Why are the Canary Islands called the Canine Islands? Which country does the Canary Islands belong to? Canary Islands: attractions, weather, tourist reviews
Which country do they belong to Canary Islands? In ancient times, the archipelago was inhabited by the Guanche tribes, who, before the arrival of Europeans, cultivated the land and were engaged in cattle breeding. In 1334, French sailors visited the islands, and the natives had to make room. According to the laws of that time, all again open lands came under the jurisdiction of the Roman Catholic Church.
The Vatican, represented by Pope Clement VI, presented the Canary Islands to Count Alfonso XI, the ruler of Castile, the largest province in the world. For a while, it became clear who the Canary Islands belonged to. However, Alfonso XI did not know what to do with such a gift. The natives did not bring any economic benefit, and on the contrary, the ruler was obliged from now on to improve life on the islands. The Count did not directly dare to renounce the archipelago, but he tried through 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 owner anyway?
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 was not so simple.
Half a century later, the French decided to capture the islands. Military vessels proceeded along the West African coast, which then approached two islands in the center of the archipelago - Tenerife and Gran Canaria. The local population languidly resisted the annexation.
On Gran Canaria, the French troops celebrated their victory a few days later, and on Tenerife it happened a little later. This was followed by periodic landings on the Canary Islands by conquerors of all stripes, from Moroccan soldiers to the English admiral Robert Blake, who spent a brilliant near the island of Tenerife in 1657, engaging in battle with the Spanish armada. He emerged victorious from this confrontation, but the islands, nevertheless, went to Spain.
After 140 years, the famous Admiral Nelson tried to capture Tenerife, but the capital of the Canary Islands, Santa Cruz, stood in his way, and he was defeated. Eventually the British abandoned their imperial ambitions.
The question of which country the Canary Islands belong to remained unanswered for a long time, until in 1821 the archipelago was finally ceded to Spain. In 1982, the Canary Islands were proclaimed an autonomous region of the Spanish state, and in 1986, the province of Canaries joined the European Union. Thus, the answer to the question of which country the Canary Islands belong to is now unambiguous. 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 country, a province or some special structure? Geographical position The archipelago speaks of its conditional belonging to mainland Spain, but the islands have full and unconditional autonomy.
The Canary Islands is a country in terms of social arrangement and the availability of services necessary to comply with law and order. These are the police, courts and legal institutions. Although, on the other hand, all of the above services are practically inactive, since the Canaries are a supertourism zone, millions of travelers come to the blessed land to relax, have fun and forget about the hardships of civilization for a while. No one is breaking the law.
Geography
The Canary Islands are only a hundred kilometers from the African continent and seven hundred from the coast of Spain. The archipelago adjoins Africa from the northwest (at the junction of Western Sahara and Morocco).
There are only seven large Canary Islands. The closest island to the African coast is Lanzarote, the next island is Fuerteventura, then Gran Canaria, followed by Tenerife, Gomera, La Palma and Hierro. These are the largest volcanic formations, but there are many more minor ones.
A list that includes the most popular Canary Islands, a map of their location, directions, and more - all this information can be obtained from the tourist offices of Spain or upon arrival at about. Tenerife.
The islands are not alike, each of them is attractive in its own way. For example, Lanzarote is ideal for lovers of a quiet measured holiday, and Gran Canaria is a paradise for surfers and divers. For tourists arriving in the Canary Islands, a map and guides will help you make the right choice best place recreation. There are also hotels for every taste - more expensive, more comfortable, economy class hotels with reasonable prices.
It is difficult to say how many Canary Islands are in the archipelago, an exact calculation has not been carried out. However, it is known that not all of them are inhabited. At one time, the municipal authorities even opened the sale of small islands. Those who wished could purchase at a reasonable price a small piece of land in the ocean. Trade was brisk until the Spanish authorities on the mainland intervened. The capital of the Canary Islands, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, was then forced to give part of its powers to the city of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.
