections|2007]]
|
{| style="width:45em; font-size:85%; text-align:center; font-family:Courier New;"
|- style="font-weight:bold"
| style="background:{{party color|Gent per Formentera}}; width:5em; color:white;"| 5
| style="background:{{party color|Socialist Party of the Balearic Islands}}; width:2em; color:white;"| 2
| style="background:{{party color|Sa Unió de Formentera}}; width:2em; color:white;"| 2
| style="background:{{party color|People's Party of the Balearic Islands}}; width:4em; color:white;"| 4
|}
| rowspan="3" | Jaume Ferrer Ribas ([[Gent per Formentera|GxF]])
| rowspan="4" style="background:{{party color|Gent per Formentera}};"|
|-
| align=center|[[2011 Balearic Island Council elections|2011]]
|
{| style="width:45em; font-size:85%; text-align:center; font-family:Courier New;"
|- style="font-weight:bold"
| style="background:{{party color|Gent per Formentera}}; width:6em; color:white;"| 6
| style="background:{{party color|Socialist Party of the Balearic Islands}}; width:2em; color:white;"| 2
| style="background:{{party color|Sa Unió de Formentera}}; width:5em; color:white;"| 5
|}
|-
| align=center|[[2015 Balearic Island Council elections|2015]]
| 
{| style="width:45em; font-size:85%; text-align:center; font-family:Courier New;"
|- style="font-weight:bold"
| style="background:{{party color|Gent per Formentera}}; width:9em; color:white;"| 9
| style="background:{{party color|Socialist Party of the Balearic Islands}}; width:2em; color:white;"| 2
| style="background:{{party color|Independent}}; width:2em; color:white;"| 2
| style="background:{{party color|People's Party of the Balearic Islands}}; width:4em; color:white;"| 4
|}
|-
| rowspan="2" align=center|[[2019 Balearic Island Council elections|2019]]
| rowspan="2" |
{| style="width:45em; font-size:85%; text-align:center; font-family:Courier New;"
|- style="font-weight:bold"
| style="background:{{party color|Gent per Formentera}}; width:6em; color:white;"| 6
| style="background:{{party color|Socialist Party of the Balearic Islands}}; width:5em; color:white;"| 5
| style="background:{{party color|Sa Unió de Formentera}}; width:6em; color:white;"| 6
|}
| Alejandra Ferrer ([[Gent per Formentera|GxF]]) {{small|(2019-2021)}}
|-
| Ana Juan ([[Gent per Formentera|PSIB–PSOE]]) {{small|(2021-2023)}}
| style="background:{{party color|Socialist Party of the Balearic Islands}};"|
|-
| rowspan="3" align=center|[[2023 Balearic Island Council elections|2023]]
|
{| style="width:45em; font-size:85%; text-align:center; font-family:Courier New;"
|- style="font-weight:bold" 
| style="background:{{party color|Gent per Formentera}}; width:5em; color:white;"| 5
| style="background:{{party color|Socialist Party of the Balearic Islands}}; width:3em; color:white;"| 3
| style="background:{{party color|Sa Unió de Formentera}}; width:9em; color:white;"| 9
|}
| rowspan="2" | Llorenç Córdoba ([[Sa Unió de Formentera|Sa Unió]], [[Independent politician|Independent]]) {{small|(2023–2024)}}
| style="background:{{party color|Sa Unió de Formentera}};"|
|-
| rowspan="2" |
{| style="width:45em; font-size:85%; text-align:center; font-family:Courier New;"
|- style="font-weight:bold" 
| style="background:{{party color|Gent per Formentera}}; width:5em; color:white;"| 5
| style="background:{{party color|Socialist Party of the Balearic Islands}}; width:3em; color:white;"| 3
| style="background:{{party color|Independent}}; width:1em; color:white;"| 1
| style="background:{{party color|Sa Unió de Formentera}}; width:8em; color:white;"| 8
|}
| style="background:{{party color|Independent}};"|
|-
| Òscar Portas ([[Sa Unió de Formentera|Sa Unió]]) {{small|(2024–)}}
| style="background:{{party color|Sa Unió de Formentera}};"|
|}

== Attractions ==
Since the 1960s, Formentera has been a popular destination for [[hippie]]s.<ref name=Stewart>{{cite news|last1=Stewart|first1=James|title=Formentera: where the party's still chilled|url=https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2010/jun/19/formentera-balearics-party-island|access-date=15 June 2015|newspaper=The Guardian|date=18 June 2010}}</ref> Formentera is renowned across Europe for many pristine white beaches and the fact that [[Nude beach|nude sunbathing]] is allowed on most of its [[beach]]es.<ref name="MischkeSchwarz2001">{{cite book|last1=Mischke|first1=Roland |last2=Schwarz|first2=Berthold |title=Ibiza, Formentera|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xsTzAaa582cC&pg=PA91|year=2001|publisher=Nelles Verlag|isbn=978-3-88618-768-3|pages=91–}}</ref>

Throughout its history, Formentera has been the subject of many legends, written in novels by famous writers such as [[Jules Verne]], and in songs by musicians as varied as [[Gilberto Gil]] and [[Pink Floyd]]. From this artistic curiosity, the annual ''Formentera Jazz Festival'' has been held annually in early June and features many emerging and established musicians from the local and international scene.<ref>{{cite web |title=Formentera Jazz Festival |url=https://www.formenterajazzfestival.info/cat/el-festival |website=formenterajazzfestival.info |access-date=21 March 2023}}</ref>

