Geomorfología del Dominio Público Marítimo-Terrestre en la isla de Formentera

Morphology of Formentera Island is closely related to its lithostratigraphic framework. Cliffs are mainly developed over Tortonian rocks whereas the low-lying coastlines predominate over Quaternary deposits and rocks. The most prominent cliffs (more than 120 m height in La Mola Promontory) are of Tortonian limestone. They are far more stable than those of Tortonian detrital materials (less than 40 m high), which experience a rapid retro-gradation by undermining and falling of blocks. The Quaternary eolian calcarenites form lower and less marked cliffs as on the northern coast of the Central Belt.Among the low-lying coasts, in the Northern Belt and the Migjorn coastline, sandy beaches dominate. These beaches are separated from recent and cemented dune belts by a narrow, embrionary dune ridge. In addition of beaches, small platforms and ramps are developed over Pleistocene deposits (“mares”, cemented dunes, eolian deposits and reddish glacis sediments).