Puig Major (or Puig Mayor, Peak Major) is the highest point on the island of Mallorca, as well as the Balearic Islands. It reaches a height of 1,445 meters and is located in the Sierra de Tramuntana mountain range, in the municipality of Escorca. Its secondary mountainous foothills are the Penyal des Migdia (only 50 meters lower) and the Sierra de Na Rius, which contain Mallorca’s alpine landscapes such as Sa Coma Fosca and Morro de Pelut.
As a result of the Cold War, on September 26, 1953, the United States and Spain signed Friendship Agreements concerning economic assistance, mutual protection, and a defensive agreement. This agreement meant the transfer of new military equipment to Spain in exchange for the delivery of land to establish bases and air surveillance units. At the top of Major Peak 2 orange spheres known as “ses bolles” were installed, these military radars were controlled by the Americans and served to monitor the airspace of the Western Mediterranean. In 2005 the facilities were modernized and a new type of radar (1 sphere) was installed, which exists today and is controlled by the Spanish Air Force. The installation of the radar had a major impact on the environment due to the need to truncate the top to obtain a flat surface, which meant a loss of the Peak’s height of about 9 meters.
You can visit Puig Major by car on the mountain road. However, to get to the top, you need a permit from the military command.
