The official tourism website of the Canary Islands
Volcanic origins
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Volcanic origins
- The Canary Islands began to emerge from the ocean depths as a consequence of magmatic activity. The process of formation began in the Miocene Age, about 23 million years ago.
- The oldest islands are La Gomera, Gran Canaria, Fuerteventura and Lanzarote, while the youngest are El Hierro, La Palma and Tenerife.
- Since the end of the 15th century there have been 14 volcanic eruptions, the most recent in 1971 in the island of La Palma.
- Important naturalists from past centuries, including Alexander von Humboldt, were interested in the islands, which nowadays are considered to be one of the most important volcanic regions in the world.
- Almost all kinds of volcanic rock are present in the archipelago.
- In the volcanic landscapes of the Canary Islands we can find cones, lava fields, craters, cliffs, as well as many caves and underground galleries, including one which is among the longest in the world at 6 km in length, as well as one of the ten longest volcanic tubes in the world, with a length of almost 20 km. Some exclusive endemic species in the islands inhabit the interior of these volcanic formations.
- Mount Teide, the highest peak in Spain at 3,718 m., is the third biggest volcano on earth, measured from its base.
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Exuberant nature
One of the most bio-diverse places on the planet
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Safe volcanoes
Get up close to them in comfortable trips and imagine the beginning of time
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More about El Hierro
the southern island
- Photos
- Natural pools, La Maceta
- Montaña del Fuego
- Rock of Bonanza
- Teide
- Montañas del Fuego
- Teide
- La Geria
- Teide
- Los Jameos del Agua
- Volcanoes
- Trekking
- Traditions
- Cave - Cueva de los Verdes
- Museum of Science and the Cosmos
- Aboriginal inscription on a volcanic mound
- Corded lava
- Volcanic nature
- Volcanoes
- Multi-media area
- Press office
- Zone 2.0
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- Videos
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Teneguía Vulcano
1971 eruption of Teneguía
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Corralejo Beach - Fuerteventura
One of the World most beautiful beaches
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La Gomera, the island of dreams
Some impressions of La Gomera from 2006
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La Palma, June 2009
Holidays in La Palma
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- Blogs
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Belmaco Cave: La Palma
Before the Spanish invasion, Belmaco Cave was the home of the kings of Mazo.
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On top of the world in Tenerife
It is Spain's highest mountain, and a dormant volcano too – but climbing Mount Teide, in Tenerife, is an experience well worth it.
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Land of volcanos and craters
Little paradises that takes you out form the reality
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Jameos del Agua
Is one of the seven Centres of Art, Culture and tourism of Lanzarote
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- Wiki Canary Islands
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Teneguía
This volcano is the source of the last volcanic eruption on Spanish soil
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Cueva de los Verdes
Cueva de los Verdes (Spanish for "Greens' cave") is a lava tube located in the island of Lanzarote.
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- Others
- Videos