The Canadian writer [[Patrick Roscoe]] was born in Formentera.<ref name="death458">{{cite book|last1=Burton|first1=Peter|title=Death Comes Easy: The Gay Times Book of Murder Stories|date=2003|publisher=Gay Men's Press|location=London, U.K.|isbn=9781902852461|oclc=58997265|page=[https://archive.org/details/deathcomeseasy00pete/page/458 458]|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/deathcomeseasy00pete/page/458}}</ref> [[Joni Mitchell]] wrote her 1971 album ''[[Blue (Joni Mitchell album)|Blue]]'' on the island while [[Bob Dylan]] once slept on the Far de la Mola on the island.<ref name="haig231">{{cite book|last1=Haig|first1=Matt|title=Reasons to Stay Alive|date=2015|publisher=Cannongate Books|location=London, U.K.|isbn=9781782116820|page=231|quote=Bob Dylan spent some time living in the lighthouse at Cap de Barbaria, on the island's southern tip. Formentera was also where Joni Mitchell wrote the album ''Blue''.}}</ref> Author [[Matt Haig]] also writes about visiting the island often in his twenties in ''[[Reasons to Stay Alive]]''.<ref name="haig231"/>  The opening track of the [[King Crimson]] album ''[[Islands (King Crimson album)|Islands]]'', ''Formentera Lady'', is named after the island. [[James Taylor]] also worked on his hit song ''[[Carolina in My Mind]]'' on holiday from recording with [[Apple Records]], though he began writing it in London and completed it on the nearby island of [[Ibiza]].<ref name="Halperin">{{cite book|last=Halperin | first=Ian|title=Fire and Rain: The James Taylor Story|edition=Revised|publisher=[[Citadel Press]] | year= 2003|isbn=0-8065-2348-4|page=71}}</ref>

The Cap de Barbaria Lighthouse plays a pivotal role in [[Julio Medem]]'s 2001 Spanish film, ''[[Sex and Lucia]] (Lucía y el sexo)'', which was filmed on the island and served as a touchstone for the various characters' interwoven relationships.<ref>{{cite web |title=Far Del Cap de Barbaria |url=https://www.illesbalearsfilm.org/en/locations/far-del-cap-de-barbaria?ref= |website=Illes Balears Film Commission |access-date=21 March 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Basté |first1=Jordi |title=Tras los pasos de 'Lucía y el sexo´en Formentera |url=https://www.lavanguardia.com/cine/20140810/54412854798/verano-de-cine-lucia-y-el-sexo.html |publisher=La Vanguardia |date=9 August 2014}}</ref>

Although [[Road surface#Gravel surface|paved roads]] allow access to all parts of the island and cars are easily hired in the port, many people choose to rent mopeds or even bicycles due to the flat nature of most of the island and the availability of dedicated cycle tracks in many locations.

The island also has four [[Martello tower]]s.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Clements |first1=Bill |last2=Clements |first2=William H. |title=Martello Towers Worldwide |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hLX7kXj-lrsC&pg=PA56 |access-date=March 5, 2015 |year=2011 |publisher=Casemate Publishers |isbn=9781848845350 |page=56}}</ref>

== Transport ==
With no airports, the island was formerly reachable only by boat from Ibiza, making it the quieter of the two islands, but in recent years regular passenger service from the Spanish mainland has increased tourism.

Ferry tickets from [[Ibiza]] are available in advance, as are transfers from Ibiza airport or port directly to accommodation in Formentera.

Ferries to Formentera operate from their own terminal in Ibiza port, with departures every half hour in high season on large (200+ passenger) fast [[catamaran]]s. The journey takes approximately 30 minutes comprising 10 minutes leaving Ibiza, 10 minutes crossing the sea, and 10 minutes arriving in Formentera past the [[isthmus]] to [[S'Espalmador|Espalmador]].

Some of the anchorages may not be suitable for sailboats under less than ideal circumstances.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.noudiari.es/2019/04/el-temporal-empuja-contra-las-rocas-a-un-velero-con-la-tripulacion-dentro-en-formentera-video/|title=El temporal empuja contra las rocas a un velero con la tripulación dentro en Formentera &#91;Vídeo&#93;|date=10 April 2019}}</ref>

== Culture ==
A local Ibizan (''eivissenc'') variant of the [[Balearic dialect]] of the [[Catalan language]] is spoken in Formentera. While the official languages are Catalan and [[Spanish language|Spanish]], other major languages like English, Italian, German, French and Dutch can also be heard extensively in the summer due to mass tourism.

== Sports ==
From 1 September to 7 September, Formentera hosted the 2007 Techno 293 OD World Championships in [[windsurfing#Youth|windsurfing]] for juniors under 15 and youths under 17.<ref>[http://www.techno293.org/ Techno 293 OD World Championships]</ref>

== Villages ==
<!---♦♦♦ Only add a location to this list if they already have their own article on the English Wikipedia ♦♦♦---> 
<!---♦♦♦ Please keep the list in alphabetical order ♦♦♦--->
*[[Es Mal Pas]]

== Gallery ==
<gallery mode="packed">
File:Sant Francesc Formentera.jpg|Church in Sant Francesc
File:Formentera sat.png|Satellite picture of Formentera
File:Formentera_cliffs.jpg|The coastline near Cala Saona
File:S'espalmador.jpg|Island of Espalmador
File:Platja Trucadors.JPG|Trucadors Beach
</gallery>

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
* [http://www.consellinsulardeformentera.cat/ Consell de Formentera]
* [http://www.formentera.es Local government website]

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{{Municipalities in the Balearic Islands}}
{{Comarcas of the Balearic Islands}}

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[[Category:Formentera| ]]
[[Category:Comarcas of the Balearic Islands]]
[[Category:Islands of the Balearic Islands]]
[[Category:Municipalities in the Balearic Islands]]
[[Category:Nude beaches]]
[[Category:Mediterranean islands]]