Most popular places
The best island of the Canary Islands, according to most tourists, is Tenerife. In second place in popularity - Gran Canaria. These islands are different. developed infrastructure, upscale hotels, magnificent entertainment complexes for both adults and children.
The Canary Islands, photos of which are presented in the article, have long become one of the best places for active rest. Tourists are attracted by the choice and impeccable service.
Landscape
The Canary Islands, the photos of which are amazing, are volcanic formations that appeared above the water millions of years ago. Until now, on the surface you can observe bizarre landscapes with solidified lava, which are adjacent to long sand dunes, reminiscent of Luxurious beaches, are washed by ocean waves, and immediately after them, hotel complexes with palm alleys begin. A warm breeze from the sea stirs the green branches of trees, vacationers feel unity with nature, and this happens throughout the day. When the term of parting with the Canaries approaches, no one wants to leave. The charm of a piece of paradise remains in the memory for a long time, until the next visit.
Climate
The climate in the Canary Islands is temperate tropical, dry and hot, but not sultry. The temperature range is determined by the proximity of the African coast. Hot trade winds mix with oceanic air masses. It turns out a kind of airy cocktail, cool and comfortable, which spreads throughout the Canary Islands. Air masses are constantly updated. The climate is also softened by a permanent anticyclone over the Azores, located northwest of the archipelago.
The temperature in the Canary Islands remains stable all year round. It is 20-30 degrees Celsius in summer and 16-25 degrees Celsius in winter. During the year, there is a relative influence of mountains and hills on climatic conditions, however, temperature drops are insignificant, they do not exceed 2-3 degrees. Temperature changes occur mainly in the highest Canary Islands - Gran Canaria, Tenerife and La Palma. The climate in the rest of the archipelago remains virtually unchanged.
The water temperature in the zone of the considered islands is about 20 degrees Celsius. Equilibrium is achieved due to the Canary current - quite cold, but slow. In general, the temperature regime on the islands is very comfortable and stable. In a nutshell, the climate in the Canary Islands can be described as follows: warm and sunny.
For tourists who flew to the Canary Islands in winter, the weather in December is not much different from spring - just as warm. Definitely a drastic change. climatic conditions within one day is impressive.
The Canary Islands (the weather in December is warmer than in summer in Moscow) continue to amaze visitors. international Airport Reina Sophia and choose an island where they will spend unforgettable days.
Canary Islands. Attractions, beaches
The natural attraction of the islands in question is the beaches, superbly equipped, covered with golden sand or black basalt pebbles. Showers are placed around the perimeter, sun loungers are located in even rows everywhere, and wide umbrellas from the sun are right there. In special kiosks you can buy diving accessories, fins, masks and other attributes for scuba diving.
City of Los Vinos
This is the oldest settlement on the island of Tenerife. The main city attraction is the thousand-year-old Dragon Tree. Visitors to the ancient convent of San Augustina will walk through the monastic cells, get acquainted with the life of novices, and talk with the abbess. Then you can visit the church of San Marcos and a garden with colonies of tropical butterflies of fabulous beauty.
Park "Loro"
Initially, these were aviaries with parrots. Nowadays this place is even more amazing. Now the park has collected the rarest breeds of tropical parrots, which are adjacent to orchids blooming all year round, planted throughout the territory (the most beautiful specimens can be admired in the Orchid House). Also in the park "Loro" is a huge aquarium with a whale shark, dolphins, sea lions and other inhabitants of the ocean. A special place is occupied by a penguinarium with an artificial arctic climate.
Teide Park
This is a high-altitude entertainment complex deployed at an altitude of two thousand meters. The temperature there is kept at the level of forty degrees Celsius. There is a crater in the center of the park. extinct volcano, whose diameter is 48 kilometers. You can get to its top by lift (mountain climbers climb on foot).
Gorge of Hell
In the southern part of the island of Tenerife is the only natural waterfall in the Canary archipelago, an oasis in the middle of a dry and barren plain. This cascade of silvery jets is called the Gorge of Hell. Tourists can experience the full power of the unbridled elements by going under the rock from which the waterfall falls.
Guimar pyramids
These are religious buildings, repeating man-made elevations in Peru, Mexico and ancient Mesopotamia. Initially, the pyramids in Guimard were mistaken for piles of stones piled up by Spanish settlers when clearing the land for plowing. However, later a group of researchers, among whom was famous traveler came to the conclusion that six heaps of stones are nothing but pyramids.
In addition, in the Guimard Park there is a museum of ethnography "House of Chakone", which exhibits a life-size architectural model of the palace of King Ra II.
Cliffs of the Giants
Huge sections of the coast of the island of Tenerife are occupied by grandiose rocks, standing close to the water itself, and in some places - by ledges descending into the ocean. Rocks are considered sacred, their constant desire to plunge into the abyss is similar to a divine ritual.
You can get to the enchanted cliffs only from the sea by boat or motor boats.
Anaga Mountains
The magnificent hills on the island of Tenerife represent a boundless botanical world. Mountain plateaus called Anaga are an example of ecological cleanliness. There you can meet local residents living in caves.
The Canary Islands, whose sights are on a par with world masterpieces of nature and ethnography, attract millions of tourists. Airlines operate at full capacity, planes land and take off every minute.
Seven islands as seven wonders of the world
Remarkable and unique archipelago in the Atlantic Ocean and its pearl - the island of Tenerife. Spain, Canary Islands - the best holiday destination in the whole world.
Lanzarote is an island of dormant volcanoes. Entire fields of solidified lava, unusual landscapes on the plains and mountain slopes, multi-colored petrified streams recreate picturesque panels of extraordinary beauty. national park the island of Lanzarote called Timanfaya can be perceived as a permanent exhibition of natural art. And the hotel infrastructure organically merges with natural scenery. Lanzarote is a biosphere reserve, surrounded by virgin nature, against the backdrop of a volcanic landscape.
Fuerteventura is an island of endless suite of magnificent virgin beaches, completely empty, allowing you to enjoy the ocean landscapes in complete solitude. Nowhere in the world is there such freedom as on the beaches of Fuerteventura. Sea water surprisingly clean and warm, it glows turquoise. The island is ideal for those who prefer a romantic pastime, a vacation away from the hustle and bustle of civilization. During the whole day you can feel like a Robinson in silence and complete solitude, and in the evening you can return to a comfortable hotel for dinner.
It is famous not only for its magnificent golden beaches, but also for the widest infrastructure. As an addition to the overall picture of prosperity - the nature of the island, striking in its diversity. Deep forested ravines alternate with verdant peaks, all joined together in a grandiose panorama. The central part of the island of Gran Canaria is covered with a luxurious floral carpet, in the south there are gently sloping shores with beaches, and in the north, rocks rise into the sky, bordering small coves with azure water. Any kind of sport is held in high esteem on the island - horseback riding, golf and tennis, fishing and spearfishing.
Tenerife
The largest and most comfortable island. Its nature is unique, the diversity of relief is amazing. In the center is the Teide snow cap, in the north are green massifs, the southern part is all in golden sand, the beaches lined up in a neat row. Tenerife has a unique tourism infrastructure, restaurants with dishes are open national cuisines almost all countries of the world, health centers, sports and gyms, all kinds of excursions on land and by sea are organized. All this makes your stay in Tenerife unforgettable.
Homer
An island famous for its relict vegetation. The natural exoticism of Homer is available to tourists coming from the island of Tenerife by ferry.
La Palma
The most blooming and green of all the islands of the Canary archipelago. The infrastructure is poorly developed, but La Palma has ample opportunities for rural tourism. Lovers of rural scenery and serene relaxation should visit this island.
