The Wied il-Mielaħ Window () is a

limestone Limestone is a type of carbonate rock, carbonate sedimentary rock which is the main source of the material Lime (material), lime. It is composed mostly of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different Polymorphism (materials science) ...

natural arch A natural arch, natural bridge, or (less commonly) rock arch is a natural landform where an arch has formed with an opening underneath. Natural arches commonly form where inland cliffs, Cliffed coast, coastal cliffs, Fin (geology), fins or Stack ...

on the north-western coast of the island of

Gozo Gozo ( ), known in classical antiquity, antiquity as Gaulos, is an island in the Malta#The Maltese archipelago, Maltese archipelago in the Mediterranean Sea. The island is part of the Republic of Malta. After the Malta Island, island of Malta ...

Malta Malta, officially the Republic of Malta, is an island country in Southern Europe located in the Mediterranean Sea, between Sicily and North Africa. It consists of an archipelago south of Italy, east of Tunisia, and north of Libya. The two ...

. It is located at the end of the valley Wied il-Mielaħ north of the village of Għarb. This natural arch is less well-known than the Azure Window, which collapsed in March 2017 following a heavy storm.

Location

The Wied il-Mielaħ Window is at the end of the Wied il-Mielaħ Valley and is, unlike the more known Azure Window, on the west coast of Gozo. The road from Għarb leads directly to the coast; parking is available on the plateau on natural ground. Directly at the end of the valley, parallel to the old river bed, there is a narrow staircase along the rock to just before the window, almost to the water. Since the ceiling of the window is still thick, you can still enter the window above.

Environment

The north coast from Gozo to the Xwejni Bay is characterized by a plateau, with steep cliffs, which slope down into the sea, where there are many caves. On the plateau, artificial salt pans were used to extract salt from the seawater by evaporation. The hinterland rises slowly here, there is Għarb and the lighthouse Giordan Lighthouse.

Wastewater problem

In the past, the Wied il-Mielaħ Valley was responsible for discharging the wastewater from the surrounding municipalities to the Mediterranean directly at the Wied il-Mielah Window. The sewage flag was often clearly visible underneath the archway into the open sea. With the help of a €570,000 structural project, of which the

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has financed 85%,Wied il-Mielah project reaches final phase
Times of Malta, 26. Juni 2010 the sewage is now cleaned in the sewage treatment plant in Ras il-Hobz and no longer reaches the sea via the valley. As part of the project, the road to the coast was renewed, six bridges replaced, some dams built and trees planted. With these measures one hopes for a higher attractiveness and more visitors at this rock gate. The valley was rehabilitated through the construction of six new small dams allowing better conservation of water.

Use

As part of the initiative called 'EcoGozo', the area around the arch underwent a major renovation in recent years, allowing better access to the area by the construction of a new road, as well as a wider set of stairs which lead directly to the site next to the arch. As part of the renovation project, the staircase to the window is to be expanded so that divers can enter the water here. Fences are installed on the western side of the window to allow the climbing of the vertical wall of the cliff. From Għarb a path leads to the window.

Media appearances

The Wied il-Mielaħ Window and the Azure Window are seen in a 2017

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advert video featuring David Colturi.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Wied Il Mielah Window Natural arches of Malta Għarb