Il-Qaws, Mtahleb Valley.

The Mtahleb Valley is a splendid example of a mixture between the wild and the very fertile terrain. It is also an ecologically secure basin due to its location and protection from prevailing NE winds. It is a huge water catchment which collects water from all the surrounding high grounds, including the valley "Wied ir-Rum". Most still runs off to the cliff's edge, and tumbles down the 150 foot drop to the sea.

The Mtahleb church sits on the edge of a precipice overlooking the valley, like a Guardian Angel.

The gorgeous U-shaped inlet, which is totally inaccessible from the seaward side lends itself to this locality's nickname il-Qaws (The Bow).

People standing on the ledge (far right) can be seen giving an idea of scale.Divers are often seen from above. The unwary may stare at shimmering lights moving slowly under the surface, perplexed at the sight, or perhaps the surge of myriad air bubbles breaking surface may catch one's attention.

Paths all around its edge allow for breathtaking views.

Anglers often take up position on this 150 foot ledge, and swinging their weighted hooks from a reel rod up here. I was amused to see the weights many of them used for doing this. (Used Auto Sparking Plugs).

The people show here were simply trekkers enjoying a spell of sunshine.

The cliff way to Migra Ferha.

Following this path, and all the way close to the edge of the undulating cliffs, brings you to another historical and breathtaking gorge, at Migra Ferha, about 2.5 kms from this point.

There (at Migra), Count Roger, the sicilian nobleman who bequethed his flag** to us, is said to have landed on Malta.

** His flag was a chequered red and white drape (a bit like a chess board), of which we inherited two blocks, a white one and a red one.

An overhang, with Filfla in the background.

Filfla is another rocky outcrop, a few kilometers out at sea, the long lens used kills the actual distance by compression compared to when seen by the naked eye.