Canary Islands

I

Introduction

Canary Islands or Canaries (Spanish, Islas Canarias), group of islands and autonomous region, Spain, in the Atlantic Ocean, off the north-western coast of Africa. Previously a single province, the Canaries were divided into the two provinces of Las Palmas and Santa Cruz de Tenerife in 1927. The chief islands of the group, in descending order of size, are Tenerife; Fuerteventura, the nearest to the African mainland; Grand Canary (Gran Canaria); Lanzarote; La Palma; La Gomera; and El Hierro. In addition, several barren islets are included in the group. The total land area of the islands is 7,273 sq km (2,808 sq mi).

II

Physical Geography

The islands are of volcanic origin. Of the volcanic peaks, the highest is the dormant Pico de Teide, or Pico de Tenerife (3,718 m/12,198 ft). The Canaries are noted for their scenery and mild, dry climate, which makes them an ideal site for astronomical observation. The observatory sited at 2,423 m (7,950 ft) on Roque de los Muchachos, La Palma, is the home of some of the world's most important telescopes, including the William Herschel telescope, a large optical telescope with a diameter of 4.2 m (165 in). Precipitation occurs mainly during the winter season.

In areas below about 400 m (1,300 ft) elevation, the vegetation is typically northern African; characteristic varieties are the date palm, dragon tree, and cactus. Growing at higher levels are laurels, holly, myrtle, eucalyptus, pine, and a variety of flowering plants. Four of Spain’s national parks are located in the Canary Islands—Caldera de Taburiente National Park (1954) on La Palma; Teide National Park (1954) on Tenerife, which was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2007; Timanfaya National Park (1974) on Lanzarote; and Garajonay National Park (1981) on Gomera, which was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1986.

III

Population

The Canary Islands have a population of 1,894,868 (2003 estimate), with an average population density of 254 people per sq km (658 per sq mi). The provincial capitals are, respectively, Las Palmas (population, 2006 estimate, 377,056) on Grand Canary and Santa Cruz de Tenerife (2006 estimate, 223,148) on Tenerife Island; the cities also serve as dual and alternative capitals of the region. Other important centres of population include Arrecife, the capital city of Lanzarote (2006 estimate, 55,203); Puerto del Rosario, capital of Fuerteventura (2006 estimate, 30,555); Santa Cruz de La Palma, capital of La Palma (2006 estimate, 17,640); San Sebastián de la Gomera, capital of La Gomera (2006 estimate, 8,451); Valverde, capital of El Hierro (2006 estimate, 4,955); and La Laguna, in full, San Cristóbal de La Laguna, on Tenerife (2006 estimate, 142,161).

Castilian Spanish is the official language of the Canary Islands. Up until the 16th century an Afro-Asiatic language called Guanche was the dominant language of the region, although this is now extinct. The University of La Laguna (founded by Augustinian friars in 1701) and the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (1989) are the region’s leading institutions of higher education. The historic town centre of La Laguna was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999.

IV

Economy

Farming and fishing are the principal industries. The volcanic soil of the Canaries is extremely fertile. The islands have no rivers, however, and severe droughts are common; artificial irrigation is therefore a necessity in most cultivable areas. Among important crops are bananas, citrus fruits, sugar cane, peaches, figs, wine grapes, grain, tomatoes, onions, and potatoes. Manufactured products include textiles and fine embroideries. Tourism is also important, and the islands are a popular winter-resort area.