Minorca, island of theBalearic Islandsprovincia (province) andcomunidad autónoma (autonomous community),Spain. It is the second largest of the Balearic Islands and lies in the westernMediterranean Sea. Most of the island’s area of 258 square miles (668 square km) is dry, monotonous tableland with rugged hills rising in the north centre to Toro hill (1,175 feet [358 metres]). Its northern coast has many capes and is deeply indented with inlets such as the bays of La Albufera, Addaya, and Fornells. The fine natural harbour ofMahón, the island’s chief town, is the best port of the Balearics and was much prized for its strategic value in the wars of the 18th century. The south coast is more regular and has long stretches of cliffs.

Minorca’s first inhabitants were probably cave dwellers. Prehistoric remains, dating from about the middle of the 2nd millenniumbce and representing aculture that continued with little change until Roman times, includetalayots andtaulas, both structures of unknown purpose. The former, a type of tower, was roofed, generally with the aid of a central pillar composed of circular superimposed slabs, and faced with clay to produce amonolithic structure. Thetaulas, so-called “tables,” may well have been used for ceremonial purposes but certainly formed a normal element of the habitations associated with the talayots. Both talayot andtaula are usually contained within an enclosure, frequently of D-shaped plan, with the entrance in the straight side; within the area stands ataula, a rectangular slab of dressed stone set horizontally on a vertical shaft. The stonenaus, ornavetas (Catalan: “ships”), of Minorca, so termed from their resemblance to an upturned boat, were graves.

Many of theplateau limestone soils are suitable only for light grazing, but some of the higher districts are terraced and yield rich harvests, as do the few alluvial valleys, which run down to the south coast. The land irrigated by artesian wells is especially productive, and its windmills are a characteristic feature of the Minorcan landscape. The principal crops are cereals, potatoes, melons, pomegranates, figs, and almonds. Cattle, horses, sheep, and goats are kept, and cheese is exported to the mainland. The farming system is that of peasant proprietorship, and the domestic economy is supplemented by fishing, lobsters being plentiful off the north coast. The manufacture of leather shoes employs about 10 percent of the population in a number of small factories throughout the island. Minorca has many fine beaches, and its tourist business, formerly much inferior to that ofMajorca andIbiza, is expanding. Air andmaritime services link the island withBarcelona and Majorca, and there are air services from London.

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