Wetland loss in the Maltese Islands

Abstract

The Maltese Islands are composed mainly of limestone (with some clay and a little sandstone). Therefore, it can store much water within its aquiferous rock, and when full, this water seeped out in springs. The springs, spring-lines and seepages are mostly where rainwater, sinking down from the surface, met a impermeable layer (clay or hard rock) and flowed sideways to the open, instead of continuing downwards. There are also springs where water is pushed to the surface of flatter ground by incoming catchment run-off and streams. The Maltese Islands have a mere remnant of their former wetlands. These used to be many, though (apart from estuaries) mostly located in the country, where they were often overlooked by those writing literary descriptions.