Gran
Canaria
Gran Canaria is the third largest island of the Canary Islands, an
archipelago located in the Atlantic Ocean 210 km from the northwest
coast of Africa and belonging to Spain. It is located southeast of
Tenerife and west of Fuerteventura. The island is of volcanic
origin, which is mostly made of fissure vents.
The island was populated by the Guanches, who may have arrived as
early as 500 BC. The Guanches called the island Tamarán. It was
claimed by Spain in the 15th century.
Gran Canaria's surface is 1,560 km² and its maximum altitude is
1,949 meters (Pico de Las Nieves). It has a round shape, with a
diameter of approximately 50 km.
It is divided into twenty-one municipalities:
* Agaete
* Agüimes
* Artenara
* Arucas
* Firgas
* Gáldar
* Ingenio
* Mogán
* Moya
* Las Palmas de Gran Canaria
* San Bartolomé de Tirajana
* San Nicolás de Tolentino
* Sta. Brígida
* Sta. Lucía de Tirajana
* Santa María de Guía
* Tejeda
* Telde
* Teror
* Valleseco
* Valsequillo
* Vega de San Mateo
The island has a population of 802,257 with 378,628 (year 2005) of
those in the capital city of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. Las Palmas
de Gran Canaria is the biggest city of the Canary Islands, also the
capital of the province of Las Palmas, and also one of the two
capitals of the autonomous community of the Canary Islands, along
with Santa Cruz de Tenerife.
Transportation
Gran Canaria has highways encircling the whole island and extending
into the mountain areas. In the late 20th century, its
superhighways, among the first in the Canary Islands, were opened
and ran around Las Palmas, and were later extended to the north
coast and the airport and subsequently to the south coast to account
for increased tourist traffic. The superhighways are GC1, GC2, and
GC31, and divided highways GC4 and GC5. The western and the
northwestern parts, with the fewest tourists, are linked only with
highways.
The International Airport of Gran Canaria-Gando is the only airport
on Gran Canaria. It has so many aircraft and passengers passing
through it each year that is it placed as one of the busiest in
Spain. Gran Canaria also hosts the responsibility of controlling all
air traffic of The Canaries.
The most important ports in Gran Canaria are The Port of La Luz, in
the city of Las Palmas of Gran Canaria; Arguineguín's Port, which
exports cement from a large factory; and Arinaga's Port, placed in
the major industrial zone of Canaries and one of the major ones of
Spain.
The ports which transport the most passengers are the Port of La Luz
and the Port of Las Nieves, placed in the municipality of Agaete
Public transport on the island is provided by an extensive network
of buses (Guaguas) and run by GLOBAL and Guaguas Municipales who
operate a fleet of modern, air-conditioned buses. Drivers are
helpful, and the mix of tourists and 'locals' (especially in the
resort areas) makes for an interesting ride, not to mention it being
one of the best ways to actually see the island.
Plans for a Railway network linking the capital with the South have
been approved by both the Gran Canaria Cabildo and the Canary
Islands Government, though the discussion with the central Spanish
Government hinges now on budget.
Tourism
This island is called a "Miniature Continent" due to the different
climates and variety of landscapes found. The island is under
protection as a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO.
The number of annual visitors is 2.2 million (2,200,000). Most of
the tourists visit the southern part of the island.
The north tends to be cooler while the south is warmer and sunny.
The east coast of the island is flat dotted with beaches while the
western coast is rockier and mountainous.
The island possseses 32[1] Natural Protected Spaces, that they
emphasize the Rural Park of Nublo, Doramas's Jungle, the Ravine of
Azuaje, Tamadaba, Pino Santo, etc.
Most tourists stay in the south of the island, which is sunnier and
has less rain than the north. There is a large bird park, Palmitos
Park, in the south of the island (which is currently closed to the
public until further notice), as well as many beach resort
communities. The resort communities start in the central eastern
part of the southern coast in the Maspalomas area which includes the
towns of San Agustín, Playa del Inglés, Sonnenland, and Maspalomas
where most tourists visit. The Dunes of Maspalomas are located
between Playa del Inglés and Maspalomas. Another tourist attraction
is the Lighthouse at Maspalomas situated at the western end of
Maspalomas.
In Tarajalillo an Aeroclub exists from where tourist flights can be
realized by the island.
Playa del Inglés is a popular destination for European gay tourists
with bars, restaurants and businesses centered primarily in the
Yumbo Centrum shopping center. A wonderful beach is found near the
Maspalomas Dunes. Maspalomas's beach is known throughout the world
by his beacon, his oasis and his magnificent sand sea.
Still further to the west along the southern shore, also in the
Municipality of Mogán are the communities of Puerto Rico and Puerto
de Mogán, a picturesque village referred to as "Little Venice" on
account on its many canals.
Other attractions include Palmitos Park, Reptilandia Park,
Cocodrilos Park, Roque Nublo (an 80m monolith), Cenobio de Valerón
with about 290 caves, Cueva Pintada the most important
archaeological park in Canary Islands and the botanical gardens
Jardin Canario (in Tafira Alta) and Cactualdea (in La Aldea de San
Nicolás). El Dedo de Dios, or "God's Finger" was a rocky spire
jutting from the sea in Puerto de las Nieves, and was previously the
signature attraction of the Canary Islands until it was destroyed by
Tropical Storm Delta (2005), that crossed the archipelago on
November 2005 [1]. With its numerous off shore underwater
attractions; scuba diving centres, guides, and courses are readily
available to take in the full beauty of the island.
Other famous rockys are El Cura (also known as El Fraile), The Frog
(La Rana), Bentayga, the Roque de Gando, and the Peñón Bermejo. The
highest peak of the island is the Pico de las Nieves, with 1.950 m
The capital city of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, in the north of the
island, has a vibrant city life. Las Canteras Beach lies in the
heart of the city. Las Palmas de Gran Canaria is also known for its
annual Carnaval. It was the first stop of Cristóbal Colón's
expedition on his way back from the Americas, a commemoration of
which is the Hermitage of San Antonio Abad, where the navigator
prayed, and the Casa de Colón. Other monuments in the capital city
are the Museo Canario (the most important archaeology museum in the
archipelago), the Cathedral, the Plaza del Espiritu Santo, etc.
The town of Agüimes, on the eastern part of the island, has been
carefully restored, and its town centre, centered around its old
church and a peaceful square, now evokes the quiet living of a
traditional Canarian town. The district also has some of the best
preserved cave dwellings, in the protected area of the Guayadeque
Ravine, where even the church has been built into the hillside and
visitors can find a number of popular cave restaurants. The district
also includes the most renowned scuba diving area on the island: the
marine reserve at the playa de El Cabrónjust outside the town of
Arinaga.
Other important towns are Telde and Vecindario (within the
municipality of Santa Lucia de Tirajana) and Gáldar. In Arucas there
is a magnificent Neogothic temple, popularly known as " Arucas's
Cathedral ", as well as a large fertile plain where bananas are
grown. In Gáldar and its surroundings there is also a banana-growing
plain and some remarkable archaeological remains, such as Cueva
Pintada or Cenobio de Valerón's communal silos, ancient tombs, and
the port of Sardina del Norte (one of the island's ports where, as
in Las Palmas's, Christobal Colón used to get supplies for his
ships). In Teror is kept the catholic image of Virgen del Pino, the
patron saint of the Canary Islands.
Heading west along the southern coast is the fishing city of
Arguineguin in the Municipality of Mogán. The market, which is held
on Tuesdays, is the largest on the island.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia |
