![]() Today the main industry on most of the islands is tourism, together with agriculture (mostly banana monocultures). The islands are considered as leftovers of the continental drift when South America and Africa drifted apart. Moreover the true altitude of the volcanoes gets even more impressive if you count their elevation from the ocean floor. The ocean floor beneath the islands is down to 3500m deep making the straights between the islands some of the deepest on earth. Many of the European governments still used this meridian until the 1990ies. In fact – before Amarica got discovered El Hierro was the westernmost known spot on earth which resulted in the zero meridian being located there, exactly 20° west of Paris. The Islas Canarias are located close to the African mainland but have politically always been considered a part of Europe. Politically, the Spanish government has divided the Canarias along the same lines with the Province of Las Palmas (de Gran Canaria) governing the eastern islands while the province of Santa Cruz (de Fenerife) governs the western ones.Įl Hierro, La Gomera and La Palma as seen from Tenerife The easertn islands of Lanzarote, Fuerteventura and Gran Canaria were formed about 25 – 15 million years ago while the four western islands Tenerife, La Gomera, La Palma and El Hierro were formed much more recently – and are volcanically much more active still. There are seven large islands (and six smaller ones) which can be divided in two groups. The Canarias are home to Spain highest mountain, Pico del Teide, the world’s largest erosion crater, Caldera de Taburiente, impressive volcanic plugs like Roque Bentayga or the desert-like Parque Nacional de Timanfaya on Lanzarote. The last eruption occurred on Volcàn Teneguìa on La Palma in 1971. All islands are of volcanic origin and many volcanoes have been active quite (geologically speaking) recently. While most visitors stay at or near the beaches the Islands have more to offer than sun, sand and sport. But keep in mind that you'll start to see a few more rainy days this time of year.The Islas Canarias, Canary Islands, Islands of Everlasting Spring are Europe’s version of the Hawaiian Islands in the Pacific – a holiday getaway with guaranteed good weather and a great abundance of beautiful beaches all at a distance of about 4-5 flight hours from any European International airport. Even though summer has passed, the islands still offer beach weather: Average high temperatures this time of year drop from the low 80s to the mid-70s. Festival of Saint John (Tenerife & San Juan, June)įall is another nice season to enjoy the manifold charms of the Canaries without the tourist hoards or the high hotel rates of the peak tourism seasons.Just to be safe, you might want to book your accommodations a few months in advance of your trip to ensure availability. Temperatures reach their summit this time of year - daily highs in Santa Cruz, Tenerife, reach into the 80s in August - and the chance of rainfall is next to nothing. Semana Santa (All Islands, March or April)įamilies, college kids and Europeans on their August holiday all flock to the Canaries in the summer.Rally Islas Canarias (Gran Canaria, March).Expect temperatures to range from the lower 60s and the lower 70s. Although you should keep in mind that the week of Easter also sees a little burst of tourism, you can generally find better hotel rates during these months. ![]() The spring months act as a sweet season for tourism, offering a break in the influx of tourists that alight upon the islands in the winter and the summer. Carnival de Tenerife (Tenerife, February).Canary Islands Music Festival (All Islands, January-February).Lanzarote Marathon (Lanzarote, December).Given the influx in tourism and the ongoing festivals, you may have a bit of trouble securing accommodations - at least affordable ones - so plan to book at least several months in advance. But winter also ushers in the famed Carnival celebration, which is modeled after Brazil's vibrant festival and is widely considered the world's second best celebration. Keep in mind that the winter months do tend to see more rain than the summer season. Average temperatures hover between 60 and 71 degrees make for pleasant strolls along the beach and through the national parks. The islands especially see a lot of older tourists, looking to bask in the warmer weather, though it may be a bit too cool for sunbathing. The Canaries welcome a flood of Europeans escaping the cold in the winter months. ![]()
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