Canary Islands consist of seven populated and several small islands,
all of which were created as a result of volcanic eruption million years ago.
Situated in the autonomous region of spain, in the Atlantic Ocean off Western
Sahara, they lie 1,150km off the coast of Africa. The islands form two
provinces. Santa Cruz de Tenerife includes Tenerife, Palma, Gomera and Hierro.
Whereas Las Palmas includes Grand Canaria, Lanzarote and Fuerteventura. They are
politically and administritively Spanish yet they have very much their own
personality.
In Spain the islands are known as the Lucky Islands possibly due to their
unique natural surroundings. They are famous for their volcanic landscapes with
many of the islands having black sand beaches. Tenerife even offers the
opportunity to visit the volcanic crater. Each of the isles share an eternal
spring climate but they all differ dramatically from each other. Exploring the
islands you will come across sub-tropical vegetation to volcanic semi-deserts,
from fertile cliffs and gorges to sand dunes by the sea shore.
The original inhabitants of the islands were the Guanche civilisation, a name
derived from guan, meaning man or people, who finally conquered the
canaries in 1496.They lived a very stone-aged exsitence mainly shepherding and
cultivating the land. They buried their dead and sometimes even mummified
them, much like the ancient Egyptians.
In the past the islands were frequently visited by pirates arriving
from penisular Spain to plunder the isles of their orchids, which were used to
make dye, and of their inhabitants, who were enslaved. Conquest over the isles
began with the Norman adventurer Jean de Bethencourt who, in 1402, claimed
Lanzarote, then in 1483, during the region of the Catholic Monarchs, Pedro de
Vera established a base in Gran Canaria and in 1496 Alonso Fenandez de Lugo won
control over Tenerife. Las Palmas managed to succeed against Sir Francis Drake
in 1595 but was ravaged by the Dutch in 1599. Christopher Columbus also visited
the the islands. He rested at La Gomera before venturing westwards in search of
the Indies. The Canary Islands eventually became an autonomous region in 1982
and are now a vital link in transatlantic crossing, a so-called stepping stone
between Europe, Africa and America.
Up until 1853, before the unfortunately grape famine, wine was the main
export of the Canaries. Today the leading exports are bananas, sugarcane,
tomatoes and tobacco which can only be grown where irrigation is possible.
Larger scale industries such as an oil refinery are located in Santa Cruz de
Tenerife. Due to the high winds that are a trait of the islands, hang or
Para gliding through the blue skies is an adventurous way of exploring the
beautiful mountain scenery which are in plentiful supply in the canaries.
Tenerife is the home to an inactive volcano called Mount Teide. Standing a
spectacular 3,718 meters in height it is the highest peak of Spain and dominates
the view of the island. The second highest is Roque de los Muchachos in Palma
which reaches 2,500 m.
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