Tabarca

Tabarca
In this map of Santa Pola (dark red), Tabarca is on the right and Alicante on the right upper corner
Tabarca
Coordinates: 38°10′00.0″N 0°28′00.0″W / 38.166667°N 0.466667°W / 38.166667; -0.466667
Country	Spain
Autonomous Community	Valencian Community
Province	Province of Alicante
Comarca	Alacantí

Tabarca (Valencian: [taˈβaɾka], Spanish: [taˈβarka], also known in Valencian as Nova Tabarca and Illa Plana, and in Spanish as Nueva Tabarca and Isla Plana), is an islet located in the Mediterranean Sea, close to the town of Santa Pola, in the province of Alicante, Valencian community, Spain. Tabarca is the smallest permanently inhabited islet in Spain and it is currently known for its marine reserve.

Despite being much more socially and economically related to the fishing port of Santa Pola, the tiny island of Tabarca is a part of the city of Alicante. Administratively, it is managed as a rural district of Alicante, jointly with el Palmeral, Aiguamarga and Urbanova.

The local census (2011) counted 68 inhabitants and its postal code is 03138.

The islet is 1,750 m (5,741 ft) long, with a maximum breadth of 300 m (984 ft) and absolutely flat. Almost next to the main islet lie the islets of la Nau, la Galera and la Cantera. It lies approximately 8 nautical miles (15 km) south southeast from Alicante and 5 nautical miles (9 km) east south east from Santa Pola.

Tourism is the main economical activity, especially during the summer. There are several boats connecting Tabarca with Alicante, Santa Pola and Torrevieja, with higher frequencies during summer time.

Before 1700, the island was known as Illa de Sant Pau ('Saint Paul's Island') or Illa Plana ('Flat Island'). Believed to be the island that St. Paul disembarked on, the island was a refuge for Barbary pirates up to the end of the 18th century.