Hierro
The smallest of the islands of the Canary archipelago. For centuries, it was perceived as the most mysterious place on the planet. The end of the world - this is how Hierro is characterized. There is no better place for those who want to be away from civilization.
Geographic Encyclopedia
Canary Islands- Canary Islands. CANARY ISLANDS, in the Atlantic Ocean, off the northwest coast of Africa (autonomous region of Spain). The area is 7.3 thousand km2. Main islands: Gran Canaria, Tenerife, Fuerteventura, Lanzarote. Extinct and active ... ... Illustrated Encyclopedic Dictionary
CANARY ISLANDS, in the Atlantic Ocean, off the northwest coast of Africa (autonomous region of Spain). The area is 7.3 thousand km2. Main islands: Gran Canaria, Tenerife, Fuerteventura, Lanzarote. Extinct and active volcanoes. Height up to 3718… … Modern Encyclopedia
- (Islas Canarias) in the Atlantic Ocean, off the northwestern coast of Africa. Autonomous region of Spain. 7.3 thousand km². Population 1.5 million (1991). Administrative center of Las Palmas. Main islands: Gran Canaria, Tenerife, ... ... Big Encyclopedic Dictionary
- (Islas Canarias), in the Atlantic Ocean off the northwest coast of Africa. Autonomous region of Spain. 7.3 tons km2. Population 1.5 million (1991). Administrative center of Las Palmas. Main islands: Gran Canaria, Tenerife, Fuerteventura... encyclopedic Dictionary
Canary Islands - Atlantic Ocean, near sowing app. coasts of Africa; territory of Spain. Rome. the author Pliny, I century, according to the ruler of Mauritania Yuba, mentions about. Canaria (from Latin canarius canine) and associates its name with the distribution of huge ... ... Toponymic Dictionary
- (in Spanish Islas Canarias) administratively belonging to the provinces, and not to the colonies of Spain, a group of 7 large and 6 smaller islands off the west. coast of Africa, in the subtropical zone, between 28 and 29 ° N. sh., at a distance of 90 to 300 km ... ... Encyclopedic Dictionary F.A. Brockhaus and I.A. Efron
- (Spanish Islas Canarias, literally dog islands, from Latin canis dog: according to the ancient Roman scientist Pliny the Elder, large dogs were found on one of these islands) a group of islands in the Atlantic Ocean, 100 120 km from the north ... ... Great Soviet Encyclopedia
Canary Islands- (Spanish Islas Canarias), a group of mountainous volcanic islands in the Atlantic Ocean, northwest of the coast of Africa (Morocco). Autonomous region of Spain. The area is 7.3 thousand km2. Population 1.4 million (1981). Main Islands: Gran… … Encyclopedic reference book "Africa"
Canary Islands- CANARY ISLANDS, a group of 7 islands (Palma, Tenerife, Grand Canary, Fuerteventura, Lanzarote, Gamera, Ferro) volcanic. origin in Atlanta. ocean, 60 mil. from African. coast (27°40′ 29°30′ N and 13°20′ 18°10′ W). Beautiful… … Military Encyclopedia
Books
- Canary Islands, Patskevich P., Farina-Patskevich H. (author-comp.). In this guide you will find: Lots of photos, illustrations and maps; Tastes of the Canary Islands - local products and classic dishes; Schemes and plans of all major attractions;…
- Canary Islands. Guidebook, . In the guide: - lots of photos, illustrations and maps; - tastes of the Canaries islands - local products and classic dishes; - schemes and plans of all the main attractions; -a huge…
The Canary Islands are covered with myths and legends. Many writers associate them with the disappeared continent of Atlantis. Plato believed that this rich, fertile land was once located west of Gibraltar in the Atlantic Ocean. Atlantis was destroyed by earthquakes and tsunamis about 12 thousand years ago. After the cataclysm, only Mountain peaks Atlantis, which formed the seven islands. Why not the Canaries? The ancient Greeks called the Canary Islands the Gardens of the Hesperides, and the Romans called the Happy Isles.
