Which country belong to the Canary Islands?In ancient times, the archipelago was inhabited by the Guanche tribes, who, before the arrival of the Europeans, cultivated the land and were engaged in cattle breeding. In 1334, the French navigators visited the islands, and the natives had to make room. According to the laws of that time, all newly discovered lands fell under the jurisdiction of the Roman Catholic Church.
The Vatican in the person of Pope Clement VI presentedThe Canary Islands to Count Alfonso XI - the ruler of Castile, the largest province on the Iberian Peninsula. For a while, it became clear who owns the Canary Islands. However, Alfonso XI did not know what to do withsuch 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 directly dare to abandon the archipelago, but he tried by difficult negotiations to transfer his ownership to other hands. The question of who owns the Canary Islands, literally hung in the air.
Who is the boss?
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 everything turned out to be not so simple.
Half a century later, the French decided to seize the islands.Along the West African coast, warships proceeded, which then approached two islands in the center of the archipelago - Tenerife and Gran Canaria. The local population sluggishly resisted annexation.
On Gran Canaria, French troops celebratedvictory in a few days, and in Tenerife it happened a little later. This was followed by periodic landings on the Canary Islands conquerors of all stripes, ranging from Moroccan soldiers to English Admiral Robert Blake, who held a brilliant naval battle near the island of Tenerife in 1657, engaging in battle with the Spanish armada. He emerged victorious from this confrontation, but the islands nevertheless withdrew to Spain.
After 140 years, the famous admiral Nelson triedto capture Tenerife, but the capital of the Canary Islands, Santa Cruz, was in his way, and he was defeated. In the end, the British abandoned their imperial ambitions.
The question of which country belong to the CanaryIslands, for a long time remained unanswered, until in 1821 the archipelago finally moved Spain. In 1982, the Canary Islands were proclaimed an autonomous region of the Spanish state, and in 1986, the province of Canary entered the European Union. Thus, the answer to the question of which country the Canary Islands belong to is now unequivocal. 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 countrya province or some particular structure? The geographical position of the archipelago speaks of its conditional affiliation to mainland Spain, but the islands have complete and unconditional autonomy.
Canary Islands - a country, if we bear in mindsocial amenities and the availability of services necessary for the observance of law and order. These are the police, the courts and legal institutions. Although, on the other hand, all 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 civilization for a while. Laws while no one violates.
Geography
Canary Islands are just a hundred.kilometers from the African continent and at a distance of seven hundred nautical miles from the coast of Spain. The archipelago is adjacent to Africa from the northwest (at the junction of Western Sahara and Morocco).
Больших Канарских островов всего семь.The nearest island to the African coast is Lanzarote, the next island is Fuerteventura, then Gran Canaria is located, followed by Tenerife, Homer, La Palma and Hierro. These are the largest volcanic formations, but there are still many minor ones.
Список, в который входят наиболее популярные Canary Islands, a map of their location, directions, etc. - all this information can be obtained from the tourist offices of Spain or upon arrival at about. Tenerife.
Острова не похожи друг на друга, каждый из них attractive in its own way. For example, Lanzarote is ideal for lovers of quiet measured rest, and Gran Canaria is a paradise for surfers and divers. Tourists arriving on the Canary Islands, a map and guidebooks will help to navigate in choosing the best vacation spot. There are also hotels for every taste - more expensive, more comfortable, economy-class hotels with reasonable prices.
How many Canary Islands are there in the archipelago,difficult to say, the exact calculation was not carried out. However, it is known that not all of them are inhabited. At one time, the municipal authorities even opened up the sale of small islands. Those interested could purchase at a reasonable price a small piece of land in the ocean. Trade proceeded briskly until the Spanish authorities on the mainland intervened. The capital of the Canary Islands, Santa Cruz de Tenerife was then forced to give some of its powers to the city of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.
Most Popular Places
The best island of the Canary Islands, according tomost tourists - Tenerife. In second place in popularity - 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, photos of which are presented in the article, have long been one of the best places for outdoor activities. Tourists are attracted by the choice and impeccable service.
