# Formentera

> municipality of Baleares, Spain, containing the island of the same name

**Wikidata**: [Q52626](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q52626)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Formentera)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/formentera

## Summary
Formentera is a municipality and island located in the Balearic Islands, an autonomous community of Spain. It serves as an administrative territorial entity that encompasses the island of the same name and several smaller islets, situated within the southwestern European nation of Spain. The area is characterized by its distinct settlements, natural parks, and governance under the Council of Formentera.

## Key Facts
- **Classification:** Municipality of Baleares, Spain, and administrative territorial entity.
- **Geography:** Contains the island of Formentera and nearby islets such as S'Espalmador and Espardell Island.
- **Coordinates:** 38.7° N latitude, 1.45° E longitude.
- **Population:** Recorded figures include 12,280 (high), 6,875 (low), and various intermediate counts such as 11,418, 11,904, 12,111, 12,216, 12,124, 11,878, 11,545, 7,607, 7,461, 7,131, 11,708, 7,506, 7,957, 8,442, 9,147, 9,552, 9,962, 10,365, 10,757, 11,374, 11,389, and 11,661.
- **Governance:** Administered by the Council of Formentera (inception: 2007).
- **Political Representation:** Home to the political party "Gent per Formentera" (inception: October 21, 2006).
- **Sports:** Hosts the football team SD Formentera (inception: 1971).
- **Infrastructure:** Features the Far de la Mola lighthouse (inception: November 1861).
- **Natural Reserves:** Includes Espardell Island, which is part of the Natural Park of Ses Salines.
- **Major Settlements:** Sant Francesc de Formentera, La Savina, Sant Ferran de ses Roques, Es Pujols, Es Caló, and El Pilar de la Mola.
- **Notable Geographic Features:** Cap de Barbaria (headland), Platja de Migjorn, and Cala Saona Beach.
- **National Context:** Located in Spain, a parliamentary monarchy with a population of 48,592,909 (as of 2024) and Madrid as its capital.
- **Currency:** Euro (€), adopted by Spain in 1999.
- **Languages:** Spanish (official nationwide) and Catalan (co-official in the Balearic Islands).
- **Time Zone:** Central European Time (UTC+01:00) and Central European Summer Time (UTC+02:00).

## FAQs
**Where is Formentera located?**
Formentera is a municipality located in the Balearic Islands of Spain, specifically containing the island of the same name. It lies in Southwestern Europe at coordinates 38.7° N and 1.45° E.

**What are the main towns and settlements in Formentera?**
The municipality includes several human settlements such as Sant Francesc de Formentera, La Savina, Sant Ferran de ses Roques, Es Pujols, Es Caló, and the town of El Pilar de la Mola.

**What natural landmarks and islands are part of Formentera?**
Formentera encompasses the island of the same name as well as S'Espalmador and Espardell Island. Notable geographic features include the headland Cap de Barbaria, the beach Platja de Migjorn, Cala Saona Beach, and the Far de la Mola lighthouse.

**How is Formentera governed?**
The local administration is managed by the Council of Formentera, which was established in 2007. The political landscape includes the local party "Gent per Formentera," founded in 2006.

**What is the national context of Formentera within Spain?**
As part of Spain, Formentera falls under the country's parliamentary monarchy led by King Felipe VI and Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez. Spain is a member of the European Union and NATO, uses the Euro, and has a population of over 48 million.

## Why It Matters
Formentera serves as a key administrative and geographic unit within the Balearic archipelago, managing the unique environmental and cultural resources of its island territory. Its governance structure, established through the Council of Formentera in 2007, allows for localized management of its distinct natural parks, such as the Natural Park of Ses Salines which includes Espardell Island. The municipality plays a vital role in preserving the regional identity of the Balearic Islands, where Catalan is a co-official language, while integrating into the broader political and economic framework of Spain. The presence of specific local entities like the SD Formentera football team and the Gent per Formentera political party highlights the community's active social and civic engagement.

## Notable For
- **Island Municipality:** It is a municipality that contains the entire island of the same name, as well as smaller adjacent islands.
- **Lighthouse History:** Home to the Far de la Mola, a lighthouse established in November 1861.
- **Natural Park Inclusion:** Contains Espardell Island, which is included in the Natural Park of Ses Salines.
- **Political Autonomy:** Established its own governing body, the Council of Formentera, in 2007.
- **Local Sports:** Hosts SD Formentera, a football team founded in 1971.
- **Geographic Diversity:** Features diverse landscapes ranging from the headland of Cap de Barbaria to the expansive Platja de Migjorn.

## Body

### Geography and Location
Formentera is defined as a municipality of Baleares, Spain, containing the island of the same name. It is geographically positioned at coordinates 38.7° N latitude and 1.45° E longitude. The municipality encompasses not only the main island but also several smaller geographic entities, including S'Espalmador and Espardell Island. Notably, Espardell Island is located 1.4 km west of s'Espalmador and 8 km from the northern tip of Formentera; it belongs to the municipality and is included in the Natural Park of Ses Salines.

The terrain includes significant headlands such as Cap de Barbaria and various beaches like Platja de Migjorn and Cala Saona Beach. The area is also marked by the Far de la Mola, a lighthouse established in November 1861. As part of the Balearic Islands, Formentera shares the archipelago's time zone, observing Central European Time (UTC+01:00) and Central European Summer Time (UTC+02:00).