Plutarch wrote about the fertile lands off the coast of Africa, where the spring winds always blow. It was based on the words of the Roman general Sertorius, who heard about the islands from a traveler. In the 1st century n. e. Pliny noted that the Moorish king Yuba II organized an expedition to the islands. Travelers saw many dogs on the banks. Canis means "dog" in Latin, hence the name Canary Islands.
The islands have sparked the imagination of people for centuries - from Plato to Jules Verne. Both academic studies and fantasy novels have been written about them. The truth is lost in the mists of time, but the seven volcanic islands have always been shrouded in a magical, magical veil. As soon as you see the outlines of Mount Teide on the horizon, you will immediately understand where these fairy tales and legends come from.
First inhabitants
Long before the arrival of the first Europeans, all seven of the main Canary Islands were already inhabited. The Guanche tribe lived here. Translated from the local language, "guanche" means "man." Strictly speaking, this name refers only to the inhabitants of Tenerife, but it began to be used for the inhabitants of the entire archipelago.
Guanches appeared on the islands in the 1st or 2nd century. BC e. They came from North Africa. Ethnographers believe that they were Cro-Magnons, who belonged to the proto-Mediterranean race. The Guanches were tall, fair-skinned people, often with blue eyes and blond hair. You can get to know these people in the wonderful Canarian Museum in Las Palmas in Gran Canaria. The exposition introduces the special prejudices of the Guanche associated with death. Like the ancient Egyptians, they meticulously embalmed their dead in preparation for their ritual passage to the other world. Scientists have discovered mysterious rock inscriptions that explain these rituals, but so far no one has found the Canarian Rosetta Stone to decipher them.
The Guanche lived in caves, although many of the caves that have survived to this day were used exclusively for storing supplies. For example, Cenobio de Valeron near Galdara in Gran Canaria, although it is called a monastery, most likely was just a grain warehouse. Living in caves in such a climate is a logical idea, as they are cool in summer and warmer in winter than any hut. Even today, there are many inhabited caves on the island.
The Guanches left us a wonderful legacy that can still be seen today in the markets and local eateries. This gofio (gofio) - finely ground and fried flour, which is widely used in Canarian cuisine. The Guanche language lives on in names such as Tafira or Tamadaba in Gran Canaria, Timanfaya in Lanzarote, Teide in Tenerife and in the name Tenerife itself.
conquistadors
The first outsiders to the Canaries were Arab sailors who landed on Gran Canaria about 2,000 years ago. The Guanches greeted them very warmly. And in subsequent centuries, the islanders were very hospitable. Unfortunately, their hospitality came at a cost.
Europeans landed on the islands in the 14th century. The Genoese sailor Lanzarotto Marcello colonized the island, which at that time was called Titeroigatra, and later received the name of Lanzarote. In the footsteps of Lanzarotto came slave traders, treasure seekers and missionaries. But the European conquest of the Canary Islands really began only in 1402. That year, the army of the Norman baron Jean de Betancourt, who was in the service of the Castilian king Henry III, landed on the island. The baron captured Lanzarote and Fuerteventura fairly easily, but his ships were scattered off Gran Canaria by a storm. Betancourt turned towards El Hierro, where the astonished islanders met the Europeans who had arrived on huge sailing ships like gods. Betancourt "repaid" them for their hospitality: by inviting local residents to one of his ships, he captured them and sold them into slavery.
At about the same time, the Portuguese, who also colonized the Atlantic, drew attention to the Canary Islands. The two powers fought fierce naval battles. At the end of the war, a treaty was concluded between Portugal and Castile that ended Lisbon's attempts to capture the Happy Isles. By order of the Castilian rulers Ferdinand and Isabella, the second stage of the colonization of the islands began. By 1483, Gran Canaria was conquered, in 1488 - La Gomera. La Palma held out until 1493. After two years of fierce fighting, Tenerife fell, and the entire archipelago fell into the hands of the Spaniards. The process of appeasement and conversion to Christianity continued for almost a hundred years. All these years, a real guerrilla war was blazing on the islands. The Guanches were brave warriors, but could not resist the well-armed Spaniards.