Landscape
Canary Islands, whose photos amazeimagination is a volcanic formation that appeared over the water millions of years ago. Until now, on the surface you can observe bizarre landscapes with hardened lava, with which long sand dunes, resembling the Sahara desert, adjoin. Luxurious beaches are washed by the ocean waves, and immediately behind them begin hotel complexes with palm avenues. The warm breeze from the sea moves the green branches of the trees, the campers feel the unity with nature, and this happens throughout the day. When the time of parting with the Canaries is suitable, no one wants to leave. The charm of a paradise remains in memory for a long time, until the next arrival.
Climate
Canary Islands Climatemoderately tropical, dry and hot, but not hot. The temperature range is determined by the proximity of the African coast. Hot trade winds are mixed with ocean air masses. It turns out a kind of air cocktail, cool and comfortable, which is distributed throughout the Canary Islands. Air masses are continuously updated. The climate also mitigates the permanent anticyclone over the Azores, located northwest of the archipelago.
The temperature in the Canary Islands is kept atstable level year round. It is in the summer of 20-30, in the winter - 16-25 degrees Celsius. During the year, the relative influence of mountains and hills on climatic conditions is observed, however, the temperature drops are insignificant, they do not exceed 2-3 degrees. Temperature changes occur mainly on the highest Canary Islands - Gran Canaria, Tenerife and La Palma. The climate in the rest of the archipelago is virtually unchanged.
Температура воды в зоне рассматриваемых островов - about 20 degrees Celsius. Equilibrium is achieved at the expense of the Canary Current — fairly cold, but slow. In general, the temperature regime on the islands is very comfortable and stable. You can briefly describe the climate in the Canaries as follows: warm and sunny.
For tourists who arrived in the winter on the Canary Islands, the weather in December not much different from the spring - just warm. Of course, a sharp change in climatic conditions in one day is impressive.
Canary Islands (December weather) warmer than in summer in Moscow) continue to amaze visitors. The popularity of the resort of world importance has long beenknows no boundaries, millions of tourists from all over the world fly to Reina Sophia International Airport and choose an island where they will spend unforgettable days.
Canary Islands. Attractions, beaches
Природная достопримечательность рассматриваемых Islands - these beaches are superbly equipped, covered with golden sand or black basalt pebbles. Shower cubicles are placed around the perimeter, sun loungers are located in even rows everywhere, right along with wide umbrellas from the sun. In special kiosks you can buy accessories for diving, flippers, masks and other attributes for scuba diving.
Los Vinos
This is the most ancient settlement on the island of Tenerife.The main city attraction is the thousand-year-old Tree of Dragons. Visitors to the ancient convent of San Augustine will pass through monastic cells, get acquainted with the life of novices, and communicate with the Mother Superior. Then you can visit the church of San Marcos and the garden with colonies of tropical butterflies of fabulous beauty.
Park "Loro"
Initially, they were parrots with parrots.Nowadays this place is even more amazing. Now the park contains the rarest breeds of tropical parrots, which coexist with year-blooming orchids, planted throughout the territory (you can admire the most beautiful specimens in the Orchid House). Also in the park "Loro" is a huge aquarium with a whale shark, dolphins, sea lion and other inhabitants of the ocean expanses. A special place is occupied by a penguin with an artificial arctic climate.
Park "Teide"
This is a high-mountain entertainment complex,deployed at an altitude of two thousand meters. The temperature there is kept at forty degrees Celsius. In the center of the park is the crater of an extinct volcano, whose diameter is 48 kilometers. You can get to its top on the lift (fans of mountaineering climb on foot).
Hell's Canyon
In the southern part of the island of Tenerife is locatedthe only natural waterfall of the Canary archipelago, an oasis in the middle of a dry and barren plain. This cascade of silver streams is called Hell Gorge. Tourists can experience the power of unbridled elements, entering under the rock from which the waterfall is overthrown.
Guimar Pyramids
These are religious buildings, repeating man-madeelevations in Peru, Mexico and ancient Mesopotamia. Initially, the pyramids in Guimar were taken for piles of stones piled by Spanish settlers while clearing land for tillage. However, later a group of researchers, among whom was the famous traveler Thor Heyerdahl, came to the conclusion that the six piles of stones are nothing but pyramids.
