Which country does the Canary Islands belong to? Canary Islands: attractions, weather, reviews of tourists.

The Canary Islands is one of the most famous resorts in the world, which is an archipelago of thirteen islands. They are located in Atlantic Ocean... This place is famous for its volcanic beaches, breathtaking landscape and pleasant climate, allowing you to swim in warm water all year round.

The Canary Islands on the world map are not so easy to find due to their small size and not obvious location. In their search, it can be confusing that the Canaries are a province of Spain that once received autonomy, but they are located not far from Africa. They are a thousand kilometers distant from Spain, and only one hundred and fifteen from the African mainland.
Due to this location, the local atmosphere is far from European. The Canaries are more reminiscent of Latin America than Europe. Juicy fruits, volcanoes, golden and black sand, tropical plants and warmth all year round attract tourists from all over the planet.

The Canary Islands are not very crowded on the map. If you look closely, you can see that only a few of them are signed: Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, Tenerife and La Palma. However, El Hierro and La Gomera are not deprived. They are the largest, most populated and most visited. However, next to them you can find several more pieces of land, and these islands on the map are also Canary Islands. They are called Roque del Oste and Roque del Este, Alegranza, Lobos, La Graciosa and Montaña Clara.

The capital of the Canarian Autonomy moves from city to city every four years. The first is Santa Cruz de Tenerife and the second is Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.

Most people may think that the name of the Canary Islands came from the fact that canaries live here, but in reality the situation is the opposite: birds were named after the islands. The Canary Islands got this name due to the fact that once upon a time there lived special dogs resembling mastiffs, and the name of this breed gave the name to the islands. These dogs now adorn the coat of arms of the islands.

The first settlers on these islands came from Africa about five thousand years ago. Europeans arrived here relatively recently - about two thousand years ago. At a time when it was believed that the Earth was flat, they seriously believed that the edge of the world was located precisely on the Canary Islands. At that time, the very dogs that gave the Canary name lived here.

For some time, the islands resisted the Spanish conquest, but by the end of the fifteenth century, the entire archipelago fell into the hands of Spain, and already at the beginning of the sixteenth century, slaves and reed plantations appeared here. Shortly thereafter, the islands were seized by a crisis, people were turned into pirates, and grapes were grown instead of reeds. Several times the islands got poorer and richer, and Queen Isabella II made the Canary Islands a free trade zone. The islands served as a starting point for all sorts of troubles and riots, which ended only after Spain gave the islands autonomy. In the middle of the last century, the first plane landed here, it was from that moment on the tourism business flourished on the islands, which became even stronger when the islands joined the European Union nine years after Spain.

Who lives in the Canary Islands?

Now the population of the Canary Islands looks like it consists entirely of Spaniards. However, as can be seen from the history of the islands, the Canary people are a mixture of very different nationalities and even races, because the Canaries were once a bridge between Africa, Europe and Latin America... And the people who turned out as a result of all historical events speak Spanish, the culture also develops mainly Spanish, but its representatives call themselves Canaries.

Oddly enough, there are even more Canaries in the Canary Islands than tourists. It turns out this way due to the fact that newcomers are most often sent to large cities, while the outskirts remain with the indigenous population.

Climatic and natural conditions

The Canary Islands are located in the Tropics of Cancer, near them the Gulf Stream flows in the ocean, and hot winds often blow here from Africa, so the climate of the islands is stably warm. There is no clear division into seasons, all year round the weather pleases with a moderately high air temperature, thanks to which the Canary climate is considered one of the ideal on the entire planet. In winter average temperature here it is kept at the level of nineteen degrees, and in the summer - twenty-six.

Despite the fact that the territory of the Canary Islands in the aggregate is not so large, the weather on one island at the same time can be very different from the weather on another. This is due to the mountainous landscape of several islands and their location relative to each other. The eastern islands are characterized by higher air temperatures and are drier here than in the western part of the archipelago, where it rains more often. The north side of the islands is somewhat cooler than the south. Southern shores better warmed up by the sun. It can be much colder at the tops of the Canary Mountains than at the bottom, and this difference is very surprising for most tourists.

If you take detailed map Canar, then you can see that there are no rivers on the islands, however, you can find a huge number of plants here. This is due to frequent rains and, of course, ocean moisture, from which we can conclude that the sun is still often hidden by clouds, but the rain is pouring out of them warm. The only "setup" from the weather that can be expected here is the sirocco wind. It is very dry and suffocating, occasionally arrives here from the deserts of Africa.

Each island boasts its own climatic characteristics that set it apart from others. For example, Fuerteventura is a miniature Sahara - a real desert. Its center is deserted and quiet, while on the shores, thanks to the abundance of sand, there are the best beaches the whole archipelago. Lanzarote is a true volcano reserve, and La Palma is famous for its ancient forest.

Due to such a variety of weather conditions and the separation of the islands from the continents, many rare representatives of the plant and animal kingdom have survived here. Scientists and conservationists have organized several nature reserves in the Canary Islands; they make up about a third of the total territory of the archipelago.

Where is the best place to stay?

Due to the variety of landscapes and climatic features, each island in the archipelago has its own set of resorts and tourist attractions.

The largest of all the Canary Islands is Tenerife. Here you can find interesting ways to spend your time, both lovers of noisy parties and supporters of a quiet holiday. For those who prefer to drink and have fun, the cities of Los Cristianos and Las Americas are suitable. Discos do not stop there, and Western Europeans are regulars for these cities.

The city of Puerto de la Cruz has an opposite tourist focus, it is one of the most peaceful places on the island. The Canary cliffs are presented here in all their glory, which is why, however, it will not be possible to swim among them, if only in the pools near the hotels.

The most versatile of all islands Canary resorts is Gran Canaria. For visitors, there are a lot of all kinds of shops and different establishments. There are many hotels and entertainments for those who like to have fun. Sportsmen can visit the centers of windsurfing, fishing, and lovers of yachts can easily find any boat here for rent or excursion. In addition, this island allows you to make parachute jumps or feel like a desert dweller on the "Dunes" beach.

The best sands are located on the island of Fuerteventura, here are the largest beaches, where no one will be cramped for sure, and the center of the island will help you relax in the silence of the sand dunes. Centers flourish along the shores aquatic species sports.

Lanzarote will appeal to everyone who loves volcanoes and nature. There are no conveniences of civilization here, but the landscape of this island is in places similar to the lunar surface. In addition, here you can meet tourists and scientists who are concerned for the preservation of nature, and you can surely hear a lot of interesting things from them.

Other large islands in the Canary region are not so rich in hotels and entertainment centers, but their nature is an attraction in itself, where you can do agritourism and get aesthetic pleasure from the beauty of the landscape.

The remaining small islands of the archipelago will delight everyone with rocks, mountain landscapes and small hidden beaches that will appeal to all those who love solitude.

Modes of movement

You can get to the Canary archipelago by sea and air. They also come here by ship, but the most common transport is still air. You can also fly from one island to another by plane. Canary Airlines help fly from southern edge archipelago to the north in just a matter of minutes. Thanks to this, you can save a lot of time that it takes to cross from island to island by means of boats or yachts. However, most people still prefer exactly sea ​​transport for a trip to the islands of the Canary archipelago, because with the help of a sea vessel you can leisurely observe all the beauties of each island, listen to fascinating stories of guides, enjoy the warm wind and salty splashes of water.

On the Canary Islands themselves, there are several types of transport. Tourists can take relatively inexpensive taxis or even more affordable buses. Bus drivers and taxi drivers speak the most popular European languages, so it will not be difficult to communicate with them. The cities of Santa Cruz de Tenerife and San Cristobal de la Laguna are connected with each other using a tramway, many tourists even consider this a special feature of the Canary Islands.

For those who like to move around on their own, hotels offer to rent a car, and often the cost of this service is included in the price of hotel accommodation. There are many roads in the Canary Islands, so travel can be a lot of fun and enjoyable sightseeing.

sights

In addition to beaches and unique natural sites, the Canary Islands are famous for their interesting places for visiting. Many people first go to the city of Galdar, which is located in the northwestern part of Gran Canaria.

It is famous for the remains of the first inhabitants of the Canary Islands. There is the Cueva Pintada cave, the walls of which are dotted with drawings of the Guanche tribe. Scientists suggest that these bright ornaments could serve as a calendar for the ancient people. If you want to get acquainted not with prehistoric remains, but with living people of the Canary Islands, then you can go to the village of Pueblo Canario. There are many colorful houses built in the traditional Canarian style.

You can get in touch with history and art by visiting the island of Lanzarote. Ancient fortresses still stand here. One of them, San Gabriel, erected in the sixteenth century, was taken under Archaeological Museum and the other, Castillo de San Jose, was turned into a museum of modern art.

The island of Tenerife is famous for the Guimar Desert. In addition to the amazing sands, ancient pyramids can be found here. Scientists believe that they were built by the first inhabitants of the Canary Islands to help in agriculture. Archaeologists have found caves under the pyramids where the aborigines lived. Now these places have been turned into an ethnographic park, and everyone can visit the local museum or buy souvenirs that are sold here.

Of particular interest for any self-respecting collector of attractions is the house of Christopher Columbus. It is located in Las Palmas. Now this place is a museum, where each visitor is told about the amazing wanderings of the great navigator.

The Canary Islands have an active volcano, Caldera de Taburiente, which is one of the pearls of the Canary Islands. It is located on the island of La Palma, where, due to its activity, picturesque cliffs Los Gigantes and the amazing Hells Gorge.

Canary Islands Events

The Canary Islands will be interesting not only for adults, but also for children. Young tourists can be shown the active Teide volcano. Teenagers can even climb it. Las Americas will delight animal lovers with an eagle park, in which not only the eagles themselves live, but also seals, crocodiles, as well as various representatives of the cat and monkey family. Park workers often hold shows with trained birds. In addition, the Canary Islands have a parrot park, which allows you not only to admire the colorful birds, but also swim with dolphins, and a monkey park, where you can pet a lemur. After interacting with animals, children can go to Siam Park, which will teach them how to ride a slider and help them have a great time in water attractions.

And adults in the Canary Islands will find many cultural activities for themselves. In mid-February, the Carnival begins in the Canary Islands, which lasts ten days. Latin American music sounds, the streets are filled with many dressed-up people of all ages - both Canary residents and any visitor can take part in the costume show. The fun is on two islands at once: Tenerife and Gran Canaria.

At the end of May, the Corpus Christi holiday begins in the Canaries, it ends only in mid-June. These days, amazing pictures are created from flower petals, colorful sand and salt right on the squares. They depict religious subjects or copy the works of great artists. On this holiday, all kinds of processions are held and songs are sung.

The Canary Islands are famous for their excellent diving, because the rocky shores are amazingly beautiful both under water and the local sport - Canary wrestling. This is a team game in which two groups of a dozen players take part. The rules are simple: you need to knock your opponent to the ground. The team with more members left wins.

Thus, the Canary Islands are an ideal tourist destination in almost every way. In the Canary Islands, you can relax both alone and with the whole family. There are very democratic prices here, you can choose any type of rest. The Canary Islands conquer everyone who once came to them.

