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Discover the Canary Islands
The Canary Islands are situated in the Atlantic Ocean and shares the same latitude as South Morocco and West Sahara. They are blessed with a warm climate all year round known as primavera eternal, eternal spring. The islands are an archipelago of volcanic origins made up of seven large islands along with a few smaller ones.
There are two administrative provinces within the Canary Archipelago. The most westerly is the province of Santa Cruz de Tenerife which is made up of the islands of Tenerife, La Palma, La Gomera and El Hierro. The other province is Las Palmas de Gran Canaria which is the islands of Gran Canaria, Lanzarote and Fuerteventura. Some of the smaller islands are Alegranza, Graciosa, Roque de Este and Roque de Oeste. Tenerife has been referred to as a continent in miniature however others believe that this is a title that should be shared by the collection of islands due to the great diversity amongst them.
The islands share one feature in that they all have a large area of volcanic badlands with gnarled rocks formed by molten lava where little plant life exists. However that aside the landscapes of all the islands are radically different, from the snow capped features of Mount Teide on Tenerife to the sandy deserts of Fuerteventura and the fresh lushness of La Palma. Each island has its own particular contrasting features to offer with vast beaches, deep valleys, small deserts and high mountains as well as the bustle of thriving nightlife and picturesque Canarian villages. Great diversity and little seasonal change is reflected in the flora and fauna of the islands which has earned them the title “botanists paradise”
The islands are popular with visitors from Europe primarily because of the high spring and summer temperatures which makes the area a perfect European winter holiday destination. Sun and sand together with magnificent landscapes ensures a fascinating range of sports can be found on all the islands, golf is very popular but there is also trekking, hang gliding and various water sports from water skiing and windsurfing to deep sea diving and surfing. However few holiday makers are aware of the mystery and legend surrounding the Islands which is believed to go right back to the ancient Greeks. To them this part of the world was where their maps ran out and the world came to an abrupt end. The islands were linked by classical writers to the Garden of the Hesperides, the Elysian Fields and even the lost continent of Atlantis. It may be difficult to believe in the bustling bars and beaches. Yet not so hard to imagine amongst volcanic craters, fantasy world plants of candelabra shaped cacti, dragon trees with blood red sap and snow capped mountains overlooking sun drenched beaches.
FACTFILE
Temps min15 c winter max 32 c summer
Population 1.6 million
Language Spanish (official) English and German others
Religion Catholic
Airports Fuerteventura Airport, Gran Canaria Airport, Hierro Airport, La Palma Airport, Lanzarote Airport, Tenerife North Airport and Tenerife South Airport
Inter island ferries: Fred Olsen
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