Wied il-Mielah Window

View from above through the Wied il-Mielah Window

Staircase to the viewing platform at the foot of the window

View from below through the window

The Wied il-Mielah Window is a rock gate created by environmental influences , north of the village of Għarb , on the northwest coast of the island of Gozo in Malta .

location

The Wied il-Mielah Window is at the end of the Wied il-Mielah Valley and, unlike the Azure Window , which was on the west coast of Gozo until it collapsed in 2017, is rather unknown. The road from Għarb leads directly to the coast, parking spaces are available on the plateau on natural ground. Directly at the end of the valley, a narrow staircase leads parallel to the old river bed along the rock to just before the window, almost to the water. Since the ceiling of the window is still sufficiently thick, it is still possible to enter the window above.

Surroundings

The north coast from Gozo to Xwejni Bay is characterized by a plateau with cliffs sloping straight into the sea, in which there are many caves. On the plateau, salt was extracted from the sea water by evaporation in artificially created salt pans. The hinterland rises slowly here, there is Għarb and the lighthouse Giordan Lighthouse .

Sewage problem

In the past, wastewater from the surrounding communities was discharged into the Mediterranean directly at the Wied il-Mielah Window through the Wied il-Mielah Valley. The plume of sewage was often clearly visible below the archway into the open sea. With the help of a structural project costing 570,000 euros, of which the European Union has taken over 85 percent, the wastewater is now being treated 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.

use

As part of the renovation project, the stairs to the window are to be expanded so that divers can get into the water here. On the western side of the window there are fuses that allow climbing the vertical wall of the cliff. From Għarb a hiking trail leads to the window.