Although not everyone knows where the Canary Islands are, everyone knows about this wonderful place, which for many has become synonymous elite rest... Many even consider them to be part of ancient Atlantis, which sank thousands of years ago.

Show on the map where the Canary Islands are, and not even everyone who has visited them can quickly find them. But, despite this, everyone has heard of them and dreams of getting there. In recent years, the popularity of holidays in the Canary Islands has only grown. Millions of people can rest on the islands at the same time. The number of tourists every year exceeds the number of residents several times!

Climatic conditions

Canary Islands are composed of seven large islands and six small ones, each of which is considered a miniature continent. The climate of each island is unique, but they are united by the fact that all year round here you can sunbathe in the warm sun and swim in the ocean... Therefore, the islands are recommended for those whose: here you will be able to relax "like in summer".

origin of name

Many people mistakenly believe that the islands are named after the canaries. However, research shows that the opposite was true - the birds were named after the islands. The name Kanar comes from the Latin word for "dogs". That is, the islands can be called Dog Islands. Even on the coat of arms of the Canary Islands there is an image of two dogs. According to the second version, the name comes from sea lions, which were previously called "sea dogs". A connection with Ancient Egypt is also possible, where one of the gods had the head of a dog (Anubis). The local population considered dogs to be sacred animals.

For those who do not know where the Canary Islands are on the map, it will be useful to learn about their location. Although the Canary Islands themselves are considered territory, the coast of Spain is at least a thousand kilometers away. Much closer to the African continent. Therefore, before deciding to visit Tunisia or Egypt, you should think about a vacation outside the Canary Islands.

The mistake of many is that they still believe that vacation in the Canary Islands is available only to people with very high incomes or to those who postpone for such a vacation for several years. But you can relax without spending too much. Firstly, you can stay in a hotel with fewer stars, and secondly, you can always bargain in such hotels.

Despite the number of stars, each hotel offers a high level of service. In general, going to the Canary Islands, you can be sure that you will definitely find a hotel within your pocket. For example, in a hotel with an average price policy, the rest will cost about 50-100 euros per day. It is important to note that this cost may even include car rental. But you can easily find a hotel for 40 euros per day, although you will have to eat in inexpensive establishments, and you will have to stay in the same inexpensive hotel... Meanwhile, if you analyze the costs of the Canary Islands, it turns out that a similar vacation in neighboring Tunisia, Morocco or Egypt will not become much cheaper. Of course, at low cost, you will have to move around the island (or between islands) by public transport.

Transport in the Canary Islands

Within the limits of one island, you can move around on foot. This will be especially appreciated by amateurs. hiking... Bus routes also run between cities within the same island, the cost of which is available to everyone.

However, one should not forget that the Canaries are an archipelago of several islands, and without having visited at least a few of them, one cannot consider the rest to be complete. Of course, some tourists may not go outside the hotel, but most tourists visit the neighboring islands.

If you rent a car, you can use it not only to move around one island, but also to get acquainted with the sights by crossing the ferry neighboring islands... Of course, you have to pay for the crossing, but it's worth it. You will have to pay about twenty euros for renting a car for a week. Of course, it all depends on the class of the car.

Many vacationers buy tickets for hydrofoils, which allow them to move between the islands much faster and admire the beauty of each of the islands from a distance. Often, tourists want to quickly move from one extreme island of the archipelago to another, which is about a thousand kilometers. There are many flights for this.

Each city has its own taxi service. For a kilometer of movement around the city, you will have to pay about 1 euro. When leaving the city, you will have to pay 1.5-2 euros. The tariff also increases when traveling at night.

Attractions and entertainment in the Canary Islands

For tourists from Russia, Tenerife is the most popular of the islands. It is at the airport of this island that a direct flight from Moscow lands, so when going to Tenerife, you need to be ready to hear your own speech on the beach, in a restaurant or hotel. Precisely because Russian tourists do not always like to travel between the islands, they stop here.

Throughout February, a grandiose festival takes place in Tenerife, which can easily compete with the world famous festival in Rio de Janeiro.

The second most popular island among vacationers from Russia is Gran Canaria. Here is everything that interests a vacationer:

• excursions,
• the shops,
• entertainment,
• restaurants,
• water parks,
• beaches for every taste.

This is the most big Island in terms of population, and the large number of tourists is explained by the unique climatic conditions, which are considered the best among all the islands. The climatic situation on the island contributes to the beach holiday throughout the year.

Those wishing to relax alone with nature, simply have to go to the island of Homera. The absence of industrial enterprises has had a beneficial effect on the nature of the island of Hierro. Night walks under the moonlight on the promenade on the island of Lanzarote are mesmerizing. Fuertenventura is a favorite island for sunbathers or surfing. It is here in the middle of summer that international competitions in surfing, windsurfing, kiting and other sea sports are held. In general, each of the islands is able to provide its guests with the richest program with the widest choice of entertainment.

Kitchen

Although not everyone knows where the Canary Islands are on the world map, many have heard of the island's unrivaled cuisine from their friends who have been here. For example, in Tenerife, you can taste Canarian jacket potatoes. At first glance, it may seem that there is nothing special in this dish, but the added sauces fill it with an unusual taste. The potato itself is grown in the highlands and grows at an altitude of at least 900 meters! Do not forget about fish dishes and seafood. Many restaurants have large aquariums in which every tourist can choose a “victim” to prepare.

Vacation with children

Many holidaymakers come to the Canary Islands with children. To choose a place of rest, you need to worry about the absence of noisy discos, cafes, markets near the hotel. Most the best option for families with children - the island of Fuerteventura, where there are no noisy establishments.

