Protecting the natural heritage of the Maltese islands (30)
Tas-Sellum inland cliffs and caves
The northern rim of the Mellieħa ridge is characterised by an alternation of elevated plateaux (including Il-Qortin and Il-Qortin ta' Għajn Żejtuna) and deeply incised valleys such as Il-Wied ta' Ruman. The abrupt interface between the various ridges and valleys is displayed as a sheer inland cliff underlain by steep boulder screes formed by mass movements in the Blue Clay and Upper Coralline Limestone. This landform also contains numerous caves eroded naturally out of their Upper Coralline Limestone component.
The large-scale geomorphological processes that have formed the cliff system and caves have resulted in a prominently steep and rugged topography that is among the scenic highlights of northern Malta.
The geomorphology and supporting ecosystem processes are mainly concentrated on the vertical or steeply sloping cliff face and on the underlying slopes and boulder screes together with the overlying cliff top garigue.
Mepa scheduled Tas-Sellum inland cliffs and caves as a Level 2 Area of Ecological Importance as per Government Notice No. 681/00 in the Government Gazette dated August 25, 2000.
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Jason Borg
Jan 20th 2010, 08:06
MEPA stop insulting us with such articles and photos.
Emanuel Bartolo
Jan 19th 2010, 22:16
First the area was destructed by building and then Mepa scheduled it. Could it be that the remaining land is dangerous to be developed? One has to be reminded that various owners of properties in this scheduled area were compensated by government with land at tal-Bragg also in Mellieha but surely a more solid ground. I stress: the government gave PUBLIC land to private owners because of this scheduling. One has to note also that the land at tal-Bragg was an ODZ area up to some years ago before the government extended the development boundaries. The tal-Bragg area contains mature carob and olive trees which are surely more than 100 years old. What about these dear MEPA officers? Several protests and letters have been written but for MEPA m'hemmx fejqan. X'riformi riformi!!
Steven Bonello
Jan 19th 2010, 16:44
Brilliant....the photo portrays exactly how MEPA protects such sites.