La Manga (2)
La Manga is a very long, very thin strip of land which closes the mouth of an erstwhile open bay in south-eastern Spain. The water nearest to us in this photograph is the Mar Menor - literally, the Lesser Sea, but more aptly translated as the Little Sea. Beyond the sand spit lies the Mar Mayor, or Greater Sea / Big Sea, otherwise known as the Mediterranean.
Until 1961 there were no buildings on La Manga, save two ancient fortifications, three fishermen's storehouses, and a windmill. Now, virtually the entire strip is lined, on both sides of its single road, with villas and tower blocks. Greenpeace are predicting that if global warming continues at the current rate, the whole lot will soon be standing in the sea.