Canary Islands and security

Of course, any inattentive tourist can suffer from petty scammers. These are mainly illegal migrants who arrived here from the neighboring African continent. To avoid theft, you should not carry cash with you, but pay with electronic cards or traveller's checks. Some tourists even recommend keeping their savings in several plastic cards. But to pay for goods in the markets or to pay, the taxi driver should still have some cash with him. In general, petty theft and hooliganism are quite rare occurrences.

Gifts and souvenirs

Rarely does a tourist go to the Canary Islands to shop for various goods. In any city there are dozens of shops where you can buy everything you need, but the bulk of tourists come here precisely for beach holiday.

Of course, you should worry about buying gifts for yourself and your loved ones. These may be small. The main thing is not to rush to buy them on the very first day of the shops closest to the hotel, since on the territory of the island you can find similar things at a price that will be much lower.

Canary Islands - perfect place for tourists of any age. Anyone who can afford a vacation in Egypt, Tunisia or Turkey can just as well go to the Canary Islands. Only a vacation in the Canary Islands will be much more interesting than a trip to "boring" resorts.

The Canary Islands belong to Spain, but they are an autonomous region. The Canary Islands have 2 capitals, which transfer their titles to each other every 4 years. These are the cities of Santa Cruz de Tenerife and Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.

The Canary Islands consist of 20 islands of volcanic origin. The largest of them - Tenerife is famous all over the world for its beaches, hotels and nature; 6 more fairly large islands adjoin it. But the remaining 13 islands are too small and therefore they are still uninhabited. The total area of ​​the islands is slightly less than 7.5 thousand square kilometers.

Tourists different countries fly to the Canary Islands to enjoy surfing, diving and mountain climbing. Beautiful nature and inviting waves are waiting for everyone.

The closest neighbors of the Canary Islands by sea are Morocco and Western Sahara in Africa, Cape Verde to the southwest and the Portuguese island of Madeira to the north.

Most small island in the Canary Islands, Montaña Clara covers an area of ​​only 1 square km.

Geographically, the Canary Islands archipelago is located in the Macaronesia group of islands together with Azores and the Cape Verde Islands, Madeira and Selvagens. The Canary Islands are located near the northwestern coast of Africa. Because of this position of the islands, the wind from the Sahara Desert - sirocco often blows on them, bringing with it heat and sand. But the cool air currents blowing from the northeast soften the effect of the desert winds.

On the island of Yero in Canary archipelago the smallest hotel in the world called Punta Grande was opened, although it is difficult to stay in it - the rooms are scheduled several months in advance.

History of the conquest of the islands

Since ancient times, the Canary Islands belonged to Spain. But the Canary Islands were open to Europe by Christopher Columbus. After that, such beautiful they became the dream of many countries, they were attacked by both the Dutch and British flotillas, but the islands have always remained under the influence of Spain. They speak on the islands mainly in Spanish, because more than 80% of the population are native Spaniards. The rest are foreigners, usually Africans, trying to escape to the New World.

There are hypotheses that the Canary Islands are part of Atlantis that has sunk under the water. Therefore, the islands are constantly looking for confirmation of the existence of the island. Scientists are interested in the still unsolved ritual structures on the islands of Tenerife and Guimar.

Which country does the Canary Islands belong to? In ancient times, the archipelago was inhabited by the Guanche tribes, who till the arrival of Europeans cultivated the land and were engaged in cattle breeding. In 1334, the islands were visited by French sailors, and the natives had to make room. According to the laws of that time, everything is again open land fell under the jurisdiction of the Roman Catholic Church.

The Vatican, represented by Pope Clement VI, presented the Canary Islands to Count Alfonso XI, the ruler of Castile, the largest province on the island. For a while, it became clear who owned the Canary Islands. However, Alfonso XI did not know what to do with such a gift. The aborigines did not bring any economic benefits, and on the contrary, the ruler was now obliged to improve life on the islands. The count did not dare to give up the archipelago directly, but he tried, through complicated negotiations, to transfer his ownership into other hands. The question of who owns the Canary Islands is literally hanging in the air.

Who is the owner after all?

It would seem that the answer to the question of which country the Canary Islands belong to lies on the surface. The owner is Spain, but it turned out to be not so simple.

Half a century later, the French decided to seize the islands. Warships followed along the west African coast, which then approached two islands in the center of the archipelago - Tenerife and Gran Canaria. The local population sluggishly resisted the annexation.

In Gran Canaria, French troops celebrated victory a few days later, and in Tenerife it happened a little later. This was followed by periodic landings on the Canary Islands by conquerors of all stripes, from the Moroccan soldiers to the English admiral Robert Blake, who brilliantly spent near the island of Tenerife in 1657, engaging in battle with the Spanish armada. He emerged victorious from this confrontation, but the islands, nevertheless, were ceded to Spain.

After 140 years, the famous Admiral Nelson tried to capture Tenerife, but the capital of the Canary Islands, Santa Cruz, stood in his way, and he was defeated. In the end, the British abandoned their imperial ambitions.

The question of which country the Canary Islands belong to remained unanswered for a long time, until in 1821 the archipelago was finally ceded to Spain. In 1982, the Canary Islands were declared an autonomous region of the Spanish state, and in 1986 the province of the Canary Islands became part of the European Union. Thus, the answer to the question of which country the Canary Islands belong to is now unambiguous. As a result of numerous renaming and status changes, the right decision was made. Today the Canary Islands belong to Spain.

Archipelago today

What is the Canary Islands - a country, a province or some special structure? Geographical position The archipelago speaks of its conditional belonging to mainland Spain, but the islands have full and unconditional autonomy.

