Xrobb l-Għaġin

Coordinates: 30°50′33″N 14°34′17″E / 30.84250°N 14.57139°E / 30.84250; 14.57139
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Xrobb l-Għaġin
Map
Geography
LocationMarsaxlokk, Malta
Area155,000 m2 (1,670,000 sq ft)
Length650 m (2130 ft)
Width172–329 m (564–1,079 ft)
Coastline2,169 m (7116 ft)
Highest elevation32 m (105 ft)
Administration
Capital cityValletta
Additional information
Time zone
  • UTC+1

30°50′33″N 14°34′17″E / 30.84250°N 14.57139°E / 30.84250; 14.57139

The cliffs surrounding Xrobb l-Ghagin

Xrobb L-Għagin is an area in southeastern Malta. It is mostly known due to the nature park located inside its boundaries which goes by the same name.[1] It is also home to Xrobb l-Għaġin Tower, which is a ruined De Redin watchtower.[2][3] The peninsula was also home to a Deutsche Welle relay station which later became the nature park main building.[4]

Xrobb l-Għaġin Temple[edit]

The nature park's building complex

The temple of Xrobb l-Għaġin is also located in Xrobb l-Għaġin, it being the ruins of a Megalithic temple with its earliest remains dating to 4000BC.[5] As these remains are located on the rapidly deteriorating cliff-side, efforts are currently being made to restore and protect them from future erosion.[6][7][8] Solutions including the removal of certain structures to make them accessible somewhere else have been explored.[9] The temple complex was first identified in 1913 by Temi Zammit and Thomas Ashby,[10] then being excavated between 1914 and 1915. Investigations which occurred exactly one hundred years later, in 2015 have showed that there are still significant remains of the temple.[11] The structure followed the typical plan of other Maltese Temples containing a paved court with an inner passage leading to four apices.[12][13][14] The temple is oriented towards the southeast.[15]

Xrobb L-Għaġin as a nature park[edit]

On a protruding peninsula, the Xrobb l-Gain Nature Park and Sustainable Development Centre spans over 155,000 square metres (38 acres). The project's goal is to increase the use of renewable energy, manage wastewater, and protect biodiversity via teaching, demonstration, and research in sustainable environment solutions.[16][17] A wildlife rehabilitation center was planned to be set up in the park.[18] The park's main building complex also houses a hostel with around 30 beds.[19] As part of its environmental protection policies, Xrobb l-Għaġin was home to an oil spill response training organized by Birdlife Malta.[20]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Xrobb L-Għaġin Nature Park - Sustainable Living". Xrobb L-Għaġin. Retrieved 2022-11-20.
  2. ^ Zammit, Vincent (2016), "Malta", Encyclopedia of Tourism, Cham: Springer International Publishing, pp. 577–578, doi:10.1007/978-3-319-01384-8_124, ISBN 978-3-319-01383-1, retrieved 2022-11-20
  3. ^ Zammit, Vincent (1992). Il-Gran Mastri (in Maltese) (1st ed.). Valletta Publishing & Promotion Co.
  4. ^ "Xrobb il-Ghagin". SBE MALTA. Retrieved 2022-11-20.
  5. ^ "Xrobb L-Ghagin Main". web.infinito.it. Retrieved 2022-11-20.
  6. ^ P. Borg, Ruben (2017-09-30). "Xrobb l-Għaġin revisited: recovery and discovery". The Archaeological Society Malta. Retrieved 2022-11-20.
  7. ^ Bonnici, Owen (September 9, 2022). "Xrobb l-Għaġin and Qrendi". Malta Independent. Retrieved November 20, 2022.
  8. ^ Grima, Rueben (2010). "Xrobb l-Għaġin revisited: recovery and discovery" (PDF). {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  9. ^ "Pre-historic structures at Xrobb l-Għaġin identified". Malta Independent. September 6, 2022. Retrieved November 9, 2022.
  10. ^ "Remains of prehistoric structure at Xrobb l-Għaġin uncovered in a project that is the first of its kind". Heritage Malta. Retrieved 2022-11-20.
  11. ^ "Xrobb l-Għaġin Temple, Malta Island: Tips and Information". Trek Zone. Retrieved 2022-11-20.
  12. ^ "Organisation Information". Visit Malta. Retrieved 2022-11-20.
  13. ^ Team, Owen Bonnici (2022-09-14). "Pre-historic structures at Xrobb l-Għaġin identified". Owen Bonnici. Retrieved 2022-11-20.
  14. ^ "British Association for the Advancement of Science. Meeting at Manchester". The Lancet. 186 (4803): 666–668. 1915. doi:10.1016/s0140-6736(00)54194-4. ISSN 0140-6736.
  15. ^ Laura (2021-09-15). "Xrobb l-Għaġin". My Site. Retrieved 2022-11-20.
  16. ^ "Xrobb L-Ghagin". Nature Trust - FEE Malta. Retrieved 2022-11-20.
  17. ^ "Xrobb l-Għaġin Park". Apprezza. Retrieved 2022-11-20.
  18. ^ "Wildlife rehabilitation center being set up at Xrobb l-Għaġin Park". Times of Malta. Retrieved 2022-11-20.
  19. ^ Borain, Lisa. "The nature park hostel you didn't know existed". www.guidememalta.com. Retrieved 2022-11-20.
  20. ^ "Xrobb l-Għaġin Archives". BirdLife Malta. Retrieved 2022-11-20.