In addition, the House of Chacone Museum of Ethnography operates in the Gimara Park, which exhibits a life-size architectural model of King Ra II's palace.
Cliffs of giants
Huge stretches of the coast of Tenerifethey are occupied by grandiose cliffs, closely standing near the water, and in some places by ledges, descending into the ocean. Rocks are considered sacred, their constant desire to plunge into the abyss is like a divine ritual.
To reach the enchanted cliffs can only be from the sea on a boat or motorboat.
Anaga Mountains
Magnificent highlands on the island of Teneriferepresent a vast botanical world. The mountain plateau called Anaga is an example of ecological purity. There you can meet locals living in caves.
Canary Islands, attractions which are on a par with world masterpieces of nature and ethnography, attract millions of tourists. Airlines operate at full load, the planes land and take off every minute.
Seven Islands as Seven Wonders of the World
An amazing and unique archipelago in the Atlantic Ocean and its pearl - the island of Tenerife. Spain, Canary Islands - the best place to relax around the world.
Lanzarote is an island of sleeping volcanoes.Entire fields of frozen lava, unusual landscapes on the plains and mountain slopes, multicolored petrified streams recreate picturesque panels of great beauty. The national park of the island of Lanzarote called Timanfaya can be perceived as a permanent opening day of natural art. And the hotel infrastructure blends seamlessly with natural scenery. The island of Lanzarote is a biosphere reserve surrounded by virgin nature, against the backdrop of a volcanic landscape.
Fuerteventura - the island of endless enfilademagnificent pristine beaches, completely empty, allowing you to enjoy the ocean scenery all alone. Nowhere in the world is there such freedom as on the beaches of Fuerteventura. The sea water is amazingly clear and warm, it glows with turquoise. The island is ideal for those who prefer a romantic pastime, rest away from the hustle and bustle of civilization. During the whole day, you can feel like Robinson on a desert island, being in silence and complete solitude, and in the evening return to a comfortable hotel for dinner.
Gran Canaria Island is not only famousmagnificent golden beaches, but also the broadest infrastructure. As an addition to the overall picture of welfare - the nature of the island, striking in its diversity. Deep overgrown ravines alternate with vertex-covered peaks, and everything is united in a grand panorama. The central part of the island of Gran Canaria is covered with a splendid vegetable carpet, in the south there are flat beaches with beaches, and in the north cliffs bordering small coves with azure water rise to the sky. Any sport in high esteem on the island - horse riding, golf and tennis, fishing and underwater hunting.
Tenerife
Самый крупный и благоустроенный остров.Its nature is unique, the variety of relief is amazing. In the center is Teide’s snow cap, in the north are green areas, the southern part is all in golden sand, the beaches are lined up in a neat row. The island of Tenerife has a unique tourist infrastructure, restaurants with dishes of national cuisines of almost all countries of the world, health centers, sports and gyms, and various excursions on land and by sea. All this makes the holiday in Tenerife unforgettable.
Homer
The island is famous for its relict vegetation. The exotic nature of Homer is accessible to tourists coming from the island of Tenerife by ferry.
La Palma
The most blooming and green of all islandsCanary archipelago. The infrastructure is underdeveloped, but La Palma has ample opportunities for rural tourism. Lovers of country scenery and serene rest should visit this island.
Hierro
The smallest of the islands of the Canary archipelago.For centuries, was perceived as the most mysterious place on the planet. The edge of the world - so characterize Hierro. Those who want to be away from civilization cannot find a better place.
Reviews of tourists
Numerous travelers visitingThe Canary Islands leave the hospitable land with a feeling as if they are leaving their native places. Guest reviews are full of sincere thanks. Two weeks, which are usually set aside for a holiday in the Canary Islands, pass unnoticed in pleasant troubles. After all, you need to catch everything everywhere - and swim in the cleanest ocean water, and go on excursions, and visit a sports club, gym. Then - back to the beach, ride a jet ski, scuba dive, visit the dolphinarium and catch the restaurant for a great four-course dinner. It is not surprising that two weeks pass unnoticed. However, unfortunately, always have to leave.