Inland Sea (Gozo)
The Inland Sea (Maltese Il- Qawra, German inland sea ) is a naturally arising saltwater lake in the west of the Maltese island of Gozo, which is connected via a tunnel to the Mediterranean.
Formation
The cliffs around the Dwejra Point exist at the coastline of coral and Globigerinenkalk ( Lower Coralline Limestone ), the hardest and oldest sandstone of the island. It was formed about 24 million years ago and reached here a thickness of about 130 meters. The lake has probably, as well as some other geological structures of the area, by the collapse of a cave in the underlying sandstone formed in the Miocene. The resulting here about 30 meters deep well has then filled with sea water. The trough has an area of about 250 meters, the lake takes it at its widest point, an approximately 125 meters. The approximately 100 -meter-long tunnel was extended in the 40 meters high wall gradually through erosion.
Location
From San Lawrenz you reach the lake via a road that direction Azure Window is signposted. This ends at a parking area, the lake is located about 150 meters east of the Windows Azure, between the small church built in 1963 Chapel of St. Anne is located. Around the lake, local fishermen have built their huts, several bridges leading into the lake, the beach is rough stony. The entrance to the tunnel from the sea side is called because of the deep blue water in front and inside Ghar iz- Zerqa ( Blue Cave ).
Tourism
Together with the nearby Azure Window, the Dwejra Tower, the Blue Hole and the Fungus Rock, the lake one of the main attraction of Gozo dar. especially day-trippers from Malta can easily reach this place by bus, to the local attractions are within walking distance. Approximately 750,000 tourists visit this place, in the summer it can be very crowded here, therefore. You can swim in the lake and in the tunnel, snorkeling and diving.
The local fishermen offer in calm weather by the investor on the lake boat trips through the Inland Sea tunnel to the Azure Window and Fungus Rock. Here, the typical Malta Luzzu boats are used. These trips are an important additional source of income for fishermen dar. The lake, the tunnel and the surrounding Mediterranean is one of the most popular diving destinations in the island of Gozo.