The most beautiful natural sites to discover North Coast

These two islands close to the shores are traditionally seen as sites of the shipwreck of Saint Paul. A great statue of the apostle was raised in 1845.

You can go there by boat, although the interest is limited. Nevertheless, the clarity of water around the islets would almost be appropriate.

Nature park developed in the 1980s and opened to the public in the early 1990s. Ponds, canals and shelters have been created. As well as birds, the reserve also protects a variety of reptiles (snakes, chameleons). The reserve was listed by the European Union in 2000.

To get there by bus: take lines 41, 42, 221, 222, X1 and stop at the "Roti" and "Simar" stations.

This reserve offers the chance to observe the flora and fauna around the ancient salt pans, the only "marshy" area in the country.

In the ^16th century, Ghadira was Malta's largest salt works. When this industry was moved to the present-day and aptly-named Salina Bay, Ghadira was neglected, then abandoned.

In the 1960s, the Birdlife Malta association - the oldest organization of its kind in Malta (1962), now with 3,300 members - proposed to create a nature reserve here, a sanctuary for migratory birds. The pond was enlarged and islands created. The reserve was inaugurated in 1988 and today covers 6 ha, 100 m from Mellieha beach. It is open to the public, who can take advantage of the observation shelters.

The flora is made up of species that can adapt to water and salty soil (halophytes), and to variations in salinity, such as reeds and rushes of various species. There are also a few trees, such as Aleppo pine, carob and olive.

Birds are plentiful. Two hundred species can be observed here, depending on the season. Grebes, ducks, herons, egrets, rails, coots or kingfishers, as well as numerous passerines such as warblers, buntings..

Mammals include rabbits, weasels, hedgehogs, shrews and bats. Reptiles include the Mediterranean chameleon, a few non-venomous snakes and various species of geckos. Aquatic fauna must also be able to withstand changes in salinity. These include mullets, eels and snails.