### Administrative and Political Structure
Administratively, Formentera is classified as a municipality of Spain and an administrative territorial entity. The local government is represented by the Council of Formentera, which had its inception in 2007. The political landscape of the municipality includes the presence of "Gent per Formentera," a political party founded on October 21, 2006, with its headquarters located in Formentera.

The municipality operates within the broader administrative framework of Spain, which is divided into 17 autonomous communities, 50 provinces, and 8,124 municipalities. Spain itself is a parliamentary monarchy with a constitution adopted in 1978, featuring Madrid as its capital.

### Settlements and Demographics
Formentera is composed of several distinct human settlements and villages. These include:
- **Sant Francesc de Formentera:** A primary human settlement on the island.
- **La Savina:** A significant settlement within the municipality.
- **Sant Ferran de ses Roques:** A village located in Formentera.
- **Es Pujols:** A human settlement in the Balearic Islands.
- **Es Caló:** A small village in Formentera.
- **El Pilar de la Mola:** A town situated on the island.

Population data for the municipality indicates fluctuating figures over time, with recorded values including 11,418, 11,171, 11,904, 12,111, 12,216, 12,280, 12,124, 11,878, 11,545, 6,875, 7,607, 7,461, 7,131, 11,708, 7,506, 7,957, 8,442, 9,147, 9,552, 9,962, 10,365, 10,757, 11,374, 11,389, and 11,661.

### Culture, Sports, and Infrastructure
The municipality supports local cultural and sports activities, notably through SD Formentera, a football team with its headquarters in Formentera that was founded in 1971. The official website for the local council is http://consellformentera.com/.

Infrastructure on the island includes historical installations like the Far de la Mola lighthouse. The region is culturally integrated into the Balearic context, where Catalan is a co-official language alongside Spanish.

### National Context: Spain
Formentera is situated within Spain, a sovereign state and country located primarily in Southwestern Europe with territories in Africa. Spain is organized as a parliamentary monarchy under the official name Kingdom of Spain, with King Felipe VI as Head of State (since June 19, 2014) and Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez as Head of Government (since June 2, 2018). The nation has a population of 48,592,909 (as of January 1, 2024) and operates as a member of the European Union, NATO, and the United Nations.

**Economic and Administrative Details:**
- **Currency:** Euro (adopted January 1, 1999).
- **Languages:** Spanish (official nationwide); Catalan is co-official in the Balearic Islands.
- **International Memberships:** European Union (since 1986), NATO (since 1982), United Nations (since 1955), OECD, Schengen Area, WTO, and Interpol.
- **Administrative Divisions:** Spain is divided into 17 autonomous communities and 8,124 municipalities, of which Formentera is one.

**Geographic Extremes of Spain:**
- **Highest Point:** Teide (3,718 meters) on Tenerife.
- **Lowest Point:** Mina de Las Cruces (-107 meters).
- **Borders:** Andorra, France, Gibraltar, Portugal, and Morocco.

**Key Identifiers:**
- **ISO Codes:** ES (Alpha-2), ESP (Alpha-3), 724 (Numeric).
- **Internet TLD:** .es.
- **Calling Code:** +34.
- **Driving Side:** Right.

Spain's history includes the Nueva Planta decrees, the Spanish Constitution of 1812, and the current constitution of 1978. The country serves as a geopolitical bridge between Europe and Africa and is known for its cultural diversity and complex history of regional autonomy.

## References

1. archINFORM
2. Nomenclátor Geográfico de Municipios y Entidades de Población (20240402 edition)
3. Virtual International Authority File
4. BnF authorities
5. [Source](https://www.worlddata.info/europe/spain/timezones.php)
6. [Source](https://ideib.caib.es/visor/)
7. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
8. MusicBrainz
9. [Source](https://ibestat.caib.es/ibestat/estadistiques/933ae75d-c922-494f-bc1a-04341d1f13a9/fe3be181-2d59-4205-a774-f703a3a671b9/ca/pad_res01_22.px)
10. Municipal Register of Spain of 2023
11. Municipal Register of Spain 2020
12. Municipal Register of Spain 2019
13. Municipal Register of Spain 2018
14. [Cifras oficiales de población resultantes de la revisión del Padrón municipal a 1 de enero. National Statistics Institute](http://www.ine.es/dynt3/inebase/index.htm?padre=525)
15. Municipal Register of Spain 2017
16. Municipal Register of Spain 2016
17. Municipal Register of Spain 2015
18. Municipal Register of Spain 2014
19. Municipal Register of Spain 2001
20. Municipal Register of Spain 2003
21. Municipal Register of Spain 2002
22. Municipal Register of Spain 2004
23. Municipal Register of Spain of 2021
24. Municipal Register of Spain of 2022
25. Municipal Register of Spain 2005
26. Municipal Register of Spain 2006
27. Municipal Register of Spain 2007
28. Municipal Register of Spain 2008
29. Municipal Register of Spain 2009
30. Municipal Register of Spain 2010
31. Municipal Register of Spain 2011
32. Municipal Register of Spain 2012
33. Municipal Register of Spain 2013
34. Municipal Register of Spain of 2024
35. Municipal Register of Spain of 2025
36. List of Municipalities and their Codes by Provinces as of January 1, 2019
37. [Source](https://www.ine.es/dynt3/inebase/es/index.htm?padre=517&capsel=525)
38. Quora
39. Límites municipales, provinciales y autonómicos
40. [archINFORM](https://www.archinform.net/service/wd_aiort.php)