A - GENERAL INFORMATION.

Mazarrón is a town ( municipality corporation )in the Autonomous Community of the Region of Murcia, which is situated in the south of the community, on its coastal border, with an area of 318'69 square kilometres. It adjoins the towns of Cartagena, Fuente-Älamo, Alhama de Murcia, Totana and Lorca.

The town consists of two important centres, where the majority of the population lives.

- Mazarrón, about 5 kilometres from the coast and the

- Port of Mazarrón, next to the Mediterranean Sea.

Of the twelve districts which are part of the town,the heaviest-populated are Ifre-Cañada de Gallego, Moreras- Bolnuevo and Majada,with small urban centres. In the rest of the districts, - Balsicas, Gañuelas, Algarrobo, Leiva, Mingrano, Rincones, Cañadas de Romero, Saladillo y la Sierra -the population is scarce and dispersed.



The landscape is quite rugged, the town being surrounded by ranges of mountains of medium altitude- Mingrano, Algarrobo, lo Alto, Almenara y Moreras. In the centre of the area there is a coastal plain which opens on to Mediteterranean, forming the so-called Golf of Mazarrón,bordered by the capes Tiñoso and Cope,with expansive beaches of fine sand, small bays and cliffs.

Panorama of the beaches			Enchanted city of Bolnuevo

Rivers do not pass through Mazarrón , but there are a lot of streams which,at certain times of the year collect rain, the largest being the Moreras,whose water flows out nearBolnuevo. Rain is very scarce from 240 to 300 mm.

The climate is Mediterranean, with high temperatures in Summer and very mild temperatures during the rest of the year.

The vegetation is scarce,thickets and aromatic herbs predominating. The trees which are most abundant are the Mediterranean Pine, the fig-tree, the palm tree and the carob tree.

B - HISTORY

Mazarrón starts its' modern history when it became independent from the Lorca Municipality in 1572,according to the Letter of Privilege conceded by Philip II to" the Houses of Alum of Almazarron" ; but different ancient people have left their mark in these lands. So, we can find arabic deposits, Phoenician remains ( sunken boats on the coast ) Cartaginian ( coins ) and Romans ( housing, sculptures, coins ceramics milestones and saltings).All these peoples were looking in these lands for its deposits of different minerals ( silver, zinc, lead, iron , etc).

The origin of the word Mazarrón hasdifferent versions. Some historians suppose that it comes from the Arabic marsa-arón (lively, alert port), others think it comes from the arab voice mazrán (which is at the limit), also from al-mezer (red ochre) and also there are some who believe that Almazarrón means " Port of the Romans" . Other versions relate Mazarrón with the word Maza (degeneration of Mastio)and with the arabic word ron (roman thing), which would give us Mastia the roman.

Mine site					Vélez castle

Mazarrón has been connected in its entire history with the plentiful mineral deposits in its ground, - galena argentífera, pitchblend, iron oxide and alum.Polibio, in reference by Estrabón, tells that in the zone called Ficariense, which was what Mazarrón was called in that era, there were more than 40.000 men hombres en working in the silver and lead mines, which are worked underground as well as on the surface.

Mining declinedin the period of Arab dominion and with it the population of the territory reduced ostensibly. The only facts about this period date from the years 961 to 976 during the Caliphate of Alhaken Almoustansiz, in which small workings are mentioned at what we now know as Cabezo de San Cristóbal.

There is a blank in the history of these lands until the year 1.462, in which the Crown concedes the Royal Privilegeto the Marquises of Villena andVélez to produce alum in Almazarrón ,in this empty period, these lands were almost uninhabited, being a site of continuous battles between Mostems and Christians.

After the concession of this Royal Privilege, sthe territory once again became inhabited, forming an urban area round Cabezo de San Cristóbal, from which the present day Mazarron originates.

During the XV, XVI and XVIIcenturies, the population increased and important construction were built:

Castillo de los Vélez - XV Century. Only a few very deteriorated walls remain.

Iglesía de Sán Andrés - XVI Century(National Historic Monument).Mudejar stuccoed ceiling.