Travels of Columbus
When the conquest of the Canary Islands was in full swing, Christopher Columbus (Cristobal Colón in Spanish) began planning his journey. He was going to open a sea route to India. Each of the islands of the archipelago considers itself associated with Columbus. The great traveler's caravels stopped in the Canary Islands, since these islands were considered the westernmost point of the modern world and were the last stop on the way into the unknown.
The great navigator stopped at La Gomera. His ships were being repaired in Las Palmas in 1492. He described the volcanic eruption in Tenerife. Its sailors considered the eruption a bad omen, but, as history has shown, having passed El Hierro, the caravels did not fall off the earth's disk at all. You can get acquainted with the history of Columbus' travels and the traveler's connections with the Canary Islands in the wonderful House of Columbus in Las Palmas.
Wine and war
Sugar was the first export of the Canary Islands. It was easy to produce sugar on the islands. In the first half of the XVI century. a rapidly growing industry. But soon Canarian sugar forced out cheaper sugar from Brazil and Antilles. Sugar production in the Canary Islands has simply died.
But trade links between the Old and New Worlds had already been established, and wine became a new trade product.
Grapes perfectly took root on volcanic soil. Tenerife began to produce a rich, full-bodied wine - malvasia. This drink quickly became fashionable among European aristocrats. Canarian wines Shakespeare and Voltaire were highly valued. Today, tourists arriving on the islands flock to bodegas, restaurants and even supermarkets for excellent wines. Traveling around the islands, on the slopes of the hills you will often see abandoned old wine presses (lagares).
By the end of the XVIII century. The Canary Islands have become a major shopping center that everyone wanted to own. In 1797, Admiral Horace Nelson attacked Santa Cruz de Tenerife in an attempt to capture a Spanish treasure ship. The defenders of the city resisted with all their might. The attack cost the lives of 226 British sailors and the admiral himself lost an arm. However, the inhabitants of Santa Cruz do not have negative feelings towards Admiral Nelson. When it became known that the English ships were retreating, they sent him wine as a gift. Nelson returned courtesy for courtesy and sent the governor cheese and a barrel of beer. Captured British flags are stored in a glass case in the church of Nuestra Señora de la Concepción.
free trade
By the beginning of the XIX century. the inhabitants of the Canary Islands have become real Spaniards - both in appearance and in nationality. Many volunteers from the islands fought during the struggle for independence, which ended in 1814 with the accession of Ferdinand VII.
But in the 1870s chemical dyes appeared, and the need for cochineal dried up. The Spanish government felt obliged to support the Canarian economy. In the middle of the XIX century. By royal decree, one port on each island was declared a duty-free zone (two on Tenerife). Low taxes and the absence of trade barriers had the desired effect. Santa Cruz de Tenerife and Las Palmas have become the busiest ports in the world. British entrepreneurs have invested a lot of money in the development of the port of Las Palmas.
Bananas were the last monoculture of the islands. They were first exported in the 1880s, but the First World War put an end to trade. However, small sweet bananas continued to be grown on the islands as long as mainland Spain remained a guaranteed market.
In 1912, the islands had their own parliament, which began to deal with social, political and economic issues. Parliament cooperated most closely with local self-government bodies. In 1927, the islands were divided into two provinces: Santa Cruz de Tenerife, which included Tenerife, La Palma, La Gomera and El Hierro, and Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, which included eastern islands Lanzarote and Fuerteventura.
