Hotels Gran Canaria - Canary Islands
Geography of Gran Canaria - Canary Islands
    
Gran Canaria (originally named Tamarán) forms part of the Canary Islands
along with Fuerteventura, Lanzarote, Tenerife, Gomera, La Palma and Hierro. The
southern point of Gran Canaria is just 210kms from the coast of Africa. The island
itself is located 1,250kms away from mainland Spain, has an area of 947 square
kilometres, and is almost circular in shape.
Gran Canaria is also known as the 'continent in miniature', with its centre
being a mountainous, alpine region with peaks as high as 1,951m. The northwest
is greener still, while the south remains arid and even desert-like with the
famous sand dunes of Maspalomas.
The western coast is a series of mountains and cliffs. The east is more level,
and is where most of the tourist resorts have been established all the way to
the far north and the capital city of Las Palmas.
The mountainous terrain of all the Canary Islands is due to the fact that the
islands were all volcanic in origin. Lanzarote still has an active volcano,
although it hasn't erupted since the 18th century.
Tenerife has the highest peak in Spain, and Teide, rising to over 3,658m, is
an inactive volcanic site and the third largest of its kind on earth. Incidentally,
the last volcanic eruption in the islands was in La Palma, in 1971.
The sub-tropical climate of Gran Canaria remains constant all year round. Rainfall
levels of 25.4cm per annum (much of it falling in the month of January) alter
only in the northern part of the island, which often receives up to a further
25.4cm of rain throughout the year.
Crops grown here include bananas, oranges, coffee, dates, sugarcane and tobacco;
banana plantations in particular thrive here. The local fishing industry all
around the island also thrives all year round; while during the winter months
the tomato crop, along with the cultivation of various flowers, is growing in
popularity.
Selection of hotels in this region:
Click below for a
full list of hotels and online booking
|
