A coastal enclave worth conserving : Xatt l-Aħmar (the ‘red coast’, Gozo)

Abstract

Tucked away in the south-east coastal corner of the island of Gozo, a stone’s throw from the busy Mġarr Harbour, is Xatt l-Aħmar. It owes its name to the reddish hues of the surrounding soils and of the sand it contains. The site is a treasure trove both for geologists and geomorphologists, because of the variety of its landforms (e.g. the widest shore platform on Gozo), and for naturalists, in view of numerous, highly restricted floral and faunal species, which still thrive despite the extremely restricted dimensions of the two sandy beaches and dune remnants that are found in this locality. Its lack of accessibility by car has largely shielded the enclave from mass tourism and its impacts. A snapshot of the geological assets and biodiversity of Xatt l-Aħmar, which may be termed ‘Gozo’s best-kept secret’, is presented in this short chapter.