Area: 7477 km²
Population: 1.69 million
Capital: Santa Cruz de Tenerife and Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (dual capitals)
The Canary Islands is one of Spain’s major tourist attractions. The
archipelago is located off the northwestern coast of Africa, in the Atlantic
Ocean, and comprises seven large islands—Tenerife, Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria,
Lanzarote, La Palma, La Gomera and El Hierro—and a number of islets, including
La Graciosa, Alegranza and Lobos. The region’s dual capitals are Santa
Cruz de Tenerife and Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. Although its latitude
could lead one to think that it has a desert climate, the truth is very
different. Being in the midst of the Atlantic, it enjoys winds and
currents that give it a very mild climate, with an average temperature of 20º C
most of the year, with very few oscillations, except for in the mountainous
areas, where it is cooler. Rains vary from one area to another, although
the annual average ranges from 300 mm (in the lowlands) to 500 mm (in the
mountains). All of this, together with an average of 300 days of sun
annually, endow the Canary Islands with a climate considered one of the most in
the world.
The coasts are generally bordered with long, sandy beaches, featuring reefs,
capes, and deep bays, where scuba-diving is popular. In some areas, such
as the western and southern coasts of Gran Canaria islands, there are many
steep cliffs. The common characteristic of the Canary Islands is its
volcanic terrain, with Teide Mountain being the highest peak in Spain, having
an altitude of 3718 m. Its impressive hotel infrastructure makes the
Canary Islands one of the most important tourist destinations in Europe.
For more information:
Canary Islands tourism website