Balearic Islands

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Balearic Islands Group of Spanish islands in the w Mediterranean, off the e coast of Spain; the capital is Palma. The Balearics were successively occupied by all the great Mediterranean civilizations of antiquity. A Moorish kingdom used them as a base for piracy in the 11th century. The chief islands are Majorca, Minorca, and Ibiza. Industries: tourism, silverworking, olive oil, wine, fruit. Area: 5014sq km (1936sq mi). Pop. (2001) 878,627.

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