The Canary Islands is a country, if we mean the social arrangement and the availability of services necessary for the observance of law and order. These are the police, courts and legal institutions. Although, on the other hand, all of these services are practically inactive, since the Canaries are a zone of supertourism, millions of travelers come to the blessed land to relax, have fun and forget about the hardships of civilization for a while. At the same time, no one breaks the laws.

Geography

The Canary Islands are located just one hundred kilometers from the African continent and seven hundred kilometers from the coast of Spain. The archipelago adjoins Africa from the northwest (at the junction Western Sahara and Morocco).

There are only seven large Canary Islands. The closest to the African coast is Lanzarote, the next island is Fuerteventura, then Gran Canaria, behind which are Tenerife, Gomera, La Palma and Hierro. These are the largest volcanic formations, but there are many more minor ones.

The list, which includes the most popular Canary Islands, a map of their location, directions, etc. - all this information can be obtained from the tourist offices of Spain or upon arrival on the island. Tenerife.

The islands are not alike, each of them is attractive in its own way. For example, Lanzarote is ideal for lovers of a calm, measured holiday, while Gran Canaria is a paradise for surfers and divers. Tourists arriving in the Canary Islands will find a map and guidebooks to help them choose. better place recreation. There are also hotels for every taste - more expensive, more comfortable, economy class hotels with reasonable prices.

It is difficult to say how many Canary Islands are there in the archipelago, an exact calculation has not been carried out. However, it is known that not all of them are inhabited. At one time, the municipal authorities even opened the sale of small islands. Those interested could purchase a small piece of land in the ocean at a reasonable price. Trade went briskly until the Spanish authorities on the mainland intervened. The capital of the Canary Islands, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, was then forced to give part of its powers to the city of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.

Most Popular Places

The best island in the Canary Islands, according to most tourists, is Tenerife. In second place in popularity is Gran Canaria. These islands are distinguished by a developed infrastructure, high-class hotels, and magnificent entertainment complexes for both adults and children.

The Canary Islands, the photos of which are presented in the article, have long become one of the best places for active rest... Tourists are attracted by the choice and impeccable service.

Landscape

The Canary Islands, the photos of which are amazing, are volcanic formations that appeared above the water millions of years ago. Until now, on the surface, one can observe bizarre landscapes with solidified lava, with which long sand dunes, reminiscent of Luxurious beaches, washed by ocean waves, and immediately behind them begin hotel complexes with palm alleys. A warm breeze from the sea moves the green branches of the trees, vacationers feel at one with nature, and this happens throughout the day. When the time comes to part with the Canary Islands, no one wants to leave. the charm paradise remains in memory for a long time, until the next visit.

Climate

The climate in the Canary Islands is temperate tropical, dry and hot, but not sultry. The temperature range is determined by the proximity of the African coast. Hot trade winds mix with ocean air masses. It turns out a kind of airy cocktail, cool and comfortable, which spreads throughout the Canary Islands. Air masses are continuously renewed. The climate also softens the permanent anticyclone over the Azores, located northwest of the archipelago.

Temperatures in the Canary Islands are stable throughout the year. It is 20-30 degrees in summer and 16-25 degrees Celsius in winter. During the year, there is a relative influence of mountains and hills on climatic conditions, however, temperature drops are insignificant, they do not exceed 2-3 degrees. Temperature changes occur mainly in the highest Canary Islands - Gran Canaria, Tenerife and La Palma. The climate in the rest of the archipelago remains virtually unchanged.

The water temperature in the zone of the islands under consideration is about 20 degrees Celsius. Equilibrium is achieved due to the Canary Current - rather cold, but slow. In general, the temperature regime on the islands is very comfortable and stable. You can briefly describe the climate in the Canary Islands as follows: warm and sunny.

For tourists who flew to the Canary Islands in winter, the weather in December is much different from the spring - just as warm. Definitely an abrupt change climatic conditions for one day is impressive.

The Canary Islands (the weather in December is warmer than in summer in Moscow) continues to amaze visitors. The popularity of a world-class resort has long known no boundaries, millions of tourists from all over the world fly to international Airport Reina Sophia and choose an island to spend unforgettable days.

Canary Islands. Attractions, beaches

The natural attraction of the islands in question is the beaches, superbly equipped, covered with golden sand or black basalt pebbles. Showers are placed around the perimeter, sun loungers are located everywhere in even rows, and there are wide umbrellas right there. Diving supplies, fins, masks and other diving items can be purchased at special kiosks.

Los Vinos town

Exactly this ancient settlement on the island of Tenerife. The main city attraction is the millennial Dragon Tree. Visitors to the ancient nunnery of San Augustine will walk through the monastic cells, get acquainted with the life of novices, and talk with the abbess. Then you can visit the Church of San Marcos and the garden with colonies of tropical butterflies of fabulous beauty.

Park "Loro"

Initially, these were aviaries with parrots. Nowadays, this place is even more amazing. Now the park contains the rarest species of tropical parrots, which are adjacent to orchids blooming all year round, planted throughout the territory (the most beautiful specimens can be admired in the Orchid House). Also in the park "Loro" there is a huge aquarium with a whale shark, dolphins, sea ​​lion and other inhabitants of the ocean. Special place occupies a penguinarium with an artificial arctic climate.

Teide Park

It is alpine entertainment center deployed at an altitude of two thousand meters. The temperature there is kept at forty degrees Celsius. In the center of the park there is an extinct volcano crater with a diameter of 48 kilometers. You can get to its top by lift (mountaineers climb on foot).

Hell's Gorge

In the southern part of the island of Tenerife, there is the only natural waterfall Canary archipelago, an oasis in the middle of a dry and barren plain. This cascade of silvery streams is called the Gulch of Hell. Tourists can experience the full power of the unbridled elements by entering under the rock from which the waterfall falls.