Spanish Civil War
The conspiracy that started civil war in Spain, originated in the Canary Islands. In 1936, a group of officers, dissatisfied with the policies of the Republican government, secretly gathered in the forests of La Esperanza in Tenerife. They were led by Francisco Franco, a right-wing nationalist who was sent by the government to the Canary Islands in the hope that he would do less harm in the islands. From the Canary Islands, Franco went to North Africa, where he prepared the invasion. Three years later, his army won a triumphant victory over the Republicans. During the civil war, a million Spaniards died.
The Canaries did not escape the horrors of war (in Barranco del Inferno - Hell Gorge- thousands of republicans were shot in Tenerife), but in general, during the dictatorship, the islands flourished. This period lasted until Franco's death in 1975.
Tourism and environmental protection
In the 1960s tourism began to develop actively on the islands. Sometimes this led to a complete change in the landscape, as, for example, happened in Playa de las Americas in Tenerife or Playa del Inglés in Gran Canaria, which turned into real cities of the times of the "gold rush". However, such cities, although they have created a reputation for the Canary Islands as a center of mass tourism, have remained an exception. Huge spaces on the most well-developed islands remained practically undeveloped. And on such islands as La Palma, La Gomera and El Hierro, tourism began to develop only in recent years. On the other hand, tourism has greatly contributed to the improvement of infrastructure and transport system on islands.
After Franco's death, a constitutional monarchy was restored in Spain, and King Juan Carlos I ascended the throne. However, the subsequent decolonization of Western Sahara resulted in thousands of people returning to the Canary Islands, which created social and market problems.
In 1978, a new Spanish constitution was adopted, which consolidated democratic norms. The constitution paved the way for greater regional autonomy. In 1982, the Canary Islands received autonomy. The central government has delegated many functions to the local government. There are two capitals on the islands: Santa Cruz de Tenerife and Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (the capital moves every four years). Each island has its own council. Council members are elected in a general election every four years. In 1986, Spain joined the European Union, and this put an end to the duty-free status of the Canary Islands. However, the islands managed to negotiate some concessions for themselves. The islands finally joined the European Union in 1995.
Despite the economic benefits of tourism, local authorities are wary of uncontrolled development. They are not happy with the unpleasant reputation of the islands as a paradise for drinkers. Recently, the emphasis is on a new image of the tourism industry. Ancient roads (caminos rurales) have been opened for tourists in the central mountains of Gran Canaria and in the north-eastern part of Tenerife. EU financial assistance helps to develop rural tourism - new hotels are being opened in the central parts of the islands, old houses and farms are being converted for tourists. Eco-tourism is actively developing on the islands, which attracts nature lovers here.
When mainland Spain imposed restrictions on immigration in 2005, a new type of visitor arrived in the Canary Islands - illegal immigrants from North Africa. According to some estimates, in 2006, 25 thousand people made a dangerous journey from the coast of Africa. Many drowned and died of thirst. Another problem of the islands is the forest fires that raged in Tenerife and Gran Canaria in 2007. Strong winds, high temperatures and low humidity led to the fact that the fire covered more than 24 thousand hectares. More than 11 thousand people had to be evacuated.
All these events have led to the fact that now the Canary Islands are perceived differently, and not only as a holiday destination for Europeans who rush here in search of sun, sand and entertainment.
The coat of arms of Spain depicts the Pillars of Hercules, which in ancient times the peoples of the Mediterranean considered the natural western border of the inhabited world. There, in the west, the sun was setting. There was nothing but formidable and dangerous desert water...
And on the coat of arms of Spain there is a proud motto: “Plus Ultra” - “Further than the limit”, as a memory of those times when the country owned territories located just behind those very Pillars of Hercules. Even today, Spain is the cultural metropolis for the vast Latin America lying across the Atlantic Ocean, almost entirely Spanish-speaking.
So, in those proud times, ships leaving Spanish ports for America did not turn strictly to the west, which, it would seem, should have shortened the path. They sailed a southwesterly course along the coast of Africa for several days in order to land on the Canary Islands. This was done both in order to check the ship and the crew in business, and in order to replenish food and water supplies in the Canary Islands before a long ocean crossing.
