Canary Islands on the Map

Canary Islands on the Map

© Marius Dorin Balate | Dreamstime.com - schengenvisainfo.com

The Atlantic Ocean is home to a large number of islands and archipelagos which are spread across its waters. The Canary Islands are a cluster of islands in the Atlantic Ocean.

The Canary Islands are located in the North Atlantic Ocean's Macaronesia region.

The island group is located on the west coast of Africa, about 100 kilometres (62 miles) west of Morocco and the southwest of Spain.

The Canary Islands archipelago is 1,300 kilometres southeast of Gibraltar. Although the archipelago is geographically part of continental Africa, it is also economically and politically part of Europe.

The islands are a popular tourist destination due to their location in the Atlantic Ocean and proximity to four continents. (Africa, South America, North America, and Europe)

The Islands are the largest and most populous archipelago in Macaronesia. The archipelago is organised into two groups based on their geographical position.

The Canary archipelago consisted of seven islands until the summer of 2018 when an eighth was recognised following several talks.

La Graciosa, which had previously been regarded to be an islet, was added to the Canary Islands list.

Tenerife
Image:  bookmundi.com

 

Furthermore, the Canary Islands are regarded as one of Spain's top five scuba diving destinations. La Palma, La Gomera, Ferro Tenerife (belong to the province of Santa Cruz de Tenerife), and Gran Canaria (which is part of the province of Las Palmas) comprise the western group of islands.

Lanzarote, Fuerteventura, and six islets make up the eastern island groups, which are all connected by an underwater plateau known as the Canary Ridge, which rises roughly 4,500 feet (1,400 metres) above sea level.

At their highest points, all of the western islands are at least 1,200 metres high. Teide Peak, on Tenerife, is Spain's highest point, rising to about 3,718 metres.

Agriculture has traditionally been the Canaries' economic backbone. Until 1853, the principal product was wine made from vines planted on unirrigated hillsides.

The vines were devastated by phylloxera (a plant louse) in that year, and viticulture was quickly replaced by cochineal production. In the late nineteenth century, the cochineal business decreased (due to competition from synthetic colours) and was replaced by the production of bananas, tomatoes, potatoes, and other crops and fruits.

Bananas, which are still the Canary's most important crop, are protected from international competition in the Spanish market.

Bananas
Image:  tasteatlas.com/platano-de-canarias

 

Tomatoes are cultivated for export between November and April, and flower and plant agriculture began in the late twentieth century.

Capital of the Island

Las Palmas De Grand Canaria
Image by Alejandra Perdomo from Pixabay 

 

The Canary Islands' autonomous community has a capital that is split between the cities of Santa Cruz de Tenerife and Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.

Glance at the Formation and Climate

Climate Chart
Image:  hikersbay.com/climate/spain/canary

 

The Canary Islands were formed by volcanic eruptions millions of years ago, and some of the volcanoes are still active.

The archipelago is the only modern-day Spanish location where a volcanic eruption has occurred.

Since their discovery by Europeans, four islands—La Palma, Tenerife, El Hierro, and Lanzarote—have also had eruptions. However, due to the volcanic composition in the Canaries, most beaches have black sand there.

They have a deserted and tropical climate, which is alleviated by trade winds and the surrounding sea.

 

Microclimates exist in different parts of the archipelago, however, the archipelago is mostly characterized by a hot desert climate with little or no seasonal fluctuation.

The yearly average high temperature is 25 degrees Celsius (76 degrees Fahrenheit), with August being the hottest month and January being the coldest.

In August, for example, the average afternoon temperature in Las Palmas city is in the high 70s F (approximately 26 °C), whereas it lowers to around 70 °F (21 °C) in January.

Except on the windward northeastern portions of the islands, where it may reach 30 inches, annual precipitation is minimal, rarely surpassing 10 inches (250 mm) everywhere except in November and December (750 mm).

Rich volcanic soils and mild temperatures on the islands sustain a diverse range of vegetation that follows a zonal pattern dependent on elevation.

Plants typical of hot, desert tracts can be found from sea level to about 1,300 feet (400 meters), whereas better-watered or irrigated tracts produce oranges, dates, tobacco, bananas, coffee and dates.

The climate is more Mediterranean between 1,300 and 2,400 feet (400 and 730 metres), and potatoes, grains and grapes are the principal crops.

The environment is noticeably cooler over 2,400 feet, which supports stands of myrtle, holly, laurel and other trees.

Population of the Island

The archipelago of the Canary Islands is the largest in Spain.

Tenerife, the archipelago's largest island, has a population of approximately 900,000 people.

This is where Spain's highest peak, as well as the country's only volcano, can be found. The cable car may take you to the top of Teide.

La Graciosa, the smallest island, is referred to as a "little" island. It has a population of only 730 people.

Economy of the Island

Shopping in the Canary Islands
Image:  guidetocanaryislands.com

 

The economy of the Islands is greatly centered on tourism, which accounts for over 30% of the island's GDP.

Every year, about twelve million tourists visit the Island.

The beaches and temperature are the island's main allurements, while Teide National Park is the main attraction.

Banana and tobacco are the island's principal exports, with Europe and the Americas being their main markets.

Since the 1980s, the archipelago's GDP has increased dramatically, more than doubling between 1990 and 2018.

In current times, the main economic drivers are the FDI, particularly in the hotels of the tourist and the European finances.

Best time to Visit the Island

This place fills up with British and German tourists during school holidays and Easter holidays, so avoid them if at all possible, though the nightlife will be pretty busy if that's what you're after.

You can also get some great deals if you go during the off-season.

The Canary Islands, being one of Spain’s top scuba diving destinations, is definitely a must-visit. With mild temperatures and alluring beaches, the islands are sure to provide cherished memories to anyone visiting.

 

Things to do

 

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