Canary Islands

Located on the African tectonic plate, the Canaries are an archipelago of volcanic islands, with their volcanic history dating back almost 70 million years. There has been volcanic activity in the last 11,000 years on every main Canary Island apart from La Gomera, making them a fascinating place to explore with unique lunar-like landscapes formed from eruptions and lava flows. Here's some history on some of the Canary Island volcanoes. 

Mount Teide

The most famous of the Canary Island volcanos, this dominant peak stands at 3718m above sea level. It is the most voluminous in the world following just Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea in Hawaii. It began to form around 170,000 years ago and is a Stratavolcano where successive lava eruptions settle one on top of another. It last erupted in 1909. Teide National Park which surrounds the peak itself is filled with craters and rivers of petrified lava. 

El Hierro

The most volcanically active of all the Canary Islands, several eruptions which occurred between 2011 and 2012 from an underwater volcano which had a big impact on the landscape and created a new biodiversity in the surrounding waters. 

La Palma

The most recent volcanic eruption took place on La Palma at the end of 2021 when the Cumbre Vieja volcano erupted, starting in September and officially declared over by authorities in December 2021. Due to the volcanic nature of the Canary Islands, they are constantly monitored and therefore no injuries or deaths were caused by the eruption, although many homes were very sadly destroyed. This has obviously resulted in a mass clean-up operation and scientists are currently looking into ways which the ash can be used to plant in and even to build with. 

1. The Canary Islands sit just 100km from Africa but over 1700km from Spain!

2. The island of La Gomera has its own "whistling language" called Silbo Gomero. 

3. The name "Islas Canarias" actually doesn't refer to the little yellow Canary bird as you might think but actually comes from the latin term meaning "Island of Dogs", thought to be a species of Monk Seals.

4. The islands were once home to a giant lizard called "giant gallotia" before humans settled and were about the size of Komodo Dragons.

5. El Hierro is the first self-sufficient island in the world, using 100% renewable energy. 

6. Tex-Mex cuisine can be traced back to the Canary Islands as many of the Spanish conquistadors passed through the Canary Islands on their way to America, bringing with them the influences of African Berbers who had migrated to the Canary Islands. 

7. Canary Island skies are some of the clearest in Europe due to the trade winds and thermal inversion stopping clouds from forming, and are protected by a "Sky Law" which addresses night-time light pollution. 

8. There are two official capitals of the Canary Islands - Santa Cruz in Tenerife and Las Palmas in Gran Canaria.

9.  It was during the Battle of Santa Cruz in Tenerife in 1797 which Admiral Nelson lost his arm. 

10. The Canary Islands are home to four UNESCO World Heritage Sites - San Cristobal de la Laguna in Tenerife, Mount Teide, Teide National Park and Garajonay National Park.