Guimar pyramids

These are iconic buildings replicating the man-made elevations in Peru, Mexico and ancient Mesopotamia. Initially, the pyramids in Guimara were mistaken for piles of stones piled up by Spanish settlers when clearing land for plowing. However, later, a group of researchers, among whom was the famous traveler, came to the conclusion that the six piles of stones are nothing more than pyramids.

In addition, in the Guimara Park there is a museum of ethnography "House of Chacone", which exhibits an architectural model of the palace of King Ra II in full size.

Cliffs of giants

Huge sections of the coast of the island of Tenerife are occupied by grandiose rocks, closely standing close to the water, and in some places - by ledges descending into the ocean. The rocks are considered sacred, their constant desire to plunge into the abyss is like a divine ritual.

You can get to the enchanted cliffs only from the sea side by motor ship or motor boats.

Anaga mountains

Tenerife's splendid hills represent an endless botanical world. The mountain plateaus called Anaga are an example of ecological cleanliness. There you can meet local residents living in caves.

The Canary Islands, whose attractions are on a par with the world's masterpieces of nature and ethnography, attract millions of tourists. Airlines are operating at full capacity, with planes landing and taking off every minute.

Seven islands as seven wonders of the world

The archipelago in the Atlantic Ocean and its pearl is the island of Tenerife is remarkable and unique. Spain, Canary Islands - the best holiday destination in the whole world.

Lanzarote is an island of dormant volcanoes. Whole fields of frozen lava, unusual landscapes on plains and mountain slopes, multi-colored petrified streams recreate picturesque panels of extraordinary beauty. National park Lanzarote's Timanfaya islands can be seen as a permanent exhibition of natural art. A hotel infrastructure blends seamlessly with natural scenery. Lanzarote Island is biosphere reserve surrounded by virgin nature, against the backdrop of a volcanic landscape.

Fuerteventura is an island of an endless enfilade of magnificent virgin beaches, completely empty, allowing you to enjoy the ocean views in complete solitude. Nowhere in the world is there such freedom as on the beaches of Fuerteventura. Sea water surprisingly clean and warm, it glows with turquoise. The island is ideal for those who prefer a romantic pastime, relaxation away from the hustle and bustle of civilization. During the whole day, you can feel like a Robinson, staying in silence and complete solitude, and in the evening you can return to a comfortable hotel for dinner.

The island of Gran Canaria is famous not only for its magnificent golden beaches, but also for the widest infrastructure. As an addition to the general picture of prosperity, the nature of the island is striking in its diversity. Deep forested ravines alternate with verdant peaks, and all come together in a grandiose panorama. The central part of the Gran Canaria island is covered with a luxurious vegetation carpet, in the south there are gentle coastlines with beaches, and in the north, cliffs rise into the sky, bordering small coves with azure water. Any sport held in high esteem on the island - horse riding, golf and tennis, fishing and spearfishing.

Tenerife

The largest and most comfortable island. Its nature is unique, the variety of relief is amazing. In the center is the Teide snow cap, in the north there are green areas, South part all in golden sand, the beaches are lined up in a neat row. The island of Tenerife has a unique tourist infrastructure, there are restaurants with dishes national cuisines almost all countries of the world, wellness centers, sports and GYM's, all kinds of excursions on land and by sea are organized. All this makes a vacation in Tenerife an unforgettable experience.

Homer

An island famous for its relict vegetation. Homer's natural exoticism is available to tourists arriving from Tenerife by ferry.

La Palma

The most blooming and greenest of all the islands of the Canary archipelago. Infrastructure is poorly developed, but La Palma has ample opportunities for rural tourism. Lovers of rural landscapes and serene relaxation should visit this island.

Hierro

The smallest of the islands of the Canary archipelago. For centuries it was perceived as the most mysterious place on the planet. The end of the world - this is how Hierro is characterized. Those wishing to be away from civilization cannot find a better place.

When we talk about the Canary Islands, first of all we are talking about the island of Tenerife, although in fact it is beautiful, but not at all best island archipelago. There are thirteen Canary Islands in total, of which seven are large and six are small. Rumor has it that there is another island .... We will also talk about this in our article. In addition, myths and realities about the Canary Islands await you, revealing the secrets of the climate and showing significant differences not only between the islands of the archipelago, but within them. To begin with, let's list the islands, since they are closely interconnected, and after that we will talk about the classification from different sides, which will help you decide on the choice of a vacation spot just for your taste and for your wishes.

Inhabited Canary Islands:

Eight inhabited islands, of which seven are large and one small (La Graciosa)

• - the largest and most populous island in the center of the archipelago, with an area of ​​over 2,000 km2
• Fuerteventura - located in the east of the archipelago, is the second largest and the first most popular among surfers
• - the third largest island with the most big city Canar - the capital of the island of Las Palmas
• - the northeastern island, which the Canary people call "another island", and everyone else is the island of fire-breathing mountains
• La Palma is the fifth largest island in the West, the most green Island archipelago
• La Gomera is an island near Tenerife in the southwest, popular for its large neighbor
• El Hierro is less than 300 km2 of area in the south-west of the archipelago with a population of about 10 thousand people.
• La Graciosa is a satellite island of Lanzarote in the northeast of the archipelago, the northernmost, but not the coldest island of the Canary Islands

Uninhabited islands of the Canary archipelago:

These small but proud islands can be admired from viewing platforms the larger Canary neighbors and through the airplane window, flying between the islands of the archipelago.

• Alegranza
• Montagna Clara
• Lobos
• Roque del Oeste
• Roque del Este

Why are the Canary Islands so popular for winter vacations?

