Canary Islands
The Canary Islands, of volcanic origin, comprise part
of the Micronesia and in Spain they are also known as
the Lucky Islands. They have unique natural surroundings
that include volcanic landscapes, black sand beaches,
endemic vegetal species, forests of canary pine and laurisilva,
a kind of very green and leafy vegetation that subsists
only in some Atlantic islands. In these islands there
are four national parks. On the other hand the climate
is very benign, with average temperatures between 22 and
30º C during the year.
The Tenerife Island, the greatest of all, has its view
dominated by the Teide, an inactive volcano of 3,718 meters
that is the highest peak of Spain. The Cañadas
del Teide National Park has many places to visit. The
capital of the island, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, is a cosmopolitan
city with a very interesting architectonic inheritance.
The Port de la Cruz is the best tourist complex of the
island and, in addition, it also has historical buildings
of the 17th century.
The Palma Island, also called the Bonita Island, is one
of the most spectacular islands of the world, due to the
altitude that reaches in relation to his reduced extension:
its higher point -Roque de los Muchachos- gets to the
2,500 meters height. Santa Cruz, the capital of the island,
conserves some historical buildings that were saved from
the pirates invasions. In the city can be visited the
Central Market, the Marine Stroll and the Museum of Natural
History. Palma is an island with a very brave sea and
few beaches, but even so there are two that are worth
the trouble to visit: Playa Nueva and Playa Nogales. Another
attraction of the island is the Caldera del Taburiente
National Park, located in the center of the island, in
a geographic accident known as of rise crater, the hole
formed by two mountainous systems that coincide and fold
in a certain point. There is a quite good View of La Caldera
from the Cumbrecita.
The Island of the Gomera, whose capital is San Sebastián,
is a green island, with a great laurisilva forest and
inviting beaches. In the center of the island is the Garajonay
National Park, an almost obligatory visit for all that
arrive at the island. It’s also recommendable to
visit the Cedar Forest, Vallehermoso and the Playa de
Santiago and La Rajita fishermen ports.
El Hierro is the most western island of the Canary Islands
and its capital Valverde (the only capital of a canary
island that does not have seaport). The island is practically
virgin, since it has never been a massive tourist destiny.
The towns of Restinga -most southern of the Canary Islands
and Spain-, Taibique, Frontera and El Barrio deserve a
visit.
The Great Canary Island is the third greatest of the archipelago
and its capital is the Palmas of Great Canary. It’s
also known as "the miniature continent" by the
variety and wealth of his flora. There are fabulous beaches
like Playa del Inglés and Maspalomas. The capital
has the most important port of all Canary Islands, in
addition to some historical places as the Nestor Museum,
the Old City and the Cathedral of Santa Ana. Other interesting
places to visit are: Telde, Tejada, Ingenio, San Bartolome
de Tirajana (located in a volcano crater), Agüimes,
Arinaga, San Agustín, Galdar and Agaete.
Fuerteventura is the second greater island of all Canary
Islands. The capital Puerto del Rosario was constructed
by the end of the 18th century. It’s possible to
visit Corralejo, that is famous by its straw crafts, the
Rico Roque Castle, Cotillo, Betancuria and Jandía,
that are famous by its sand beaches.
The Lanzarote Island, whose capital is Arrecife, is the
most Eastern of the Canary Islands and famous by its volcanic
landscapes and by the National Park of Timanfaya. This
geologic park is a Dantesque landscape of lava canyons,
craters, precipices and volcanic formations, the result
of a series of volcanos that were in eruption during six
years. The park occupies approximately one third part
of the island extension.
|
|
|
