8. In fact, they built an important city nearby -Pol·lèntia- for that reason.

10. Since XVII Century on, people had been trying to gain new lands from the Albufera . People wanted these new lands to cultivate them.

11. The huge amount of mosquitoes living in the area was the cause of a lot of diseases, such as malaria. So, for sanitary reasons, Government decided to dry it up in XIX Century.

12. After a first project, a second one, much more ambitious, was executed by an English company, the New Majorca Land Company . More than 1.500 people worked hard, but the project never was ended.

13. Traditionally, the Albufera has had a lot of uses: Hunting, fishing ( anguiles , for instance), gathering canyís (to make the ceilings of the houses) or bova (to make chairs)...

14. And, besides, during the XX Century, the Albufera had many other different uses: people cultivated rice, placed a paper factory, extracted salt...

15. The progress threatened the Albufera : urban develpment, intesive agriculture and the close proximity of the electric power station of Es Murterar put this important wetland in danger.

16. A lot of voices claimed to stop the Albufera 's destruction.

17. Finally, the Albufera was declared Natural Park by the Balearic Government on 28th February 1988. It was the first naturally protected area in the Balearic Islands.

18. The end!!! By: Aina Morant Gracia Rico Sara Schweiss Maria del Mar Mas Tabea Achinger Maria Burguera