There are many reasons, for example:

• The duration of the flight cannot be compared with a flight to countries where a comfortable beach holiday is possible in winter. A flight from Europe delivers from 4 to 5 hours, depending on the city of departure and the island where you are going. For example, from Berlin to Lanzarote fly 4.5 hours, and from Berlin to Gran Canaria - 5 hours. This fact explains the huge number of Europeans who vacation in the Canary Islands every year.
• Comfortable and not too hot air temperature, while low relative humidity (within 50%). If we compare the humidity indicator with the popular Russian resort Sochi, then in last summer it can reach 95% and even 100%. Therefore, if acclimatization practically never happens on the Canary Islands, then having arrived in Sochi and another resort with high air humidity, you can get seriously ill or just feel not very good during your vacation. In winter (January, February) in the resorts of the Canary Islands the temperature is about 20-25 degrees. Why I wrote "in the resorts", and not "on the islands" You will find out when you read the article to the end and understand how different the weather can be, even within the same island.
• Absence of poisonous snakes and other dangerous animals. Even in the sand dunes in the south of the island of Gran Canaria, you can safely swim in the sand and are not afraid that you will meet there something that threatens health and life.
• Absence of sharks dangerous to humans. Since the ocean is cold enough, for example, compared to the Indian one, heat-loving marine predators do not like to swim in its waters. Several species of sharks are found off the coast of the Canary Islands, but they are not dangerous to humans and there have been no cases of attacks.
• Rest of the European level among people with a similar culture and worldview. When visiting Asia, there is a huge number of precautions associated with different religions, their customs and manners that are not clear to the Russian tourist, in addition, in the Canaries, unlike Asia, there is quite a traditional cuisine and there is no unsanitary conditions.
• Canary people are very friendly and welcoming people. If you want to feel like at a dinner with your family in a restaurant, see open and cheerful people everywhere and enjoy the extraordinary beauty, then take you to the Canary Islands!

Borondon Island:

Since we have disassembled the islands into inhabited and non-inhabited, then we should divide them into real and fictional, or rather not fictional, but not proven to exist. In fact, there is only one such unconfirmed and uncharted island in the Canary archipelago - San Borondon.

The island, lost or not found, is the pride of the Canary people and a mystery to the guests of the archipelago. History has ample evidence that different people at different times they confidently said that they not only saw San Borondon from the shores of La Palma and El Hierro, but also landed on its shores during a shipwreck. Periodically to the shore western islands endures strange plants and even fruits of fruit trees that do not grow in the Canary Islands, which in itself is an indirect confirmation of the existence of this place. This is located unique island in the west of the archipelago, southwest of the island of La Palma and north of El Hierro. It appears suddenly both in cloudy and clear weather, and disappears in fog or behind a rain stream.

The outlines of the island, according to eyewitnesses, are unchanged, which made it possible to compose a description of the "mirage": an oblong shape, the island stretches from north to south, the relief is a plain between two mountains of different heights.

The island got its name from the name of the monk Brendan, who first spoke of the existence of the mysterious lost Holy Land.

It is believed that this is a floating island formed as a result of the descent of a layer of volcanic rocks from one of the mountain peaks of the archipelago. The volcanic rock is porous, so it can freely float on the surface of the water, and in the event of a storm, go under the water, which confirms the fact of sudden appearance and disappearance. This theory has its adherents and opponents, but be that as it may, it will not be possible to go to the island so far.

On all the islands of the archipelago, there is sure to be an institution with the name of San Borondon, and more than one, since in beautiful legends I want to believe.

Islands of the province of Santa Cruz de Tenerife:

The province includes the islands located in the west of the archipelago

• Tenerife, where the capital of the province is located -
• La Palma
• La Gomera
• El Hierro

Islands of the province of Las Palmas:

The province includes the islands located in the east of the archipelago

• Gran Canaria, where the provincial capital is located - the city of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria
• Fuerteventura
• Lanzarote
• La Graciosa
• Alegranza
• Montagna Clara
• Lobos
• Roque del Oeste
• Roque del Este

Active volcanoes in the Atlantic Ocean:

• Tenerife is the largest and most populous island with the most high point archipelago -. The island of Tenerife is the capital of the province of Santa Cruz de Tenerife and the most visited island of the archipelago among Russian tourists. You can come to Tenerife and not visit the volcano only if it was not allowed to do so weather otherwise it is simply not permissible.

• - an island on which there are 300 active volcanoes, that is, a third of all volcanoes on our Earth. The landscapes of the island are not real and it seems that you are on another planet. Those who have visited Lanzarote believe that Teide is just a mountain peak and nothing more, although Lanzarote does not have such high and large craters as Teide, so you should definitely visit Teide in Tenerife and Lanzarote's volcanoes before drawing conclusions ...

I will not single out the other volcanoes of the archipelago, although they deserve attention, nevertheless the largest and highest crater is mentioned above, as well as the island with the largest number of craters and the consequences of an eruption.

Canary Islands beaches

Fuerteventura is confidently leading in the ranking, as the number of beaches on this island exceeds 150 and stretches for more than 70 km. Most of the beaches boast white sand, but there is also black volcanic sand. In fact, this island is exclusively a beach vacation, as there is a minimum of infrastructure for other entertainments. There are not many restaurants and shops and endless beaches with constantly blowing wind and waves. it favorite place for surf lovers. The name of the island speaks for itself "fuerte" translates as "strong", and "el viento" - the wind.

