Qbajjar Bay (Maltese: Il-Qbajjar) is a small bay near Marsalforn, in the limits of Żebbuġ on the island of Gozo, Malta. This small bay is part of Marsalforn. It is located between Xwejni Bay to the west, and Marsalforn Bay to the east. The 18th century Qolla l-Bajda Battery, one of the few surviving coastal fortifications in Gozo, is located between Qbajjar and Xwejni, on a promontory known as il-Ponta tat-Torri. The bay, also has a few salt pans, where locals collect salt.[1][2][3]

Qbajjar Bay
Il-Qbajjar
Qolla Il-Bajda with the Qolla Il-Bajda Battery to the right
Qolla Il-Bajda with the Qolla Il-Bajda Battery to the right
The map of the Maltese archipelago, with a red dot towards the northern coast of the island of Gozo showing the location of Qbajjar Bay.
The map of the Maltese archipelago, with a red dot towards the northern coast of the island of Gozo showing the location of Qbajjar Bay.
Qbajjar Bay
The map of the Maltese archipelago, with a red dot towards the northern coast of the island of Gozo showing the location of Qbajjar Bay.
The map of the Maltese archipelago, with a red dot towards the northern coast of the island of Gozo showing the location of Qbajjar Bay.
Qbajjar Bay
LocationMarsalforn, Gozo, Malta
Coordinates36°04′38″N 14°15′10″E / 36.07722°N 14.25278°E / 36.07722; 14.25278
Part ofMediterranean Sea
Max. length370 metres (1,210 ft)
Max. width330 metres (1,080 ft)
Surface area4.3 hectares (0.043 km2)
Surface elevation26 feet (7.9 m)

History

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The Qolla Il-Bajda Battery

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Qolla l-Bajda Battery

The Qolla l-Bajda Battery, also known as the Qbajjar Battery, is one of the many defensive structures built in the Hospitaller period, and continued to be used by Britain in World War I and World War II. When it was originally built, it was made up of two blockhouses, a gun platform, a parapet and a small ditch.

These enabled it to provide defense against invading forces. The blockhouses had small gun-holes, in case of an attack from land. Now, this historic monument lies abandoned.

 
Qbajjar skyline

The "Qolliet"

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The two Hillocks are one of the most visible geographical features in Marsalforn. One being in the yellowish color and the other in whitish. These translate to qolla is-safra (the yellow hillock) and the qolla il-bajda (the white hillock). The battery's name comes from the white hillock as they are within 800 metres (870 yd) of each other.[4]

List of locations

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  • The Qolla il-Bajda Battery
  • Some apartments for rent
  • A few Saltpans
  • Some restaurants
  • The bay itself.
  • Some residential buildings surrounding the bay.
  • Some Diving locations
  • Qolla Il-Bajda
  • Qolla Is-Safra[5]
 
The Qolla Is-Safra

References

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  1. ^ Camilleri, Alex (2009). "It-Toponomastika t'Għawdex: Ix-Xtut taż-Żebbuġ, l-Għasri, u l-Għarb" (PDF). L-Imnara (in Maltese). 9 (2). Għaqda tal-Folklor: 73. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 April 2016.
  2. ^ "Marsalforn Culture & History". Żebbuġ Local Council. Archived from the original on 13 March 2016.
  3. ^ "Saltpans". visitgozo.com. Retrieved 2019-07-04.
  4. ^ "Qolla Il-Bajda Battery". Abandoned Spaces. 30 January 2018. Retrieved 6 July 2019.
  5. ^ "Qbajjar Bay". Visit Gozo. Retrieved 6 July 2019.