Xlendi - Topography

Topography

This village has a great topography with quite steep cliffs on the side and a valley on the back which takes rain water from the villages surrounding it (Kerċem, Munxar, Fontana and Victoria) into the bay.

• Xlendi Bay

In the British rule, Xlendi was a bay holding a sandy bay but by time wave, the valley water and human interference now Xlendi holds a few pebbles. The bay is still known for the rocks on the left side of the bay which are good for sunbathing and for diving.

• Xlendi Valley

This valley starts from Fontana continuing from the Lunzjata Valley and Wied l-Ghawdxija and ends in the bay into the sea. So Xlendi Valley collects almost all the rain that falls on the adjacent villages of Kerċem, Munxar and Fontana. The rain water goes through Xlendi and this is quite a problem for most citizens living in Xlendi because they are isolated by the fast flowing water. This also causes flooding in the buildings on the main road from where the valley water passes. This valley is one of the very few homes to the Maltese Freshwater Crab.

• Kantra

Il-Kantra is a valley on the left of the bay just beside the Tower. The name Kantra derives from Alcantara in Spanish-Sicilian. This is because of the entrance of the valley and the valleys' form. From the entrance of this valley, it could be seen as a bow. This valley is home to many types of flora and fauna because not many people go in the valley. The Tower of Xlendi was reached by a bridge built by the Knights of Saint John over the Kantra Valley.

• Caves

There are many caves, small or large, on the sides of the bay. The main and most known caves are:

Caroline Cave is a cave on the right cliffs of the bay. It was once property of Caroline Cauchi, a rich woman from Victoria. Later she founded the Augustinian Sisters on Gozo and donated almost all of her land, including the cave and other land in Xlendi. The Sisters during summers started to stay at Xlendi. They would go for a swim in this cave which was isolated and could only be reached by stairs. So they would use this cave as their own and would not be see by other people in the bay.

Catherine of Siena Cave is situated outside the bay on the right side. It is well known for the very clear blue water. In the 17th century people used to live in the areas around the cave and built a church just over the cave. So the cave got its name from the saint to which the church was dedicated.

• Nature

The not developed area around Xlendi is home from a lot of flora and fauna species some of them rare. One can name the Seagulls, the Maltese Freshwater Crab and the 'Widnet il-Bahar'. Today Xlendi is one of the most developed areas on the island, a feature that damages the biodiversity in the area.