By the unusualness of the second, I consider it necessary to note Maspalomas beach on Gran Canaria:

The uniqueness lies in the fact that coastline the beach - sand dunes with an area of ​​about 400 hectares, which are a protected area, through which it is forbidden to travel by any means of transport. The peculiarity of Maspalomas beach is the constantly present wind, which redistributes the sand along the coast. This is the most southern point island, to which the sand was brought by the wind from the Sahara Desert.

The sand is distributed in different ways and every day you can see a hill in a place where yesterday it was not even in sight. This place is unusual, but in my opinion its choice depends on the season, since in winter, when the temperature of the air and water is sufficiently low, the presence of wind makes a beach holiday here uncomfortable, while Amadores beach located in the southwest - an ideal location. Amadores is an enclosed artificial white sand cove, sheltered by mountains from wind and breakwaters from waves, offering a calm warm ocean in a comfortable temperature without wind. In my opinion, this is the perfect place for a beach holiday in the Canary Islands in winter.

Talking about Tenerife, one cannot fail to note the beaches of the island, since our compatriots love and know this particular island and want to know more about it. It is believed to be located in the resort of Adeje.

I was, I saw, there is something to compare on the island and not only, so I will mark it as worthy, but I do not consider it the best. In my opinion, the highlight are.

Lanzarote has the famous beaches of Puntade Papagayo (Punta de Papagayo). Divided by volcanic rocks, coves with yellow and white sand and turquoise waters are the highlight of the island. There is a separate cove for nudists and 5 more beaches stretching for kilometers, where you can enjoy the beauty of unspoilt nature.

There are other beaches of other Canary Islands, which are distinguished by the rare color of the water, the landscape, the legends created around them or other significant facts, but we will not be able to discuss everything within the framework of one article, so I propose to move on to the next question.

Canary Islands ocean what and when:

Among large islands on two, almost all year round, the water temperature in the ocean is much colder than on the others. It is two eastern islands archipelago: Lanzarote and Fuerteventura. This is due to the cold currents off the coast of these marvelous islands. Therefore, you should not assume that you can choose any island for a beach holiday at any time of the year, you may be disappointed. Of course, in summer, when the air temperature exceeds 30 degrees, the cool ocean invigorates and saves from overheating, but in windy and cool winters, most of the beaches are empty. Except that surfers surf the waves at any time of the year, and it is on these islands that the vast majority of them.

The cold ocean waters do not attract dangerous predators, so shark attacks do not happen here, as well as a large variety of dangerous stingrays or sea urchins are not represented.

But just because the ocean temperature in Lanzarote is cold does not mean that there is no opportunity to plunge into the ocean. Residents of Lanzarote go on a regular boat to the neighboring small island of La Graciosa in February and swim with great pleasure, since the water temperature is higher there.

On other islands of the archipelago, the ocean temperature is higher, but also strongly depends on the season and the resort. For example, in Tenerife, in the northern part of the island, in the oldest resort of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, the water temperature barely reaches 19 degrees in winter, and in the south of the island at the same time, many swim in the salty ocean at a temperature of about 23 degrees. The situation is similar on Gran Knaria, where in the north the ocean is cold, not criminal and cold,

and in the south, in Puerto Rico and on Amadores beach, the water is full of people who want to swim at the same 23 degrees.

Which Canary Islands are the warmest:

The warmest eternal rivals, the islands of the provincial capital - Tenerife and Gran Canaria. But the concept of warm is very specific to the Canary Islands. I will explain why by giving a specific example.

Mountain peaks correspond to areas of the island where it is colder and rainier, clouds cling to high mountains and settle there. This is more true for the islands, where the elevation differences are greater, for example, in the aforementioned Tenerife and Gran Canaria. On flatter islands without high peaks the temperature is less uniform.

A big friendly family that has long dreamed of visiting the Canary Islands for a long time dared to do this and chose for their two-week vacation sunny island Gran Canaria. Well, the choice is fine. But the rest was not entirely successful ... And the thing is that the family, in order to save money, decided to rent Vacation home in a place called Moya in the northern part of the island in the mountains. It is a pity that they did not provide for the peculiarity of the island, associated with the fact that in the mountainous regions the air temperature is much lower than on the coast and the possibility of precipitation is much higher here. And so it happened, instead of the temperature of 23 degrees promised in numerous stories about the resorts of the island, they had to be content with 12 degrees. As a result, the savings cost, as they say, sideways. I had to rent a large minivan for the whole family and make a two-hour round trip every day to the comfortable Amadores beach at this time of year. In order not to spoil your vacation and not be disappointed, you should carefully consider not only the choice of the island, but also the choice of the resort on it!

The greenest island in the Canary archipelago

The greenest island with the most vegetation, La Palma is the westernmost in terms of its geographic location.

The most deserted island of the archipelago is Lanzarote. Vegetation on it in the form of green bushy plantings appears after short rains and after a week disappears, leaving lava fields and lifeless plains.

Most popular among residents Scandinavian countries archipelago island - Gran Canaria. The tourist business of Gran Canaria, represented by guides and hotels, dreams of tourists from Russia, while the most popular among Russians, the island of Tenerife, dreams of tourists from Scandinavia and Europe. Therefore, if you want to be surrounded by compatriots and most of the services are provided, including in Russian, then you better go to Tenerife, and if communicating in English and German is not a problem for you, then why not go to Gran Canaria.

If you can’t decide which of the islands to choose, then you don’t need to. I suggest you do not stop at one, but if time permits, visit two islands for a vacation, or maybe choose new islands each time. I did just that and in the period from 12/30/2014 to 01/09/2015 I managed to visit Lanzarote and Gran Canaria. described in detail by me, but oh extraordinary beauty more than one article will be written on the islands.

Wish you an exciting journey and vivid emotions !!!

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