Now they are planning flights to other planets. The spacecraft is first launched into near-Earth orbit, and from there it “jumps” into interplanetary space. Thus, for several centuries, the Canary Islands were something like the current orbital space station: there is already an ocean around, but it is still not far from reliable land.
Today, first of all, numerous tourists “go crazy” from this. The Canary Islands are now popular resort, located in African latitudes, but with European-class service. It's nice to bask in the pool and look through its side towards the horizon of the Atlantic Ocean. It is pleasant to live in a five-star hotel surrounded by black rocks, reminiscent of the fact that a formidable volcano once erupted here.
The Canary Islands are of volcanic origin, and on the island of Palma there is still active volcano. Volcanologists say that he is in a dormant state, but if he suddenly wakes up, it will not seem enough to anyone, even distant America. The eruption and the accompanying earthquake will cause a tsunami wave thirty meters high, which, moving almost at the speed of an airplane, will cover East Coast USA.
And here it is nice to feel abandoned to the ends of the earth. After all, the Canary Islands, which belong to Spain, are the westernmost point of the European Union. And the westernmost point in the Canaries - West Coast the islands of Hierro. In principle, it was here that some kind of triumphant, or something, arch should have been erected, and on it to write capital letters Plus Ultra.
The ancient Romans knew about the existence of these islands. They gave them the name "Canariae Insulae" - "Isles of Dogs". There were many dogs here, and the dogs were large. This was written by the Roman writer Pliny the Elder (Plinius Maior) (23 - 79) in his book " Natural history". True, Pliny himself did not visit the Canary Islands, but he refers to the evidence of the Moorish king Yuba II (52 BC - 23), who made an expedition here and, in fact, brought dogs from here.
So the Canary Islands are named after dogs, but the small birds that were found here in abundance were already named “canaries” after the islands. Canaries are a local, island breed of finches, distant relatives of sparrows and siskins. In the 16th century, the Spaniards began to take them out of the island and sell them: the birds sang beautifully. For some time, canaries were a strategic commodity. To prevent them from breeding, only males were sold. Even the name of the birds was kept secret, they said that they were brought from South America. But she sewed in a bag, and you can’t hide a canary in the Canary Islands. Birds spread throughout Europe and very soon became domestic animals. By the way, the canary is one of the domestic animals that Darwin took as an example when discussing the origin of species.
The selection of canaries was carried out in two directions at once. First, they changed the color of the plumage from the original green-brown to that bright yellow, which we now call "canary". And secondly, more singing, more sonorous breeds were bred. It is interesting that the exterior of canaries was mainly dealt with in "frivolous" France, and, so to speak, the internal content - in "solid" Germany and Tyrol. No one has yet succeeded in breeding the blue canary. The name of the well-known song "Blue Canary" should be translated as "Sad Canary". There is also a meaning English word blue. In Russia, before the revolution, canaries were loved and willingly bought for fun and comfort in the house. And after the revolution, the yellow songbird, along with a harmless geranium (by the way, a good folk remedy for pathogenic microbes and mosquitoes in the house) was accused of philistinism. The proletarian poet gave her a harsh sentence:
Hurry up the heads of the canaries, so that communism is not beaten by the canaries! (V. Mayakovsky)
Then he immediately gave his beloved Lilya Brik a cage with a canary. For fun and comfort in the house, as already mentioned. In the 16th century, canaries from the Canaries "flew" to Europe. And in the opposite direction, South America, from here, almost at the same time, sugar cane “started”. The fact is that the birthplace of this useful plant is Southeast Asia and India. In the 12th century, it appeared in Europe. The Arabs brought it here and began to grow it in Egypt. The Spaniards found that this plant takes root very well in the Canaries. So by the time of Columbus's expeditions to the newly discovered countries, there was something to take out.
