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The
Canary Islands
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places on earth can compare to the natural beauty and near perfect
climate of the Canary Islands.
Situated approximately 70 miles from the African coast washed by the Gulf Stream and protected by The Trade Winds, and knowing no real winter these truly can be called the Fortunate Islands. Made up of thirteen islands, seven principal ones and six smaller islands each with its own characteristics .The very uniqueness of the Flora and Fauna on two of the islands has prompted UNESCO to name them as world Biosphere namely Lanzarote and El Hierro, this is a great honour and much prized by the Canarian people. There are two theories about how the islands where formed some geologists think that they are the result of volcanic activities over hundreds of years, whilst others the more romantic amongst us like to think they are the peaks of the lost land of Atlantis. The earliest inhabitants where the Guanche who made their homes in the volcanic caves dotted all over the islands and in huts, They lived by fishing, goat herding and farming and are thought to have been of tall blond appearance and with great strength. Their lives were anything but peaceful first conquered by Arabs who took |
 Sunflowers grow tall in The Canaries Sun |
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of them into slavery and who named the islands the Fortunate Islands.
Next came the Spanish Conquistadors who finally settled the islands
and claimed them for Spain. Many of the
islands were favourite haunts of pirates and evidence of this
can still be seen to-day on the island of Fuerteventura. But despite
this the Canary Islanders traditional ways have survived with
their crafts, local cuisine and a unique whistling language thought
to have evolved in order to communicate over the mountainous terrain.
The Canary islands were once thought to be the end of the world and where Christopher Columbus set sail on his journey of discovery for the new world (but that's another story) To-day the Canary
Islands are a thriving tourist destination, yet unspoiled, their
natural beauty and unique qualities protected and lovingly preserved
for future generations to enjoy.
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