Iglesia de San Antonio - XVI Century . Recently restored.

Iglesia de la Purísima - XVI Century. Created as a hermitage. Enlarged in XVIII.century. Altarpiece.

Torre de Santa Isabel o Torre Vieja - XVI Century. Defense tower in The Port of Mazarrón.

Torre de los Caballos - XVII Century .In Bolnuevo. Adjoined to this is the Santuario de la Purísima.

Interior ofe la Purísima							Tower of la Cumbre

The great mining splendour of Mazarrón is in the XIX century and the early XX century, finishing with 324 workings - 214of iron, 103 of lead and silver, 5 of copper and 2 of alum. Also 12 gypsum quarries were worked.In the Port of Mazarrón there were some salt mines and a Foundry for the minerals.

It is in these centuries when Mazarrón obtains its highest population level , reaching 40.000 inhabitants. The present-day Council House - The Town Hall, was built, in a modern style which is declared a National Historic Monument.

In the middle of this century, the mine workings are finished, and agriculture and tourism become the fundamental source of wealth.

C - ECONOMY

The present-day economy of Mazarrón depends basically on agriculture and tourism.

AGRICULTURE

Although the crop of tomatoes in its different varieties is the most important product in this area, Mazarrón does not stop at only this product and at present there are also farms dedicated to the growth of lettuces, melons, water melons, cucumbers, peas, etc.

Many of these crops are grown in greenhouses and the most advanced technology is used, which permits a high efficiency and excellent quality.

Although of lesser importance, typical Mediterranean products are grown in the town, like almonds, olives, citrus fruits and cereals.

Intensive Agriculture and out- of- season agriculture, which is undertaken in the town, offers so many jobs, that regional and national inmigration is quite important. Lastly , a large amount of inmigration from North Africa can be detected.

TURISM

Another basic mainstay of the economy of our town is tourism. All the coastal area, from the borders with Cartagena to the borders with Lorca, is scattered with residential areas next to the beaches and bays.

The mild climate during the whole year results in a important number of European residents in our coast.

The urban area of Port of Mazarrón has reached great dimensions in these last years, brought about by the construction of second homes for the Summer period.

The beauty of the scenery, of its beaches and the gentleness of its climate, presents a promising future in this sector.

OTHER VERY IMPORTANT PRODUCTIVE SECTORS.

One of the sectors , that we have to stand out, is the fishing, both catching and many commons industries like frozen and salted fish factories.We would like to mention some fish farms that they have set in motion these last years.

Also ,Mazarrón has a furniture factory which sells its products in the domestic and international market.We cannot forget to mention another important pig meat factory which makes different products.

D - OTHER FACTS.

There are more interested details which we would like to mention, they are related to Education, Culture, Sport and Public Health.

EDUCATION

In the town of Mazarrón there is a Secondary School and four Primary schools.

In Port of Mazarrón there are two Primary schools and a Secondary school which is now under construction.

Cañada de Gallego village has got a Primary school and other munucipal districts have got unitarian schools ( Primary schools which have got different pupils and different Education levels in the same classroom ).

CULTURE

In our town a Popular University works planning some different shows and exhibitions, courses for adult people, also many visits and Educational trips, they are in a Program called " Programa Sureste " ( Southeastern Program ) in collaboration with all of educational schools.

In the course of these last years , several cultural associations have been created like: Musical association Professor Eugenio Calderón, Group of choirs and dancing La Purísima. Private associations like " Laguena", Housewives association ( " Amas de casa "). Progressive women and " Peñas " groups like " El ALboroque ", " Los trotamundos", etc, which take part in several local festive functions.

On a sport level we can find the existence of a football field, a sports hall and a sports centre which has some athletics tracks, swimming pool, a tennis coart and a sports field, where several local and school competitions are taken there.

PUBLIC HEALTH.

Nowadays the municipality is provided with three Health centres with some of the main services like surgery, nursing, different medical specialities and emergency department. The fourt Surgery centre is in the municipal district. It is under construction now.

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