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PARKS AND NATURE RESERVES
The Argotti Botanical Gardens in Floriana on the outskirts of Valletta
has a wide variety of exotic plants and some very rare types of
cacti. The Lower and Upper Barracca Gardens near Valletta offer
breathtaking views of the city and harbour.
The San Anton Gardens in Attard is a green paradise of trees, exotic
plants and flowers. They are the grounds of the San Anton Palace
which serves as the residence of the President. The garden grounds
also house a small zoo.
| One of Malta's only two small forests can be found
in the Buskett Forest near Rabat. In the midst of the forest
there is the Verdala Palace, from the top of which one can see
the whole circumference of the island. Originally built as a
summer palace for the Grandmaster, it now serves as the summer
residence of the President. Various species of trees such as
pine, fir, oak and mulberry make this one of the most beautiful
parks in Malta. The other forest is known as Miziep, in the
north of the island. |
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| The Ghadira Nature Reserve set in
wetlands near the town of Mellieha was founded in 1978 to preserve
some of the relentlessly hunted local, and migratory, bird species.
Here you'll be able to see avocets, cetti warblers and black-winged
stilts. Some of the migratory birds that are spotted in the
Ghadira are: ruffs, plovers, little stints, greenshanks, redshanks
and varieties of sandpiper. Wildlife in the reserve include
wild rabbits, weasels and chameleons. |
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| The small islet of Filfla is probably
the largest reserve that this island group has. This whole islet
was declared a bird sanctuary a few years ago. The islet once
formed part of the mainland. The name of this sanctuary is believed
to have been taken from the name filfel which is Arabic for
pepper seed. Pepper may once have been grown here or otherwise
the name came about because the islet once resembled the shape
of a pepper seed. It has been badly damaged by bombing. There
is a unique eco-system here and a variety of species of flora
and fauna are endemic to the islet and flourish here. Suaeda
vera is the most common plant to be found. Capers and other
salt resistant plants are also found in quantities. Scorpions
and spiders reside on Filfla as well as varieties of ants and
moths. There are four species of sea gull that breed on the
islet. Filfla is also home to a rare species of lizard. A small
chapel was built on the islet in 1342 inside a cave for the
fishermen trawling the surrounding waters to come and celebrate
Sunday Mass in. It was dedicated to the Assumption of our Lady.
Unfortunately the chapel was destroyed by an earthquake in 1856.
Today only authorised scientists are allowed landing rights
from the air. |
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